In Focus

MOE leads green summer vacation campaign

2010.07.27

The Ministry of Environment and the Green Start National Network conduct a nationwide campaign to promote green summer vacation from July 23 to August 15. The campaign will be carried out on diverse themes including using public transportation, green cross-country trip and green driving at 22 places such as national parks, beaches, expressway rest areas and railway stations.   At major national parks (Bukhansan, Seoraksan, Jirisan, Songnisan, Deokyusan and Gyeongju), expressway rest areas (Hanam, Yeoju, Gyeongsan, Munmak, Wonju and Haengdamdo), and railway stations (Seoul, Yongsan, Daejeon, Gwangju, Dongdaegu and Busan), vacationers can experience green lifestyle and enjoy games as well as climate change photo exhibition.   In addition, at several beaches including Daecheon, Gyeongpodae, Okgye and Busan, visitors can join quiz events and will be provided with bicycles and eco-bags. Green cross-country trip, sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Gangneung-si, Haenam-gun, the Asia Economy Daily and the Sports Today and supervised by Hannuri, is for teenagers and plans to depart from Haenam, the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula and pass through Jejudo, Geojedo, Gangwon-do, Daekwanryeong by walking, bicycles, buses and ships from August 3 to 12, traveling 2,010km in total.   Gyeongpo beach joins green summer vacation campaign by holding events such as producing UCC or painting on green lifestyle and participating in eco-tourism to wetlands.   In order to encourage people to participate in the campaign, the Ministry of Environment and the Green Start National Network provide tips for green summer vacation as follows:     For more campaign schedule and information, you can visit the website www.greenstart.kr or contact the following agencies which join the campaign.   Venue Region Period Agency Telephone Number National Parks Jirisan 7.23~8.15 Korea National Park Service +82-2-3279-2817 Seoraksan Bukhansan Deokyusan Songnisan Gyeongju Beaches Daecheon 8.5~7 Geum River Basin Environmental Office, Boryeong Network +82-42-865-0731 Gyeongpodae 7.22, 8.10~11 Wonju Regional Environmental Office, Gangneung Network +82-33-760-6408   Okgye Sokcho 7.24, 8.11~13 Wonju Regional Environmental Office, Sokcho Network Gwanganri 8.14~15 Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Busan Network +82-55-211-1634   Cross-country Trip Haenam 8.3~8.12 Cross- country Trip Haenam-gun +82-2-509-7975   Gangwon Gangneug-si Wonju Regional Environmental Office Gangneug Network PR Sports Today Asia Economy Daily Railway Stations Seoul Station 7.26~27 Korail Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office, National Network +82-31-481-1355 Gwangju Station 7.27~30 Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office +82-62-605-5165   Dongdaegu Station 7.26~30 Daegu Regional Environmental Office, Daegu Network +82-53-760-2521 Daejeon Station 7.22~24 Geum River Basin Environmental Office, Boryeong Network +82-42-865-0731 Busan Station 8.11~13 Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Busan Network +82-55-211-1634 Expressway Rest Areas Meeting Area 7.26~28 Korea Expressway Corporation Han River Basin Environmental Office, National Network +82-31-790-2814 Yeoju 7.29~30 Munmak        8.12~13 Wonju Regional Environmental Office +82-33-760-6408 Wonju Haengdamdo       7.29~31 Geum River Basin Environmental Office, Boryeong Network +82-42-865-0731   Gyeongsan         8.2~6 Daegu Regional Environmental Office, Daegu Network +82-53-760-2521    

