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Janghang Wetland in Goyang is Registered as 24th Ramsar Site of Korea

Date:
2021-05-20
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▷ Providing a habitat for 427 species of wild fauna and flora in totals such as 1st grade endangered Platalea minor and Haliaeetus albicilla

▷ Internationally recognized for its high value in preservation as a migratory bird habitat


The Ministry of Environment (M.E. Han Jeoung-ae) has announced that the "Janghang Wetland," located in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, is officially recognized (registered) as Korea's 24th Ramsar wetland by the Ramsar Convention* Secretariat.

*The Convention's mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands, which was adopted in February of 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The Republic of Korea joined the convention as the 101st member (entered into force in July 1997) in March 1997.


Janghang Wetland will be added to a list of the Ramsar Sites on the website of Ramsar Convention (wwww.ramsar.org) from the 21st of May.


The Ramsar Convention Secretariat recognizes a wetland as a Ramsar wetland if it contains a rare or unique wetland type or is considered internationally important by supporting populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining biological diversity. 

※ There are a total of 2,421 Ramsar wetlands (gross area of 2,545,898㎢) registered in 171 countries (as of April 2021)


The Ministry filed an application to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat to register Janghang Wetland in Goyang as a new Ramsar wetland in October last year.


With the newly-registered Janghang Wetland in Goyang as a Ramsar wetland, Korea now has 24 Ramsar wetlands in total (gross area of 202.672㎢) after the first-ever Ramsar wetland registration of Youngeup of Mt. Daeam in 1997.

※ Ramsar wetlands in Asia: 367 (218,725㎢) in Asia, 64 (73,269㎢) in China, 52 (1,547㎢) in Japan


Janghang Wetland is situated in Han River downstream and hosts a total of 427 species, including 9 endangered wild fauna and flora (7 bird species) such as Platalea minor and Haliaeetus albicilla.

※ 1st grade endangered species (3 species): Platalea minor, Haliaeetus pelagicus, Haliaeetus albicilla, 2nd grand endangered species (6 species): white-naped crane, Anser cygnoids, Anser fablis, Eurhythmus, Prionailurus bengalensis, Pelophylax chosenicus 


In April 2006, the Ministry designated the Han River downstream*, including the Janghang Wetland, as a wetland protection area in accordance with the Wetlands Conservation Act recognizing its high conservation value and rich biodiversity that hosts endangered species. 

* Janghang (Goyang), Sannam (Goyang·Gimpo), Sung-dong (Paju), Siam-ri (Gimpo), Yudo wetland (Gimpo) 60.668㎢ in total


Janghang Wetland is the second largest wetland in its scale (5.956㎢) following the Upo Wetland (8.652㎢) among 17 Ramsar sites that the Ministry manages. As a stopover site and habitat for approximately 30,000 intercontinental migratory birds such as Platalea minor and Grus vipio each year, the wetland plays an important role internationally and ecologically.

※ Registered on the website of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) (May, 2019)


The wetland has ecological importance as a Salix koreensis community forms a symbiotic relationship with benthos and a tidal channel* created by the ebb and flow maintains representative characteristics of natural downstream in Korea while providing a beautiful scenery.

* It plays a role as a channel during the ebb and flow to let water flow between tidal flats 


Hong Jeong-seup, Head of the Nature Conservation Bureau of the Ministry of Environment said, "The fact that Janghang Wetland in Goyang is registered as a Ramsar site has its significance in that the wetland is internationally recognized as a site with high conservation value ecologically as well as a habitat for migratory birds."