Another advertisement for South Korea's position on environmental
responsibility!
Chris
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nial Moores <>
Date: Aug 18, 2006 4:02 AM
Subject: [APMW] Black-faced Spoonbills on Jeju, South Korea
To:
Dear All,
With apologies for any cross-posting.
The International Black-faced Spoonbill Census in January 2005 found a total
of 1,475 Black-faced Spoonbill Platelea minor (Yu, 2005). While the species
breeds off the Korean coast and can even be locally numerous in autumn
(especially at Ganghwa, Gyeonggi Bay, South Korea), it is almost absent from
the Korean peninsula in winter, with the only regular wintering area formed
by two small and adjacent wetlands in the southeast of Jeju Island, a large
volcanic island off the far southwest of the peninsula.
The Seongsan Po and Hadori wetlands on Jeju Island have supported between 20
and 25 Black-faced Spoonbill, more than one percent of the world population,
each winter since at least 2000.
Despite the international importance of the site (i.e. it supports more than
1% of the population of a waterbird species), the local administrative
authority has just proposed developing a major marine resort at Seongsan Po,
which will render the site unavailable to the species. They have opened up a
development-bidding process, and suggest that they are now open to advice on
the best use options for the wetland (speedboats or theme park: the
Spoonbills are nowhere in the present plans).
With the limited time available, and in support of local groups (such as
Jeju KFEM), we are trying to gather opinions and information to pass on to
local authorities, to encourage a profound reconsideration of the present
plans. One alternative we are proposing is the development of the wetland
as a nature reserve, with educational and interpretation facilities for
tourists and school-children if appropriate.
To develop this concept, we are in urgent need of image and information
(including hard economic data if possible) from areas that have been
conserved - most especially for Black-faced Spoonbills - and that have to
some extent developed ecotourism or education programs based on the birds.
For more information on this latest threat to wetland birds in South Korea,
please visit our home-page (at: http://www.birdskorea.org ).
With best wishes and birding,
Nial Moores
Birds Korea
Y.T. Yu. 20005. International Black-faced Spoonbill Census: 21-23 January
2005. The Hong Kong Birdwatching Socieity. Hong Kong.
Nial Moores
**
*Birds Korea*: *The national and international network dedicated to the
conservation
of birds and their habitats.
*Http://www.birdskorea.org <http://www.birdskorea.org/>
Http://www.birdskorea.or.kr <http://www.birdskorea.or.kr/>
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