Gochang-gun Secures Budget for Ecosystem Service Payment Contract Project

Published 29 Dec.2021 09:30(KST)

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk, has secured a budget of 160 million KRW for the ‘Ecosystem Service Payment Contract Project (Rice Straw Retention Project)’ to provide food and resting places for winter migratory birds around Dongnim Reservoir.

According to the county on the 29th, the ecosystem service payment contract project refers to the benefits humans receive from ecosystems, called ecosystem services.

Also, to preserve excellent ecosystem areas, local government heads and local residents sign contracts for ecosystem conservation, and if residents faithfully fulfill the contract terms, the local government head provides incentives accordingly.

Among these, the ‘Rice Straw Retention Project’ provides food and resting spaces for winter migratory birds by leaving the rice straw uncollected after harvest or cutting it into 10?15 cm pieces and leaving it as is.

Dongnim Reservoir is a globally significant migratory bird habitat where endangered species such as the Baikal teal, greater white-fronted goose, whooper swan, and mallard overwinter every year. It is designated as a core area of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Previously, since 2014, the county secured 33 million KRW for biodiversity management projects and began providing incentives to farmers within 1 km of Dongnim Reservoir.

This year, management contracts were signed at a unit price of 45 KRW per square meter, and 35 million KRW in project funds were paid to 51 farms and 300 plots in Seongnae-myeon and Heungdeok-myeon areas.

Next year, with more than triple the budget secured for the ecosystem service payment contract project, the project area will be expanded to within 2 km of the water body, and the contract unit price will also be increased to more than 45 KRW per square meter.

County Governor Yu Gisang said, “Dongnim Reservoir is a representative winter migratory bird habitat, and the number of migratory birds residing there is increasing every year. We will continue to strive to conserve diverse biological resources, create stable habitats, and increase residents’ income to make Gochang a place where people and nature coexist harmoniously.”