Memorandum of Understanding Korea – Wadden Sea

The Korean tidal flats (Korean: Getbol) and the Wadden Sea belong to the largest and most significant coastal tidal flat ecosystems in the world. Therefore, there is mutual interest in supporting each other in the protection of these ecosystems and exchange of experiences in management, monitoring and research. In 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries (Republic of Korea) and the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation (TWSC) was signed at the International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. In 2023, an updated MoU was signed.

The MoU is the framework of collaboration on conservation and management of tidal flats, awareness raising for the protection of tidal flat ecosystems worldwide and knowledge exchange. About 240 experts have participated in the exchange since the signing, involving a total of over 2,100 persons at both sites. The MoU has raised the profile of both areas regarding protection of tidal flats nationally and internationally, underlined the necessity to provide scientific knowledge for management, strengthened the capacity for communication and education, and provided many valuable examples for practitioners which they can apply at their site.