Korea to host global conservation forum

South Korea will host a global conservation forum next month as part of its efforts to raise awareness on the importance of nature and promote sustainable development, officials said Thursday. 

The Environment Ministry said it will cohost the “World Leaders’ Conservation Forum 2015” in Jejudo Island on July 7-9. The forum is an upgraded event of the World Leaders Dialogues, which was first initiated at the World Conservation Congress 2012 in Jejudo.

Under the theme of “Nature: A Path to Peace and Coexistence,” the three-day event will feature several group meetings, question and answer sessions and field trips to local wildlife sites, officials said.

Environment experts, public officials and civic groups from all over the world will take part in the forum, the ministry said. They include: Inger Anderson, director general of International Union for Conservation of Nature; Yve de Bower, director general of Global Green Growth Institute; and Patricia Zurita, chief executive of Birdlife International.

Alan Weisman, the renowned author of “The World without Us,” and “Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?” will deliver a keynote speech during the opening ceremony.

More information and RSVP are available online at www.wlcf.kr until June 19.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)