Project Ark powers Netflix hit show “Narco Saints''- inspired Green Metaverse and Ecotourism in Jeju
The most watched drama series gave birth to a new script of Green Metaverse and ecotourism to the greenest country on earth and the most eco-diverse island in Korea
19 October, 2022 Jeju Korea
Since its release in September, the Korean hit show “Narco Saints'' about drug trafficking in Suriname continues to gain popularity as one of the global top 3 most watched series on Netflix. The Suriname government has threatened to take legal action against the producers of the hit show that has fostered a negative image of the South America nation. The movie was supposed to be based on real live events that took place some two decades ago and some of the major scenes were shot on Jeju island in Korea.
Today, the plot thickens with the creation of Sister Forests between Suriname and Jeju Island and the launch of Sister Forests for Regeneration of Critical Ecosystem (SFRCE), a new initiative created by John Goedschalk, Jeju-based X8M and Carbonbase, a climate-tech company, that’s dedicated to the preservation and regeneration of global “critical ecosystems”.
The new initiative will focus on:
Building an eco thinktank to design and promote bioeconomics in both countries with ecotourism and education programs.
Integrating Jeju’s biodiversity to the Green metaverse connecting Suriname to Jeju in Greenverse.world promoting the world's first Preserve-to-Earn tokenomics and incentive model; specifically the initiative will create proof of impact tokens linked to Greenverse with tokenomics for ecotourism and conservation activities that contribute directly to conservation and preservation for biodiversity and habitats in both countries.
Launching the Sister Forest and Carbon Neutral Club concepts and initiatives globally starting with Jeju Island and Suriname.
“Although it saddens me to see my country portrayed in a negative way, I also welcome the attention,” said John Goedschalk, Suriname’s former Climate Negotiator at the UN and Executive Director of Conservation International. “Because Suriname, as one of only two carbon negative countries in the world, is in need of more attention and support around the world to develop our Sustainable Nature Tourism industry”.
“So from my perspective we will take the ‘lemons’ of being shown in a negative light, and we will make ‘sweet tourism lemonade’ to offer to the thirsty travelers in need of experiencing true pristine nature in the way that only Suriname can offer it”, added John who was also instrumental in drafting of the law of sustainable management of nature in 2019 and the passing of environmental framework and law in March 2020.
Known as “the Island Of Gods”, Jeju is one of most biodiverse green islands in South Korea. Certified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and named as one of the Seven New Wonders of Nature in 2011, Jeju island offers pristine beaches, waterfalls, oremus (volcanic cones), lava tube, caves, and many more awe-inspiring natural wonders that are absolutely on bucket list-worthy for any travelers.
However, Jeju Island, prized for its natural beauty, has a growing trash problem thanks to waves of visitors over the past decade. According to the local government, the amount of garbage on beaches alone increased 30 percent from 9,600 tons in 2012 to 14,000 tons last year.
Won Lee, a resident of Jeju island and founder of X8M, is on a mission to restore the pristine environment and build an eco-metaverse connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to live in a sustainable world.
Speaking of the newfound partnership, Lee stated that “with Suriname becoming a household name in South Korea, we have an opportunity to call on a global audience to protect and preserve two of the most important carbon sinks and biodiverse ecosystems on earth”.
Lee founded X8M after an illustrious career as the CEO of Gentle Monster US where he built up the Gentle Monster brand from a local boutique to a global powerhouse in luxury goods and fashion.
As the climatechnologist of the new partnership, Carbonbase has built a proven track record in leveraging and also bridging web3 technologies to fight climate change. It has successfully launched CRED, the world’s first incentive token for the voluntary carbon credit market. “We have a mandate to build a green metaverse anchored by the carbon sinks of both forests in Suriname and Jeju, delivering on a connected strategy with green Metaverse and real life ecotourism,” said Max Song, CEO and Founder of Carbonbase (Carbon Technologies). “Web3 technology will open a new pathway to fight climate change offering a scalable strategy to mitigate the detrimental effects of GHG.”
Rights free photos: (Caption from To to bottom L-R)
John Goedschalk exploring the Amazon forest in Suriname
Amazing waterfall and rainforest in Suriname
Screen cap from “Narco Saints” Netflix official trailer
Rich biodiverse and pristine beach of Jeju Island
About John Goedschalk
A native of Suriname who has dedicated his career to preserve Suriname as the greenest country on earth, John is a recognized leader in developing alternative income sources, such as from Non-Timber Forest products (such as the unique Tuhka oil from the deep Amazon forest), sustainable fisheries and other sustainable livelihood opportunities to benefit vulnerable and disadvantaged tribal and indigenous communities in the hinterland and coastal communities. Suriname’s former Climate Negotiator at the UN and the lead of Climate Compatible Development Agency within the Cabinet of the President, John also served as Executive Director of the Climate Compatible Development Agency (CCDA) where he led the development of Suriname's REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal, and represented Suriname at the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He also helped found the Friends of Green Suriname, a program within Conservation International Suriname where he has served as the executive director for a decade.
John lives in Wanica of Suriname with his wife and two children and is a regular lecturer on green growth and sustainable development at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname/SMNR.
About X8M
X8M is a creative and disruptive community-based project that utilizes a token system to connect marketers, users, brands and content creators. This community space benefits from a user-friendly interface and front-end for analytics to allow millions of creators to publish their digital & physical creations directly to a global community. By connecting creators, artists, and visionaries with content creators directly in one ecosystem, X8M facilitates the monetization of ideas through a new decentralized and democratized model.
About Carbonbase
Carbonbase is a pioneer in leveraging blockchain technology to fight climate change and the creator of CRED or Carbon Removal Credit, the world’s first incentive token for voluntary carbon offsets. Together with its sister companies Project Ark, Carbonbase wants to create the easiest way that individuals and corporations can use to take effective actions to be part of the climate solution. Carbonbase is also building the Greenverse, a tokenized model of natural assets that will link physical preservation of natural capital with digital assets. Carbonbase has pioneered the preserve-to-earn methodology for rewarding and incentivising the preservation of critical ecosystems starting with Suriname, the Greenest Country in The World.