Succeeding the 8th UNESCO Regional Network in East Asia of World Network of Biosphere Reserves (EABRN) held in Mongolia on August 18 - 22 2003, the 9th meeting of EABRN will be held in the Jeju Island's Biosphere Reserve in 2005.

At the 8th EABRN, 100 delegations from six countries of Northeast Asia- the Republic of Korea, North Korea, Japan, People's Republic of China, Mongolia, and Russian Federation - have participated to discuss matters regarding educational training, eco-tourism, conservation policy, transboundary conservation and managerial policies. In addition, it was decided to establish a Task Force by October as means to develop educational training programs for young ecologists and biosphere reserves managers.

Participants at the 8th EABRN agreed upon hosting the next 9th meeting in Jeju Island's Biosphere Reserve. There, core agendas for discussion would include sustainable consumption and preservation of the Island's Biosphere, and degrees of regional participations (local residences, regional environmental groups, district government, etc) in decision makings related to the Biosphere Reserves.

The Ministry of Environment and the Jeju Island will cooperate with UNESCO to invite various global participants experiencing similar regional characteristics, in order to promote excellent environmental conditions of Jeju's biosphere reserves, as well as to create channels for embracing and applying various perspectives towards the reserve management.

In addition, hosting of the 9th EABRN in Jeju Island will serve as a valuable opportunity in promoting Korea's outstanding nature and environment preservation policies internationally.

Jeju Island was included to the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in December 2002, and there are currently three Biosphere Reserves in Korea. (Seo-Rak Mt., Baek-Du Mt., and Jeju Island)