Gochang is a coastal city located in South Jeolla Province, the Republic of Korea. The Ungok Wetlands and Gochang Tidal Flats are wetland ecosystems connected through the Incheon River and provide a variety of valuable ecosystem services to human society. In particular, the ecosystem services provided by wetlands have become a very important resource for people living in Gochang-gun. Local communities, fully understanding the importance of wetlands, have been conserving and using wetlands wisely for many years.

Currently, two committees are separately operated to reflect the differences between inland and coastal wetlands in terms of ecosystem characteristics, surrounding environment, management departments, and legal grounds for operation.

For the wise use and conservation of inland wetlands, Gochang-gun has established and operated the Local Management Committee. The committee consists of local residents who have knowledge and experience on wetlands, experts, local representatives, public officers from Gochang-gun and relevant government agencies, etc. It serves as a key consultative body for the conservation and wise use of wetlands in Ungok, and holds a regular meeting every two months to discuss any relevant matters.

In addition, Gochang-gun has established and operated the Gochang-gun Coastal Wetland Protection Management Committee since 2013 for the conservation and wise use of coastal wetlands. The committee consists of representatives of stakeholders and communities, and its regular meetings serve as a decision-making body for Gochang-gun Tidal Flat conservation policies and management projects.

In order to conserve the ecosystem services of wetlands, the central government and Gochang-gun have designated the Gochang Tidal Flat Wetland Protected Area in 2007, and the Ungok Wetland Protected Area in 2011. They are managed under the comprehensive protection management system focusing on the connection of inland-river-coastal wetlands.

The government has been promoting wetland restoration projects with local communities to strengthen and conserve ecosystem services and biodiversity in wetlands. As for the coastal wetland restoration, two projects were undertaken to restore abandoned aquafarms to tidal flats, while in the case of inland wetlands, rice paddy banks and ponds were restored with direct involvement of residents to prevent wetlands from becoming dry.

For the purpose of efficient wetland education and information, Gochang-gun has been operating the Ramsar Gochang Tidal Flat Center since 2016. The center develops and operates customized educational programs, materials, and tools for young children, elementary and secondary school students, general public, and families. The center’s annual visitors are approximately 12,000, with more than 3,000 participating in the center’s educational programs each year. The center continuously updates and improves educational programs, textbooks, teaching aids, and exhibits, and focuses on vitalizing the center’s educational programs by training tidal-flat eco-guides and professional instructors.