FORESTS WITHOUT NAMES

/FORESTS WITH@EY¥F NAMES A GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO NAME AND MAP KELP FORESTS, CREATING A NEW VISUAL SYSTEM THAT GIVES UNSEEN ECOSYSTEMS IDENTITY, FORM, AND PRESENCE. @ xHYunoAl THE CONTEXT We name what we care about_ We've named forests, rivers, and mountain ranges across the planet, giving them names and clear boundaries. Almost nothing on land is left without a defined identity. We've even mapped and named craters on the Moon and Mars. Places like the Amazon or Yosemite are not just locations. Because they are named and defined, they become part of how we talk about the world. They appear in schoolbooks, in headlines, in conversation. People know them, refer to them, and fight for them. Naming also makes places easier to protect. When something has a clear name and boundaries, it can be written into law, managed, measured, and defended. It becomes something governments can regulate, organizations can monitor, and people can rally around. But somehow, we forgot something_ Kelp forests. Some of the most valuable ecosystems in the world. But not a single kelp forest has an official name or defined boundaries. Which means they can’t be protected as forests. Until now, the only way to protect them was indirectly, as part of larger marine areas, never as forests themselves. Without a name, a place is harder to talk about, harder to point to, and easier to ignore. That’s why naming matters. Because when something has a name and clear boundaries, it has a place in our world. THE IDEA a Forests Without Names is a global initiative to give kelp forests what every protected ecosystem on land already has: a name and clearly defined boundaries. Not as a symbolic act, but to create the conditions for protection: By giving kelp forests a defined identity, they can now be referenced, studied, and acted upon as individual ecosystems. They move from being part of a broader ocean, to places that can be recognized on their own. For the first time, kelp forests can exist within the same systems as forests on land, from research and monitoring to policy and legal frameworks. Because when a place is clearly defined, it can be understood. And when it can be understood, it can be protected. SATELLITE_DATA_~ (| GLOBAL_DATA__~ LE TONGGUMI || ¥ | — YANGGAA AUKEN AIKEN | — 2% THE FIRST UNIFIED GLOBAL MAP FOR KELP FORESTS Zz On ongoing tool for NGOs and scientists_ The map was designed not as a one-off visualization, but as an ongoing tool for scientists and NGOs. At its core, it creates a shared language. For the first time, organizations worldwide can refer to the same forests, using consistent names and boundaries within a unified system. Downloadable white papers for every forest_ Each named forest is supported by a downloadable white paper detailing its boundaries, data sources, and ecological significance—turning every location into a credible reference. This gives scientists, NGOs, and policymakers something they can use directly, ensuring every name is evidence-backed and supports research, advocacy, and protection. Creating evidence packs for global mapping systems_ Getting a place onto platforms like Google Maps requires rigorous, verifiable proof. Defined boundaries, official names, and scientific validation that meet strict technical standards. So from the very beginning, the map was designed to meet those requirements. Every data point, every boundary, and every recorded name contributes to an evolving evidence pack, making it possible to submit these forests as real, recognized places on the most used map in the world. WHY HYUNDAI oY A commitment that started before this project_ Hyundai has been involved in ocean restoration for several years. In South Korea, it partnered with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency to restore sea forests along the coastline of Ulsan. In parallel, Hyundai has worked with the Healthy Seas foundation to remove marine waste across Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Over 320 tons of debris have been collected and recycled into materials used in its vehicles. ‘Forests Without Names’ builds on this work, extending it from restoration to definition and protection, BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR PROTECTION 4. Unify global data_ We brought together fragmented datasets from NGOs and research institutes around the world. Coordinates were cross-referenced, conflicts resolved, and formats standardized. 2. Define clear boundaries_ Using that unified data, we defined precise geographic boundaries for each forest, turning scattered information into clearly identifiable ecosystems. 3. Give them official names_ ‘Across three continents, names were developed with local and Indigenous communities, transforming unseen ecosystems into recognized places. 4, Enable legal recognition_ These named and defined forests are now recognized by governments, institutes, and NGOs, giving them the same legal standing as forests on land. Pl [Naneene J )[AUKEN ATKEN