- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Hwaseong City to cooperate on the systematic management for the area’s biodiversity –

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) announced on July 20 (Tuesday) that the Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat, spanning 14.08km², has been designated as a wetland protected area in recognition of a habitat for various marine organisms.

Maehyang-ri tidal flat includes the wetland, total area of 42,177m², which is home to around 20 species of halophytes,^* including a Suaeda japonica Makino community, and also 169 species of macrobenthos,^** such as oysters and polychaete worms. The Chinese egret, protected marine species, has also been observed there, making it even more important to protect the biodiversity of the area.

* Salt-tolerant plants that grow in salty soil, such as areas near the shore or in tidal flats (Suaeda japonica Makino, Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort, etc.)

** Organisms that live in the seabed, river, or lake bottom

The tidal flat used to be a training site of the U.S. Air Force. However, when the site was closed in 2005, the local government initiated a volunteer-led clean-up project to restore the ecological environment, eventually leading to the recognition of the wetland’s biodiversity importance.

The MOF, upon Hwaseong City’s request to designate the area as a wetland protected area, conducted surveys on the ecological characteristics of the Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat Wetland and held numerous consultations with the local government and people, including fishers. As a result, the MOF designated Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat as South Korea’s 31st marine protected area. In cooperation with the city authority, the Ministry is now planning to apply Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat Wetland to a Ramsar site.^*

* A wetland designated, under the Ramsar Convention, to be of international importance due to its biogeographic characteristics or deemed worthy of protection as a habitat of rare animal and plant species

Designation of Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat as a wetland protected area will allow the area’s rich marine ecological resources to be conserved and managed in a more systematic manner. Toward that end, the MOF is planning to develop local - community based five-year plans for the conservation and management of the area by early next year.

Given that Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat Wetland is situated near the Seoul metropolitan area, it has the potential to attract many visitors interested in seeing its various salt-tolerant plants and seabirds, such as Suaeda japonica Makino and the Chinese egret, the area can be utilized for eco-tourism and ecological education for the public.

Director General YOON, Hyun-Soo of the MOF’s Marine Environment Policy Bureau said, “The Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat Wetland is the third coastal wetland protected area designated in Gyeonggi Province. In the course of the consultation meetings and hearings that were held with the local people, the desire and willingness of Hwaseong citizens is to become environmental stewards for the wetland.” He went on to add, “The government will ensure that the local people also enjoy benefits from the designation and implementation of various projects with the active engagement of the local community and civil society.

With its designation as a wetland protected area, Hwaseong’s Maehyang-ri Tidal Flat has now been added to the list of Korea’s marine protected areas, which now features 14 coastal wetland protected areas, 14 marine ecosystem protected areas, two marine species protected areas, and one marine landscape protected area. With the recent designation, the total combined area of the 31 sites on the list is 1,798.4km², which is about 2.96 times the size of Seoul (605.25km²).