South Korea's tidal flats move closer to expanded UNESCO World Heritage listing

Phase 2 of 'Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats' clears advisory body review; final decision expected at July session in Busan

Goheung tidal flat [National Heritage Administration]

South Korea's bid to expand its UNESCO World Heritage tidal flat site has cleared a key advisory review, significantly raising the chances of a successful listing. The recommendation is expected to serve as an important milestone in reaffirming and broadening global recognition of the outstanding universal value of Korea's tidal flats.

The National Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Friday that they had received notification from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — the advisory body for natural heritage under the World Heritage Committee — had recommended the expansion listing of "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats Phase 2."

The IUCN determined that the Phase 2 site meets Criterion X, which recognizes the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including threatened species, from a scientific or conservation standpoint. On that basis, it recommended that the World Heritage Committee approve a significant boundary modification that would substantially expand the boundaries of the existing "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" World Heritage property. The IUCN also found that the property satisfies the criteria for heritage value, integrity, and protection and management requirements under the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

A recommendation for inscription by a UNESCO advisory body such as the IUCN is a decisive step toward a final World Heritage listing. Advisory body reviews result in one of four outcomes — inscription, referral, deferral or non-inscription — and it is extremely rare for a recommended inscription to be overturned at the full committee session.

The Phase 2 expansion application seeks to add the Yeosu, Goheung, Muan and Seosan tidal flats to the existing World Heritage property, enlarging both its component parts and total area. If the listing is confirmed, "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" will become a serial property comprising six components: the Boseong-Suncheon-Yeosu-Goheung tidal flat, the Sinan-Muan Tando Bay tidal flat, the Muan Hamhae Bay tidal flat, the Gochang tidal flat, the Seocheon tidal flat and the Seosan tidal flat.

Muan tidal flat [National Heritage Administration]

"Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2021 at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, which recognized the outstanding universal value of four tidal flat areas: Seocheon, Gochang, Sinan and Boseong-Suncheon. At the time of inscription, the committee recommended that South Korea pursue a Phase 2 expansion to include additional tidal flat areas in order to further strengthen the property's outstanding universal value.

Alongside its recommendation for the expansion listing, the IUCN urged South Korea to continue analyzing additional tidal flat areas with potential outstanding universal value and to sustain efforts to secure community support. It also recommended ensuring that traditional fishing and tidal flat resource-harvesting practices are passed down sustainably, and that international cooperation with relevant state parties be strengthened to protect key habitats within the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

The final decision on the Phase 2 listing will be made at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, to be held in Busan in July. The National Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said they plan to work closely with relevant local governments, communities and the Korean Tidal Flats World Heritage Inscription Promotion Group to strengthen conservation and management of the site's World Heritage values, while faithfully implementing the IUCN's recommendations to secure a final inscription decision at the upcoming committee session.

terry@heraldcorp.com