A delegation from the Republic of Korea has been visiting some of East Anglia's flagship nature reserves as they forge new links with UK conservationists.
Officials from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation toured RSPB sites at Snettisham and Titchwell.
Groups in the two countries are set to sign a memorandum of understanding, which pledges to work together to better protect, restore and raise awareness of coastal wetlands.
Korea's Getbol tidal flats were given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021, in recognition of their importance.
Their 128,000 acres on the west and south of the republic are home to threatened species of international importance including the mud octopus, Japanese mud crabs, fiddler crab, bristle worms, and sand snails, as well as home to migrant birds.
Similar habits along the East Coast have also been nominated and the RSPB and other groups hope they will also join the coveted list, which gives them protection under international law.
At Titchwell senior site manager Hayley Roan explained the reserve, which is visited by 70,000 people a year, is home to rare species such as marsh harriers, bitterns and avocets.
"Site staff connect people with nature and explain why it is so important to protect it," she said.
Steve Rowland, the RSPB's area manager for Norfolk and Lincolnshire, said: "It's a source of pride for Norfolk that we've got something that people do want to come and look at. It's as good as anything in the world."
RSPB staff explained how different areas of the reserve were managed, from salt marsh and saline lagoons, to freshwater wetlands.
Jeff Kew, East Coast Wetlands Programme manager with the RSPB, said: "We've been learning much about the Korean tidal flats which are an inscribed World Heritage Site.
"This will help us to plan how we go forward with our own World Heritage Site on the East Coast of England."
Shin Jae Young, director of the Marine Ecology Division of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said visitors hoped to exchange experiences and knowledge during the visit.
WHAT STATUS MEANS FOR NORFOLK
The East Coast Wetlands were nominated for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage Site status last year due to their international importance.
The wetlands cover 170,000 hectares stretching from the Humber to the Thames, which are of global importance to nature.
They form part of the East Atlantic Flyway - one of the world's eight most important routes for migratory birds.
If accepted by UNESCO the east coast wetlands could join a list of some of the world’s most famous sites, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos Islands and Mount Kilimanjaro.
As well as recognising their importance, the designation gives extra protection under international law.
The process is expected to take up to six years.
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