Promoting Civil Participation in Coastal Conservation Utilizing the Muan Tidal flat Center

Eco-Horizon Institute, Seoul, Korea

The main activities that will be developed by the Eco-Horizon Institute will be:

1.    Development of Muan Wetland Management Plan:

Organise a local committee to develop a management plan to conserve the wetland conservation area that the Muan Tidal Flat Visitors’ Center deals. The committee consists of the following local stakeholders in Muan-gun: fishermen, peasants, an NGO (Mokpo KFEM, Green Muan 21, etc.), a university/research center (Culture of Islands Institute and Tidal flat Institute of Mokpo University), and government (local government in Muan-gun).

2.    Organise a workshop for capacity building:

Organise four workshops with on-site educational activities to build and strengthen the capacity of local residents and the Muan Tidal Flat Visitors’ Center to conserve the Muan tidal flat ecosystem. The workshops will provide information to improve the awareness of local residents and to establish a conservation strategy and its implementation plan. Additionally, the workshops will provide the Center with supports to develop its educational programmes. The topics of the workshops include the international experience in tidal flat conservation, the educational programme development, the local stakeholder involvement, the monitoring of the Muan tidal flat by mobilising civil society, and the ecotourism and local economy.

3.      Carry out a site investigation of tidal flat wetland conservation areas:

Organise two study tours to other relevant tidal flat conservation areas, including Suncheonman, Jindo, Boseong/Beolgyo, and Jangbongdo. Discussion with officials at relevant visitor’ centers and other organisations will be conducted. Those organisations include the following: the Sunchen Bay Eco-Museum, the Shinan-gun Maritime Museum, the Ganghwa Tidal Flat Center, the Metropolitan Maritime, the Eco Park, the Sihwa-ho Reed Wetland Park, the Boryeong Mud Museum, the Seocheon Maritime Museum.  The result of the study will be used to develop a plan to improve stakeholder participation in managing the Muan tidal flat ecosystem. The study result will also be used for developing an educational programme of and an operational guideline for the Muan Tidal Flat Visitors’ Center.  Approximately 15 participants will attend the study tours.