Pohang submits UNESCO biosphere reserve application for Homigot Peninsula

Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, has officially submitted a full application to UNESCO headquarters seeking designation of the Homigot Peninsula as a biosphere reserve.

According to the city Saturday, the application was finalized and submitted after a series of preparatory steps following the approval of a preliminary application in May last year — including an on-site inspection by the Korean National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Programme, expert consultations, public opinion surveys and coordination with relevant agencies.

With the submission, Homigot Peninsula now enters the final review process of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) International Coordinating Council (ICC).

A final designation decision will be made following evaluation by the International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves and deliberation by the MAB ICC.

The application covers both land and sea areas across the Homigot Peninsula.

In line with UNESCO guidelines, the area has been divided into three functional zones — a core zone, a buffer zone and a cooperation zone — designed to advance both ecosystem conservation and the region's sustainable development.

The peninsula is home to 31 species of marine protected organisms, including seagrasses and finless porpoises, as well as 22 endangered wild species such as otters, white-tailed eagles, Kentish plovers, wildcats and martens.

The area also features a rare coexistence of marine ecosystems, distinctive geological resources and terrestrial forest ecosystems. Drawing on these characteristics, Pohang has proposed an integrated land-and-sea biosphere reserve management model.

The application moves beyond the conventional approach of simply designating protected areas to restrict development. Instead, it incorporates the three core functions of UNESCO's MAB — conservation, development and support — to simultaneously pursue improvements in residents' quality of life and revitalization of the local economy.

If designated, the city plans to apply the biosphere reserve brand to locally produced seafood, agricultural products and specialty goods, raising the profile of local products and generating added value.

"We will respond thoroughly to the UNESCO review process, promote the ecological value of Homigot Peninsula, and work to build a biosphere reserve where conservation and regional development go hand in hand," a Pohang city official said.