Chungcheongnam-do

▲ Yubudo Island Workshop

Seocheon-gun (Governor, Noh Bak-rae) held an international workshop to commemorate the World Migratory Bird Day (May 10) on May 23 ~ 24 at the National Institute of Ecology (NIE) and the river Geumgang Estuary, Yubudo Island.

The workshop was held on the topic of 'Promoting a Culture of Birdwatching & Sustainable Tourism' with 100 participants including domestic and foreign experts and local government officials including Professor Lee Woo-shin of Seoul National University and Senior Officer Mike Crosby (Bird life International Headquarters).

The workshop introduced outstanding cases of birdwatching tourism based on the preservation of migratory birds and their habitats, and included discussions on methods of promoting a culture of birdwatching.

A seminar was held on the 23rd at the National Institute of Ecology (NIE) on Methods of activating the local economy through the registration of the river Geumgang Estuary, Yubudo Island (Seocheon-gun) as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site; while on the 24th come seventy participants were taken on a field trip to Yubudo Island.

Professor Lee Woo-shin, President of the Society for the Ecological Restoration of Korea, evaluated the high possibility of Yubudo Island being registered as a World Natural Heritage Site, saying, "The mudflat in Yubudo Island is characterized by a harmonious balance of mud and sand and is inhabited by various species of fish. Many migratory birds visit the mudflat to feed on the various species of fish, and the ecosystem has been well preserved, thus attracting international interest and cooperation."

Lee Jung-sung, head of the Culture & Tourism Division stated, "Thanks this workshop, we had an opportunity to promote the topographical and geographical significance and biological diversity of Yubudo Island internationally. And, notably, domestic and foreign experts in habitat management visited Yubudo Island to collect various methods of birdwatching that local residents can agree on."

Meanwhile, the World Migratory Bird Day was legislated in 2006 by the UNEP/AEWA and UNEP/SMS, while Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do (Seocheon-gun), in conjunction with the World Cultural Heritage Administration, are trying to have the Yubudo Island mudflat registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.