Suwon City and Korea National Arboretum Launch 'Plant Governance' for Plant Genetic Resource Conservation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-seong] Suwon Special City and the Korea National Arboretum have decided to cooperate on plant genetic resource conservation through 'plant governance.'

Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon and Park Young-seok, Director of the Korea National Arboretum, signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding for Display, Preservation, and Education of Plant Genetic Resources' at the Korea National Arboretum in Pocheon on the 12th.

Under the agreement, the two institutions pledged to △conduct joint research for plant genetic resource conservation △exchange and support forest biological resources △review technologies and provide consultation on arboretum and garden development △support and cooperate in operating display and educational programs △exchange information and cooperate on garden industry and garden plants, among other initiatives.

The city will participate in the 'Korea National Arboretum Plant Governance Project.' The plant governance project is an effort where the central government and local governments collaborate to conserve, restore, and propagate region-based plant resources using plants as a medium. Additionally, the city plans to provide sites for native plant gardens and recruit citizens to participate in garden construction.

Drawing on accumulated knowledge from research and development including mass propagation technology and cultivation, the Korea National Arboretum will promote the conservation, restoration, and propagation of six species including rare plants of Suwon such as Cremastra variabilis and Cheilanthes kuomintangiana, as well as native plants bearing the name 'Suwon' including Sanguisorba tenuifolia subsp. longifolia, Susuongoal, Carex suwonensis, Eleocharis suwonensis, Adenophora suwonensis, and Populus ussuriensis var. suwonensis.

The city is conducting various collaborative activities with the Korea National Arboretum including ESG programs (corporate environmental and social contribution activities) such as Ecoteering and Citizen Participation Programs for the Cherry Blossom Ending.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun of Suwon said, "We will promote the creation of carbon-neutral gardens in citizens' daily lives by enhancing business cooperation related to the garden industry and garden plants," and added, "We ask for citizens' participation and interest so that Suwon's carbon-neutral garden model can be expanded throughout the city."