News Release

• More endangered species use eco-corridors in national parks [ 2010.07.30 ]
  The Korea National Park Service (KNPS) announced it had observed 4 eco-corridors in national parks since 2006 and found that 40 species including endangered ones such as Asiatic black bears and gorals had used those 1,024times.   National Park Research Institute, affiliated to the Korea National Park Service, installed unmanned cameras at four eco-corridors in Siamjae in Jirisan, Jingogae in Odaesan, Jukryeong in Sobaeksan, and Hangyeryeong in Seoraksan and observed migration of wild animals from 2006 to 2009. As a result, it found that use of eco-corridors by wild animals had increased every year.    Number of using eco-corridors Region 2006 2007 2008 2009 Jirisan-Siamjae 46 70 91 140 Seoraksan-Hangyeryeong 25 8 28 60 Odaesan-Jingogae 17 35 110 148 Sobaeksan-Jukryeong 32 83 58 73 Subtotal 120 196 287 421 Total 1,024   For four years, about 40 species of wild animals used eco-corridors – 20 species of mammals, 15 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians and 2 species of reptiles. In particular, endangered species including Asiatic black bear, goral, otter, leopard cat and yellow-throated marten used eco-corridors.   A researcher of the institute said eco-corridor is an essential way to prevent separation of wild animals’ habitat by roads and it needs to require local governments to build more eco-corridors nationally.   Leopard Cat, migrating through an eco-corridor   Yellow-Throated Marten in an eco-corridor   Asiatic Black Bear in an eco-corridor   Eco-corridor under a road, which passes through Jirisan National Park  
• Ecological and scenery conservation area expands [ 2010.07.29 ]
  The Ministry of Environment additionally designated Munsan 2-ri, Yeongwol-eup, Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do as ecological and scenery conservation area in the Donggang River basin on July 27.   According to the result of ecological research by the National Institute of Environmental Research in July 2008, Munsan 2-ri is equivalent to the 1st or 2nd grade zone of Ecological and Natural Maps and has high conservation value with the appearance of endangered species, Aconitum koreanum and Prionailurus bengalensis.   In addition, by the research of ecological and scenery conservation area in the Donggang River basin, rare species were newly discovered including Rhamnus parvifolia, Cimicifuga heracleifolia var. bifida Nakai, Circaea cordata, Diarthron linifolium, Sanicula tuberculata, Hosta capitata, Celtis bungeana and Epipactis papillosa.   With the additional designation, the whole area of ecological and scenery conservation in the Donggang River basin expanded from 64.97km2 to 72.85km2. The ministry plans to preserve the newly designated area by regular monitoring and cracking down on illegal act and continuously expand ecological and scenery conservation area on a national scale.         Aconitum koreanum Cimicifuga heracleifolia var. bifida Nakai Delphinium maackianum   Prionailurus bengalensis Onychodactylus fischeri    
• Green point system begins at national parks [ 2010.07.29 ]
  The Korea National Park Service (KNPS) announced it begins ‘National Parks Green Point System’ from August 1st to give visitors points in proportion to the weight of garbage they take back.   When a visitor take back his or her garbage or collect garbage left by others, points will be accumulated in proportion to its weight. 4 kg of general garbage is equivalent to one point and recyclable products such as glass bottle are calculated as one point per 10g. Visitors should take garbage back again after measuring the weight of it.   Accumulated points can be used instead of fees for using national parks’ facilities including shelter, parking lot and campsite, or exchanged with gifts prepared by KNPS.   The Korean National Park Service expects that garbage will be reduced from 2,500ton to 1,000ton annually when the green point system takes root.   For more information, you can contact the website of the Korean National Park Service ( http://main.knps.or.kr/).    
• 100 Climate-sensitive biological indicator species announced [ 2010.07.28 ]
  The National Institute of Biological Resources announced ‘100 Climate-sensitive Biological Indicator Species (CBIS)’ to come up with an efficient way to monitor and expect the influence of climate change on the distribution of biological species on the Korean Peninsula.   Climate-sensitive Biological Indicator Species: Species which need to be consistently investigated and managed in a type of indicators because they are showing or expected to show clear change in activity, distribution or size of population owing to climate change.   Since early this year, climate change and biodiversity experts’ forum has conducted diverse activities including discussion, survey and advisory meeting to choose biological indicators which have representativeness.   