Boseong-gun Selected for 'Mudflat Ecosystem Restoration Project' Contest

Published 06 Apr.2023 18:06(KST)

Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of 'Yeojaman Gaetbeol'

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 5th that the Boseong Beolgyo tidal flat, registered as part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site ‘Korean Tidal Flats,’ has been selected as a target site for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ ‘Tidal Flat Ecosystem Restoration Contest Project.’

A total project cost of 7 billion KRW (5 billion KRW national funds and 2 billion KRW local funds) will be invested in this project, which plans to create waterfront facilities such as restoration of the Boseong Beolgyo tidal flat, establishment of halophytic plant communities, and installation of birdwatching towers.

[Photo by Boseong-gun]

Through the restoration project, it is expected to recover the ecological functions of the tidal flats and contribute to low-carbon green growth and greenhouse gas reduction in response to the climate crisis.

In particular, with this contest selection, it can be linked to the ‘Yeoja Bay National Marine Ecological Park Creation’ project, which Boseong-gun proposed and is jointly promoting with Suncheon City, and it is expected to have a positive effect on the current selection as a preliminary feasibility study target project.

The ‘Yeoja Bay National Marine Ecological Park Creation’ project has a total budget of 218.5 billion KRW and was applied for by Jeollanam-do this year as a government preliminary feasibility study target. It will be promoted over five years from 2024 to 2028.

The three main strategies are healthy tidal flats and seas, ecological and cultural healing hubs, and regional coexistence and development. The detailed projects consist of 13 unit projects, including a tidal flat wetland garden center, blue carbon ecological school, and tidal flat conservation and ecological exploration trails.

Kim Cheol-woo, Governor of Boseong-gun, said, “Through this project, we expect the restoration of the tidal flat environment and ecology of Yeoja Bay, which embraces four cities and counties (Boseong, Suncheon, Yeosu, Goheung), to lead to the recovery of fishery resources, marine conservation, and tourism revitalization.”

Meanwhile, the Boseong Beolgyo tidal flat was recognized for its excellence in ‘preserving habitats of biological diversity, including endangered species,’ and in July 2021, along with Suncheon tidal flat, Seocheon tidal flat, Gochang tidal flat, and Sinan tidal flat, it was registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site under the name ‘Korean Tidal Flats.’