• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.223-239
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• 2024

Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats, were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2021. They have been recognized as important habitats for endangered species and are crucial for the conservation of biodiversity. However, tidal flats do not exist solely as pure nature. Rather, they are places in which local residents have interacted with nature since ancient times. For the sustainable development of Korean tidal flats, it is necessary to consider not only the natural value of the tidal flats, but also the values of the lives and culture of the local residents who have interacted with nature. Nature-culture integrated conservation and management efforts centered on places encompasses all the natural and cultural elements of the tidal flats, as well as the tangible and intangible elements that emerge from the interaction between nature and culture. Ultimately, this will enable local residents to participate in tidal flat conservation and management, preserve and maintain biodiversity and cultural diversity, and develop specialized projects suited to the region, thereby bringing about sustainable development.