The Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature (KNCCN) was established in 1977 as an independent, non-governmental organization to promote nationwide movement for conservation of nature

<< Chronology >>

1977 Oct. Establishment and first general meeting
1978 Oct. Adoption and Declaration of the Charter of Nature Conservation
1979 Jan. First Campaign against littering
1979 Apr. Membership in IUCN granted. First Seminar on Nature Conservation
1982 Aug. First Ecosystem Survey
1986 Jan. Transformation from Government lead to civilian movement
1987 Jul. Sister organization with Royal Nepal Nature Conservation Association
1996 Sept. Celebrated 100th volume of “Nature Conservation”, KNCCN’s bi-monthly publication

<< Organization >>

Chairman
Board of Directors
Seoul H.Q.
16 Regional Councils organized at province and special City level
231 Sub-Councils organized at county and city level(under Regional Councils)

<< Objectives >>

- Recognize the value of environmental preservation and develop its practice among the general public
- Promote public awareness toward better environment through available educational systems
- Attain integrated and scientifically surveyed results with widest range of beneficial uses of the environment
- Enhance the recommended uses of the environment and the quality of renewable resources
- Assure for all Korean a safe, healthful, productive and culturally pleasing natural environment
- Practice, communicate and exchange ideas with all levels of governmental, civilian, and regional establishments

<< Major Activities >>

- Planning and development of nation
-wide conservation strategies and projects
- Campaigning for conservation movements and guidance of their progress
- Supporting all environmentally concerned institutions' conservation activities including scientific research programs and the activities concerning the understanding of ecological systems and natural resources important to nation
- Enhancing the quality of environment using all practicable means and measures including education systems and publications
- Other activities concerning environmental quality and conservation

<< Achievements and other activities >>

1. Educational and campaign activities

○ National lecturing tours on conservation strategies
○ Student speech contests on preservation
○ Seminars
○ Photographic exhibitions
○ Maintaining of the Information Center
○ Bird watching trips
○ Nature tour programs for school children
○ Recruiting and educational programs for junior and high school teachers
○ Lecturing tours at the nation-wide training camps and regional conservation units
○ Conservation activity essay contests
○ Environmental cleaning-up contests and campaign
○ Activity of Underwater cleaning-up
○ Public survey questionnaires concerning environmental issues
○ Contest of Korea's 100 best preserved natural areas
○ Pocket book of the voluntary surveillance guard
○ Production of teaching aides, slides, files and supplementary texts on environmental concerns
○ Fund raising bazar
○ Contest of Korea's 100 best preserved water

2. Publications

○ The Preservation of Nature(bimonthly magazine)
○ The Conservation Manual
○ The conservation Movement: Its Direction and Practices
○ Collection of Literary Works on Conservation
○ Conservation Song Book
○ Natural Conservation Charter Review Book
○ Conservation Guide Book
○ Complete Collection of Laws and Regulations on Conservation
○ Voluntary Surveillance Manual on Environment
○ Conservation Activity Essay Book
○ Reports on the Survey of Natural Environment in Korea(Technical Papers)
○ Observation of nature Guide Book
○ The way of conservation(caricature)

3. Technical Surveys of nature in Korea

○ Wando and its adjacent Island in July 1982
○ Deogjeog Island in July 1982 ·Jodo Area, Dadohae Marine National Park in July 1983
○ Komundo Area, Dadohae Marine National Park in July 1984
○ Chujado area in July 1985 ·Huksando area in July 1986
○ Paengnyongdo, Taechongdo and Sochongdo Islands in July 1987
○ Oeyondo area in July 1988
○ Anma archipelago in August 1989
○ Uleung and Dogdo Islands in August 1995
○ Pogil Islands in August 1996
○ Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay, Vietnam in July 1997
○ Wooi Islands in August 1998

4. Consulting Service on Conservation

○ Environmental Impact Assessments on Okpo Industrial Park and industrial waste disposal site of Pohang Steel Mill(1983)
○ Survey on the Han-River ecosystem and on the environmental study of near DMZ, Korea(1987)
○ Survey on Daechung-Lake ecosystem(1991)
○ Survey on Mt. Myungji and Mukap, Kyonggi-do natural ecosystem(1991)
○ Survey on Hoein-Stream, Chungchungbuk-do natural ecosystem(1992)
○ Survey on Kyungan-Stream, Kyunggi-do natural ecosystem(1992)
○ Survey on Kyungan-Stream, Kyunggi-do natural ecosystem(1994)

5. Publicity Campaign

Production and distribution of the following

○ onservation emblem and insignia
○ Poster, sticker, badge, leaflet, waste bag
○ Adoption of conservation mottoes
○ Monument, placed and banners

6. Operation of Voluntary Surveillance System

○ Recruiting and educational support of the voluntary surveillance guard
○ Award for meritorious persons of the voluntary surveillance guard
○ Activation of the children service company

7. Exhibition for Public Subscription and Achievement Awards

○ Award for conservation activity essay contests
○ Award for contest of Korea's 100 best preserved natural areas
○ Award for conservation watchword contests
○ Award for conservation photo contests
○ Award for conservation speech contests
○ Award for environmental clean-up contests and campaign
○ Award for contest of Korea's 100 best preserved water

8. International Cooperation

○ 1978 Participation in the 14th IUCN General Assembly at Ashkabad, USSR
○ 1981 Participation in the 15th IUCN General Assembly at Christchurch, New Zealand
○ 1984 Participation in the 16th IUCN General Assembly at Madrid, Spain
○ 1988 Participation in the 17th IUCN General Assembly at San Jose, Costa Rica
○ 1988 Conclusion of an international agreement with the KMTNC in Nepal
○ 1992 Participation in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the “Earth Summit”
○ 1994 Participation in the 1st Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties at Nassau, Bahamas
○ 1994 Participated in the meeting of ISRLE conference in Matsumoto, Japan and discussed the possibility of nature survey between Korea and Vietnam
○ 1995 Received visit from Northeast Asia representative of IUCN
○ 1997 Operation of Joint Academic Survey of Vietnamese Natural Environment
○ 1999 IUCN/WCPA-EA-3 held in Seoul, Korea in September
○ 2000 Participated in the meeting of IUCN in Amman, Jordan and discussed the possibility of joint natural conservation with North Korean delegates