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New Year’s Meeting of International Organizations’ Representatives

On January 19, 2021, a video conference among the representatives of international organizations such as Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea (HSF Korea), International Crane Foundation (ICF), East-Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) and Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia (RRC-EA) was conducted to discuss joint cooperation between South and North Korea on ecological exchange.

The meeting was moderated by Mr. Gem-mook Chae, Suncheon Bay Conservation Department Manager. He welcomed and introduced the attendees Dr. Bernhard Seliger and Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi from HSF Korea, the mayor of Suncheon City Seok Huh, Doug Watkins from EAAFP, Spike Millington from ICF and Seung Oh Seo from RRC-EA. Mayor Seok Huh also pointed out that cranes represent Suncheon City and symbolize harmony and peace. After Mayor Seok Huh’s New Year’s greeting, the representatives discussed the importance of joint projects to conserve and protect migratory waterbirds. 

 

The first speaker Seung Oh Seo highlighted the importance of the meeting as a  steppingstone for improvement, especially in the current situation facing two major challenges, COVID-19 pandemic and the political situation. Doug Watkins agreed and underlined that the current situation calls for reconciliation and support within the community and among the cooperation partners. He further pointed out that Suncheon could be established as a city of thousand cranes only with the help of the city and the citizens. According to Doug Watkins,  engagement of the community, as well as respect and comprehension for environmental protection, are what makes Suncheon City a “prime example of successful sustainable development”.

 

Spike Millington supported this claim by praising Suncheon City for its environmental conservation, adding that Suncheon has always been a leader. He further emphasized that while politics and relations might change, cranes will always migrate. Hence, it is people’s duty and responsibility to protect resting sites and wetlands. To ensure successful sustainability, he sees the need in connecting the people around the cranes, in which he sees significant improvement. All concerned countries are cooperating and “it is just the right time for the Sky highway suggestion” As Millington states.

 

In the free discussion, all representatives agreed that the proposed Rumi Sky Road Connection Project, which includes events such as the production of a photobook and a photo competition, is very promising and much needed for the international cooperation. The project is expected to contribute to bringing the Korean Peninsula, the one and only divided country in this world, much closer.

 

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