 ⓒ EAAFP |
 ⓒ EAAFP |
On 24th March 2021, EAAFP Secretariat and KOEN Yeongheung Power Division extended their MoU with the Incheon Metropolitan City joining as the third signatory party of the MoU to support the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats in Incheon, Republic of Korea. Three years have passed since the first MoU was signed in 2018 between the EAAFP Secretariat and KOEN Yeongheung Power Division. The MoU signing ceremony was held in boardroom of G-Tower, Songdo with representatives of KOEN Yeongheung Power Division, Incheon Metropolitan City, EAAFP Secretariat and Foundation, and EAAFP Incheon Gyeonggi Task Force. The event was held in strict compliance with the government’s guidelines to prevent COVID19.
In his congratulatory remarks, Mr. Doug Watkins, the Chief Executive of EAAFP Secretariat expressed his appreciation for KOEN Yeongheung Power Division and Incheon Metropolitan City for their financial and administrative support to EAAFP. Mr. Watkins emphasized the importance of cooperation between private, non-profit and the public organizations to carry out sustainable conservation actions. He said “The Covid19 pandemic is not over yet. But our commitment to conserving migratory waterbirds and their habitats does not stop. Beyond the three years of meaningful accomplishments, we are ready for more. By extending the MOU to include Incheon Metropolitan, we will carry out and implement sustainable environmental actions despite the pandemic situation.”
Mr. Woo Yong Kim, the Vice President of KOEN Yeongheung Power Division expressed KOEN’s continuous dedication in the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats as a representative energy public enterprise located in Incheon. He said, “as a leading energy public enterprise located in Incheon, KOEN Yeongheung Power Division will actively cooperate with EAAFP Secretariat and Incheon City to conduct corporate social responsibility and create social shared values.”
Mr. Hun Su Yu, the Director-General of Environmental Greenery Bureau of Incheon Metropolitan City, acknowledged the achievements of EAAFP and KOEN Yeongheung Power Division accomplished through the MoU during the past three years of partnership. Mr. Yu also said that they are hoping their participation in the MoU will enable “harmonious communication in domestic and international networks”.
The objective of the MoU is to implement and support various activities of international environmental organizations and local environmental NGOs in regard to conserving natural monuments registered in the Republic of Korea and/or internationally endangered migratory waterbirds and their habitats in Incheon region. The extended MOU is valid for three (3) years from March 2021 to March 2024 and will be renewable upon mutual agreement. With Incheon Metropolitan City joining the MOU, the connectivity of the projects will be enhanced with strengthened communication and strong support between the parties.
During the ceremony, photos of the projects and events that have been implemented for the last 3 years with the financial support from KOEN Yeongheung Power Division were presented to the participants. The KOEN funded activities include the organization ‘Workshop on the Design & Future Management of the Proposed Songdo Wetland Centre’ (2018), Incheon Waterbirds Eco School (2018), organization of ‘Workshop to Present Activities of Civil Society Organizations & Corporate Social Responsibility to Improve Biodiversity in Incheon-Gyeonggi Bay’ (2019), production of Educational Posters “Birds of Incheon and Gyeonggi Bay” (2019), organization of Public Lecture during 2019 World Migratory Bird Day. In 2020, with the establishment of the EAAFP Foundation, KOEN Yeongheung Power Division supported to initiate a Small Grant programme for local environment NGOs in Incheon. In total, 8 local NGOs received a small grant, and the projects are expected to be completed in May 2021.
After the MOU ceremony, a donation giving ceremony followed. KOEN Yeongheung Power Division donated 50 million KRW to EAAFP Foundation. This donation will be gratefully used to implement conservation projects for migratory waterbirds and their habitats in Incheon area.
The EAAFP Secretariat welcomes the extension of the MOU and appreciates the generous donation from KOEN Yeongheung Power Division for this year. We look forward to continuing our conservation efforts jointly with KOEN Yeongheung Power Division and Incheon Metropolitan City.
