Building on solid foundations: how South Korea continues to champion area-based conservation through the MOSAIC30 initiative

Field survey on the conservation assets of the National Trust of Korea (©KNPS) 

Looking back: building momentum for OECMs and the Green List 

Near the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), rice paddies managed by local communities have become an important refuge for migratory birds, including the iconic red-crowned and white-naped cranes. In 2022, the Rice Paddies for Cranes in Cheorwon became South Korea's first candidate site to be recognised as an Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure (OECM). This recognition highlighted the value of integrating cultural and natural heritage in conservation practice, showcasing a compelling example of how conservation can be driven by local communities while remaining culturally respectful and delivering meaningful ecological outcomes. 

This achievement was supported through the project "Guiding National and Regional Contributions to the Global Biodiversity Framework through Effective Systems of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Republic of Korea and Asia", which helped advance OECM recognition and strengthen discussions on conservation effectiveness across Korea and the wider Asian region. This 2022-2024 project was supported by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea and led by IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas.  

Activities also included national and regional dialogues on OECMs to celebrate their progress in the Republic of Korea, also discussing the potential of the IUCN Green List to monitor and enhance the effectiveness of OECMs. 

Leveraging Korea’s leadership and lessons from previous engagements 

Building on these achievements as a solid foundation, a new initiative is now taking Korea's leadership to the next level. The project "Pathways to 30x30 through OECMs as part of the Integrated Protected and Conserved Areas System in South Korea, Asia, and Beyond" (MOSAIC30), aims to develop national roadmaps for Target 3 implementation, expand OECM recognition, promote the IUCN Green List Standard, and strengthen transparent reporting towards global biodiversity targets. 

Spanning from 2025-2027, the initiative is supported under the IUCN-Republic of Korea Partnership Framework and led by the IUCN Protected and Conserved Areas with a strong collaboration of the IUCN Asia Regional Office, IUCN China Office and the Korea National Park Service (KNPS). 

Progress in South Korea, Asia and globally 

At a national level, MOSAIC30 has supported the institutionalisation of OECMs in South Korea through strengthened coordination, expert engagement, capacity building, targeted field activities and streamlined procedures. Key achievements include establishing the 30×30 Alliance and Expert Group, integrating OECMs into national reporting systems and providing additional support for identifying potential non-state OECMs.  

Beyond South Korea, the project has facilitated knowledge exchange and capacity building across Asia through existing regional platforms such as Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP), Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) and Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME). Helping countries adapt OECM guidance to their respective national governance, legal and ecological contexts. Additional outreach included KNPS participation in technical spaces, which explored opportunities and challenges for expanding the effective systems of protected and conserved areas systems through broader stakeholder engagement, including the Regional Workshop on Advancing OECMs in Asia (Tokyo) in June 2026.   

The IUCN Green List Standard has emerged as an important reference framework, helping position OECMs as evolving conservation commitments rather than static designations, while supporting their credibility and long-term effectiveness. 

At the global level, MOSAIC30 has demonstrated the value of engaging early with international policy and technical processes to align national and regional action with global biodiversity goals. The IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2025 provided an important opportunity showcase South Korea's leadership on 30x30 and facilitate exchanges on OECMs with partners from across the region.  

What's coming next?

As KNPS advances on re-certification process for its National Parks, a key priority will be exploring how the IUCN Green List Standard can be more effectively adapted and applied to OECMs. The project will also place greater emphasis on engaging non-state actors and exploring incentives for private sector involvement in OECMs and financing mechanisms for their sustainability. This will include identifying global case studies on diverse OECMs incentive systems and their relation to the TNFD framework.   

Looking ahead, MOSAIC30 will continue to support national, regional and global knowledge exchange, while fostering collaboration among governments, experts, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. Participation in major international events, including CBD COP17, IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress 2027 and other relevant policy fora, will maintain the momentum going, enabling knowledge sharing, partnership strengthening, and advancing discussions on effective area-based conservation. 

As countries work towards achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework, including Target 3, which calls for 30% of land, water and sea to be protected by 2030, South Korea continues to demonstrate that effective conservation involves more than just increasing the area under protection. It also requires strong governance, effective management, and meaningful engagement with local communities. Through initiatives such as MOSAIC30, South Korea is not only building on its previous achievements, but also strengthening Protected and Conserved Areas, promoting OECMs and the IUCN Green List Standard, and contributing to lasting biodiversity outcomes in Korea, Asia and beyond.