'Endangered Waterbird Habitat' What to Do... Busan Regional Land Office Bulldozes Ahead with Hwanggang River Construction 'Despite Opposition'

Environmental Group "Ignoring Mitigation Measures in Environmental Impact Assessment, Heavy Equipment Damages White-naped Crane Habitat" Protests

Hwanggang Namsang Namha District River Environment Improvement Project Site
[Image source: Yeongnam Headquarters, Photo by Choi Soon-kyung tkv0122@asiae.co.kr]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] During the river environment maintenance project in the Hwanggang Namsang and Namha districts of Namha-myeon, Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam, it was confirmed that the white-naped crane, a natural monument and a second-class endangered species, is inhabiting the area. However, the construction has proceeded without protecting the habitat, causing controversy.

According to environmental groups in the Geochang area on the 14th, the Busan Regional Land Management Office has been widening the river and reconstructing the existing Mureunggyo Bridge in the Hwanggang Namha-myeon area since July last year to prevent flood damage.

At the construction site, it was confirmed through a small-scale environmental impact assessment conducted before the construction that the white-naped crane, designated as Natural Monument No. 330 and classified as a second-class endangered species, inhabits the area.

The small-scale environmental impact assessment strictly stipulates measures such as establishing low-noise and low-vibration construction methods, operating wheel washing and vehicle washing facilities, and regulating driving speeds when the habitat of endangered species is confirmed.

In particular, it requires the establishment of policies to minimize the impact on the reduction and damage of terrestrial animal habitats to prevent unnecessary damage to riverside vegetation, sandbanks, and gravel beds within the river outside the project section.

In this regard, the Geochang environmental group "Pureun Sannaedeul" stated, "The officials in charge at the Busan Regional Land Management Office, who should manage and supervise the site, and the site manager are completely unaware of the white-naped crane's habitat," and demanded countermeasures, saying, "The mitigation measures of the small-scale environmental impact assessment were ignored at the construction site, and heavy equipment is damaging the white-naped crane's habitat."

In response, a site official explained, "We admit that we failed to consult with local environmental groups before starting the construction," and added, "We will coordinate opinions with environmental groups in the future and strive to protect the white-naped crane's habitat by implementing low-noise construction and installing fences."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.