Restoration Project for Dae-am-san's Yongneup

In order to prevent further damages to Dae-am-san's Yongneup located in Inje County, Gangwon-do Province, the Ministry of Environment announced that a restoration work got under way. Dae-am-san's Yongneup, a marsh formed on a highland 1,260 meters above sea level, fosters 191 internationally rare species of plants such as Drosera rotundifolia , Cypripedium macranthum , Gentiana jamesii and Lychnis kiusiana and 224 species of insects including oriental fruit moth; it was designated as Ramsar wetland No. 1 in Korea in March, 1997. Ramsar wetland refers to a wetland adopted in accordance with Ramsar Convention concluded in 1971; in addition to Dae-am-san's Yongneup, Upo-neup in Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, is also designated as Ramsar wetland in Korea.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The formal title of Ramsar Convention is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat that was concluded in Ramsar, Iran, and entered into force on December 21, 1975. As of December, 1999, there are 117 member countries of the Convention, and Korea acceded to it on March 28, 1997, enforcing it from July 28 in the same year. Ramsar Convention was adopted for the purposes of preventing the erosion and loss of wetlands and protecting animals, especially waterfowl, inhabiting them. According to this Convention, wetlands refer to marshes, swamps or bogs with water, located either inland or in a marine region less than six meters deep at low tide, regardless of whether they are natural or man-made and perpetual or temporary (Article 1, Section 1) This Convention, considering wetlands as rich habitats for a diversity of living creatures, greatly value their ecological functions and recognize them as significant economic, cultural and scientific resources as well as objects for making good use of leisure. However, wetlands are gradually being damaged and destroyed by serious and irretrievable environmental havoc; accordingly, they need recovery and restoration. Ramsar Convention calls for a wise use of wetlands to preserve them. Wise use refers to the way natural resources are used in so far as the ecological system is preserved for the sustained welfare of humanbeings by taking, if necessary, strict protective measures. The signatory parties to the Convention should take due account of preserving wetlands when they plan the use of their national lands and implement the plan in so far as the wetlands in their territory are wisely utilized (Article 3, Section 1). This Convention originally placed its primary emphasis on preserving wetlands as the habitat for waterfowl, but the scope of its application gradually expanded over time. That is, wetlands are not only valued as the habitat for waterfowl but should be regarded in all comprehensive respects, particularly as an important ecosystem to preserve the biological diversity for the welfare of the human society as a whole. It is for this reason that this Convention is generally referred to as the "Convention on Wetlands." Ramsar Convention calls upon the member countries to expand wetlands and establish wetland preservation zone (Article 3 & 4). In addition, it stipulates that the member countries should select the areas to be included in "the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List)" (Article 2). As of December, 1999, 117 countries have chosen 1,011 wetlands registered on Ramsar List, totalling an area of 71,845,894 hectares. Of these, Korea has designated two wetlands with an area of 960 hectares. Ramsar Convention had no provision for revision at the time of its adoption, but the Protocol to Amend the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat concluded in 1984 stipulates the procedure for revision. French, German and Russian versions as well as the English original are also adopted to increase the number of signatories.

Korean Wetlands and Preservation Policy

Korea has a wide-ranging distribution of wetlands both inland and along the coastline. The muddy beaches developed along the western coast (3% of the total area of South Korea) is known as one of five wetlands of great international importance, and, additionally, there are 21 other wetlands such as inland lakes, estuaries and natural swamps with a total area of 107,000 hectares. All of these wetlands are registered with WWF or IUCN, and Yongneup of Dae-am-san and Upo-neup in Changnyeong, in particular, are registered as Ramsar wetlands. Major wetlands in Korea include: Ganghwa-do Island, Cheonsu-man Bay, Yeongjong-do Island, Asan-man Bay, Namyang-man Bay, Junam Reservoir, estuary of Nakdong-gang River, Geumgang River, Mangyeong-gang River, Dongjin-gang River and Cheorwon plains. These wetlands, complete with the conditions for the inhabitation of migratory birds, have become world-class habitats of birds of passage. In order to maintain wetlands efficiently and to live up to the objectives of Ramsar Convention, Korea has enacted the Law for the Preservation of Wetlands in February, 1999. In accordance with this Law, the state is obligated to preserve wetlands and is required to draw up and implement a basic plan to make researches and preservative measure for them. Preliminary studies on the realities of ecological system and pollution should be conducted every five years, to be followed up by in-depth studies, when necessary (Articles 3, 4 & 5). Wetlands of special value should be designated as wetland preservation zone (Article 8), and preservation facilities should be installed (Article 12). Those who violate the Law are subjected to a specific term of penal servitude or a considerable amount of fine, and when representatives of juridical person, legal persons or employees violate the Law, not only the perpetrator but also the legal person or individual will be punished (Article 26: Dual Punishment). However, despite the enactment of the strict provisions of the Law, Korean wetlands everywhere are giving way to developmental theories and environmental pollution. Reclamation projects are under way all along the western coast, filling up the muddy shores, and the inflow of everyday sewerage and the oil pollution are wreaking havoc with the muddy beaches. Ganghwa-do, Cheonsu-man, Yeongjong-do and Asan-man, among others, are already contaminated destroying the ecosystem, thus resulting in the decrease of migratory birds; what's more, fisher-folk who have been dependent on the muddy beaches for their living are suffering heavy losses. The construction of apartment buildings in the neighborhood of Junam Reservoir worsened the pollution there, and the estuary of Nakdong-gang River, once a haven for a multitude of migratory birds, is now contaminated, resulting in a drastic reduction in the number and diversity of birds. In this light, legislation and environmental policy, though necessary, are not sufficient; a wide-ranging consensus among the general public and preservative efforts corresponding to it should also back them up.

(Environmental Monitor, January 2000, San-ha-on Institute for Environmental Research)