Mungyeong Dolline Wetland, Ramsar Wetland Registration 추진... "Habitat for Martens and Wildcats"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] On the 1st, Mungyeong City announced that it will promote the registration of the ‘Mungyeong Doline Wetland,’ the only wetland formed in a doline terrain in Korea, as a Ramsar Wetland to widely publicize its ecological and geological value.

Ramsar Wetlands are wetlands recognized worldwide for their importance as wetlands and are designated and registered by the Ramsar Convention for protection. According to the Ramsar Convention, which is the 'Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat,' the Ramsar Convention designates and protects wetlands with unique biological and geographical characteristics, habitats of rare flora and fauna, or wetlands important as waterfowl habitats.

In Korea, 24 wetlands, including Upo Wetland and Ungok Wetland in Gojang, are registered as Ramsar Wetlands. However, most of these are estuarine wetlands or mid-mountain pond wetlands, and the Mungyeong Doline Wetland is a very rare place where a wetland has formed in a doline terrain where water typically does not accumulate.

It is also a very unique case globally and is an area of high academic value from a geomorphological and geological perspective. A doline is a dish-shaped depression (sinkhole) formed by the dissolution of calcium carbonate, the main component of limestone areas, by rainwater and groundwater. Since rainwater and others drain well underground, it is generally an area where water does not accumulate.

Mungyeong Doline Wetland.

The Mungyeong Doline Wetland, covering over 490,000 square meters, is a biologically diverse area where terrestrial, grassland, and wetland ecosystems coexist. Despite its small area, it is home to 932 species of wildlife, including natural monuments such as mandarin ducks and owls, endangered wild animals such as otters, martens, and leopard cats, and rare plants designated by the Korea Forest Service such as Nakjidal and Kkorijin-dalrae. It meets 3 out of the 9 criteria for Ramsar Wetland registration and is eligible for registration.

Mungyeong City plans to complete the registration with the Ramsar Secretariat through the Ministry of Environment between April and May.

Shin Hyun-guk, Mayor of Mungyeong City, said, “We will strive to have the international value of the Mungyeong Doline Wetland recognized through its registration as a Ramsar Wetland, and prepare opportunities for the efficient conservation and utilization of the wetland ecosystem so that visitors can directly experience the rare nature of the wetland.”

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