▲ Hamhaeman Tidal Flat in Muan
Getbol, the Korean tidal flats serving as a habitat for about 2,400 species of marine life, including endangered migratory birds, has expanded its horizon as a World Heritage site.
During its meeting held today at BEXCO in Busan, the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to approve the Phase 2 extension of "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats."
The newly added tidal flats are located in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, and Yeosu, Goheung, and Muan in South Jeolla Province.
This expansion of the heritage site's scope and coverage comes five years after the Seocheon, Gochang, Shinan, and Boseong-Suncheon tidal flats were inscribed on the World Heritage list in 2021.
The World Heritage Committee evaluated that "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" meets the World Heritage listing criteria concerning biodiversity and the conservation of endangered species.
It further explained that the site serves as a core habitat within the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, contributing to the international conservation of migratory waterbirds and various marine life.
Korean tidal flats are regarded as a treasure trove of rare species.
Stretching along the west and south coasts of the Korean Peninsula, the tidal flats feature diverse sedimentary environments such as mud, sand, and bedrock, and serve as an important habitat where millions of waterbirds stop over every year.
With this expanded inscription, Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats now spans six regions: the Boseong-Suncheon-Yeosu-Goheung tidal flat, the Shinan-Muan Tando Bay tidal flat, the Hamhaeman tidal flat in Muan, the Gochang tidal flat, the Seocheon tidal flat, and the Seosan tidal flat.
This is South Korea's 15th World Heritage site and its 2nd natural heritage site.
Heo Min, Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, stated, "This is a very meaningful achievement that further strengthens the conservation value of our tidal flats' biodiversity and the integrity of the heritage."
(Photo provided by the Getbol World Heritage Inscription Promotion Group, Yonhap News)
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