Suwon City and Chollipo Arboretum Join Hands to Develop Premium Arboretum

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City, which is pursuing the development of the "Suwon Arboretum" with an opening target in 2022, has pledged mutual cooperation with Chollipo Arboretum in Taean, Chungcheongnam Province, the representative of Korea's leading private arboretums, to make it a premier arboretum.

The city and Chollipo Arboretum signed a business agreement on the 4th at the Suwon City Hall situation room to establish a mutual cooperation system for exhibition, conservation, and education of plant genetic resources.

Under the agreement reached that day, the two organizations will cooperate on ▲collection and exchange of plant genetic resources to promote biodiversity ▲joint research, research technical support, and consultation for plant genetic resource conservation ▲operation and joint development of plant exhibition and education programs, and exchange of human resources.

Chollipo Arboretum, known as an arboretum embracing the Taean sea, possesses world-class collections of important plant genetic resources such as magnolia, Ilex cornuta, and Mugunghwa, and is recognized for its high expertise in the collection, propagation, conservation, and education of plants.

Through this agreement with Chollipo Arboretum, the city plans to introduce various important plant genetic resources to the Suwon Arboretum and implement know-how for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity.

In addition, the city plans to incorporate Chollipo Arboretum's efforts—which go beyond simple viewing to include garden stay, environmental education, exhibitions, and Mugunghwa festivals that allow visitors to experience nature in their daily lives—so that the Suwon Arboretum can be developed as a space connecting diverse trees to future generations.

In particular, by signing an agreement with Chollipo Arboretum following the National Institute of Forest Science last month, the city expects to take another step toward the goal of developing the Suwon Arboretum as an ecological landmark by receiving expertise from the nation's two leading arboretums.

Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young said, "We are grateful to Chollipo Arboretum for responding to this meaningful agreement to help the two arboretums that Suwon City is preparing to develop be well-established," and added, "Let us continue our mutual cooperation efforts so that the extensive and deep accumulated expertise of Chollipo Arboretum can be applied to the Suwon Arboretum."

Meanwhile, the "Suwon Arboretum," which is being developed with an opening target in 2022 within Ilwol Park in Cheoncheon-dong on a scale of 101,500 square meters, will feature ecological gardens such as wetland garden, rock garden, forest garden, and dry garden, as well as decorative gardens, winter garden, edible garden, and rainwater garden where visitors can see various plants and garden design techniques.