Wando Archipelago Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2021, in Republic of Korea. Located at the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, the Wando Archipelago Biosphere Reserve comprises 265 islands – 55 inhabited – with marine waters accounting for almost 90% of the site’s area. A warm, humid oceanic climate shapes warm-temperate forests on land and extensive intertidal and nearshore habitats at sea. The reserve’s principal objectives include conserving terrestrial and marine biodiversity, promoting sustainable development grounded in terrestrial and marine ecosystem services, and establishing participatory, community-led conservation and use.