Korean wetland to be newly included in Ramsar protection site

SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- A wetland in southwestern South Korea will be included
on a protection list under an international treaty, receiving recognition for its
ecological and environmental value, the land ministry said Sunday.
Under the Ramsar Convention, the wetland located in and around Gochang and Buan
of North Jeolla Province, about 280 kilometers south of Seoul, will be included
on its conservation list starting Monday, according to the Ministry of Land,
Transport and Maritime Affairs.
The wetland is known for its biodiversity, serving as a habitat for many species
and threatened life forms. The move comes a month after another wetland area here
was designated as a conservation site.
With the latest designation, South Korea will now have a total of 14 wetlands --
both inner-land and coastal -- that have been included in the list, the ministry
explained.
It will also raise the total size of wetland here under the preservation list to
142.926 square kilometers from 97.426 square kilometers, according to the
ministry.
Signed in 1971, the Ramsar Convention is an inter-governmental treaty that
embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintaining the ecological
value of their wetlands of international importance, while promoting their wise
or sustainable use.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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