Creation of 'Alternative Bird Habitat' in Songdo, Incheon... Linked with Section 11-2 Land Reclamation Works

The Black-faced Spoonbill on the artificial island of Namdong Retention Basin
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The creation of an alternative bird habitat within Songdo International City in the Incheon Free Economic Zone will be promoted in the second half of this year in conjunction with the reclamation work of Section 11-2.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on the 5th that once the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy approves the revised development plan for Songdo International City, which includes the site for the alternative bird habitat, within this month, a basic planning project will be carried out in the second half of the year. The authority plans to proceed with the construction of the alternative bird habitat in connection with the reclamation and infrastructure work of Section 11-2.

The alternative bird habitat will be a shallow open wetland covering 177,497㎡ located north of Songdo Section 11-2, equipped with waterbird resting areas, ecological trails, birdwatching towers, and a mudflat experience park.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority expects that the project to restore the reclaimed land environment and create new wetlands will transform Songdo into an international ecological city.

In particular, by protecting waterbirds including endangered species and establishing parks, birdwatching towers, and wetland centers where people can learn about nature, it will raise public awareness of the importance of natural ecology and provide spaces for relaxation.

The alternative bird habitat project is a mandatory compliance project approved as a countermeasure against the destruction of habitats for waterbirds such as the Saunders's gull and black-headed gull in the environmental impact assessment of the Songdo reclamation project.

Initially, an artificial island of 5,600㎡ was planned to be created on the east mudflat of Songdo Section 11 to serve as a breeding ground for Saunders's gull and other bird resting areas, but this plan faced opposition from environmental groups concerned about overlapping functions with the Saunders's gull island in the nearby Namdong retention basin, damage to mudflats and bird feeding grounds, and controversies over violations of the Ramsar Wetlands international convention.

Accordingly, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority canceled the artificial island construction plan based on consultations with bird experts and international workshops, and changed the plan to create an alternative habitat functioning as a waterbird resting area during high tide.

The Songdo mudflat area, designated as Korea's 19th Ramsar wetland in 2014, is a major habitat for endangered species such as the Saunders's gull, as well as black-tailed gulls, common gulls, and sandpipers. Globally, about 2,700 Saunders's gulls remain, of which 200 to 300 lay eggs every spring in the Songdo mudflats.

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