On December 14th, “2017 Yancheng International Symposium on the sustainable development of the Yellow (Bohai) Sea wetland and the world natural heritage” was opened at Yancheng, Jiangsu. More than 100 experts from the Globe attended the symposium for discussion on the management of the wetland in the coastal area of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf, world heritage nomination and sustainable development. Wen Cheng, expert from Beijing Center of WHITR-AP, participated the symposium.

On February 2017, Wen’s team prepared the tentative list document, The Coast of Bohai Gulf and Yellow Sea of China, for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, which was submitted to the UNESCO. There are 14 sites, including the site in Yancheng, covering almost all the key stopover sites recognized by the international expertise.

On a sub-forum coordinating the serial nomination in coastal provinces (Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu), Wen Cheng pointed out that: 1. The OUVs of the Yellow Sea have been fully recognized internationally. 2. The geological, ecological, and biological OUVs of the coast of Bohai Gulf and Yellow Sea in China significantly vary from Korean Side. However, the management is the key issue for the nomination. It is of the highest priority to realize the harmony between human and nature, as well as sustainability in the region.