100 Climate-sensitive biological indicator species include 18 species of vertebrate, 28 species of invertebrate, 44 species of flora, and 10 species of fungus and marine algae. You can find the attached list of 100 Climate-sensitive biological indicator species and features of main species in the list are as follows:   Indigenous alpine floras which have possibility to be extinct owing to global warming   Abies koreana E. H. Wilson Primula modesta var. hannasanensis T. Yamaz. The Korean Peninsula’s indigenous species which grow only in alpine regions of Jirisan, Deokgyusan, and Hallasan, and has possibility to be extinct if global warming continues. The Korean Peninsula’s indigenous species which grows only in alpine regions of Jejudo and Gyeongsangnam-do and has possibility to be extinct if global warming continues.   Polar organisms which are expected to be extinct in Korea   Pedicularis mandshurica Maxim. Ischnura elegans Van der Linden An Alpine plant which grows in the north of Seoraksan and can be watched easily because of splendid flowers. Its population is expected to be reduced because of climate change. Boreal dragonfly which is expected to go north gradually from Muju, Jeollabuk-do. The change in its distribution can be easily watched.   Volucella pellucens tabanoides Motschulsky Sarcodon aspratus (Berk) S. Ito Boreal insect. It appears even in Jeollanam-do but is expected to go north gradually. Therefore, change in its distribution can be easily watched. It grows in the north of Jirisan and Songnisan. As its distribution is expected to be reduced or go north because of climate change, change in its population can be easily watched.           Species which spread to the north because of global warming   Egretta garzetta L. Tetraclita japonica Pilsbry A summer migratory bird, which does not pass the winter. But it began to pass the winter in south of the Korean Peninsula in 1980s. Change in population which passes the winter because of climate change can be easily watched. A sessile animal in the intertidal zone. It spreads to the seashores on which warm currents have influence. Change in distribution of habitat can be easily watched.   Sculculus diversicolor supertexta Lischke Argyreus hyperbius L. It is frequently discovered in Jejudo and its habitat expanded to the southern coast. It is highly expected that the habitat will continuously expand owing to warm currents. It inhabits mainly in the coast of Jejudo and the southern coast. However, the habitat recently expanded to the north central regions. Change in its distribution can be easily watched.   Machilus thunbergii Siebold & Zucc. Martensia denticulata Harvey It grows mainly on the southwest coast but recently expanded to Deokjeokgundo, Incheon because of climate change. Change in its distribution can be easily watched. It grows in Jejudo and some islands around the southern coast. Recently, its population has rapidly increased in Jejudo because of rising water temperature. Change in its distribution can be easily watched.
• Forum on sewage sludge treatment technology held [ 2010.07.23 ]
    The Ministry of Environment held ‘Sewage Sludge Treatment Technology Forum’ on July 23 in Seoul. Having seven months to ban on the dumping of sewage sludge at sea, the forum was to check the progress the government has made and properly respond to the banning.   As the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention took effect, the government decided in 2006 to ban on the dumping of sewage sludge at sea from February 22, 2011 and had carried out measures to treat sewage sludge on land.   At the forum, about 500 participants from the government, design and construction companies and academic circles expressed keen interest in sewage sludge treatment. The forum included reporting the current status of operating sewage sludge treatment facilities and the analysis of economic and environmental effect by each treatment technology of sewage sludge.   Vice-Minister of Environment Mun Jeong-ho said the forum would be an opportunity to review the process of establishing and operating sewage sludge treatment facilities and draw the best treatment technology. He also said the result of the forum would be of great help to the government in making policies to manage sewage sludge.   Schedule of the forum Time Program 09:45～10:00 Registration 10:05～10:10 Opening remarks 10:10～10:15 Congratulatory address 10:15～10:20 Congratulatory address 10:20～10:35 Policy direction of sewage sludge management 10:35～10:50 The result of investigation of sewage sludge treatment facilities 10:50～11:30 The result of analyzing economic and environmental effect of sewage sludge treatment technology 11:30～13:00 Lunch break 13:00～13:15 Case study (drying I) 13:15～13:30 Case study (drying II) 13:30～13:45 Case study (carbonization) 13:45～14:00 Case study (solidification) 14:00～14:15 Case study (incineration) 14:15～14:25 Presentation on technology (I) 14:25～14:35 Presentation on technology (II) 14:35～14:45 Presentation on technology (III) 14:45～14:55 Presentation on technology (IV) 14:55～15:05 Presentation on technology (V) 15:05～15:15 Presentation on technology (VI) 15:15～15:30 Coffee break 15:30～17:50 Panel discussion / Q&A 17:50～18:00 Close