Dr Nial Moores, Nationwide Director, Birds Korea
On February twenty first, I visited the Hwaseong Wetlands Flyway Community Web site (FNS) for the primary time in over a yr. The primary goal was to have a look at the present conservation standing of the FNS forward of a presentation I needed to make on the Nationwide Meeting advanced in Seoul on February twenty fourth. The go to was with Mr Jung Hanchul (Hwaseong Wetlands Conservation Researcher & Campaigner, and Birds Korea member), Hankyoreh reporter Ms Kim Jisook and two members of the College Union for Wild Fowl Analysis/ College Fowl Golf equipment Alliance, Mr. Soonho Kwon, who performed a mission on shorebird roosts within the FNS in 2024, and Mr. Joomong Hong. We have been astonished to see heavy development equipment and dozens of employees on the tidal flat inside the Hwaseong Maehyang-Ri Wetland Protected Space. Designated as a Wetland Protected Space in 2021 this tidal flat ought to be below the strictest authorized safety. Birdless on this present day, the realm with the continued development has lengthy been often called an important roost web site on this a part of the nation, each by researchers and chook photographers. We subsequently requested the positioning supervisor what was taking place. He defined that this was a central authorities authorized mission geared toward growing the realm lined with Suaeda japonica as a part of efforts to extend the blue carbon worth of the realm.
It’s extraordinary how little effort is at the moment being made to preserve shorebirds – an important element of this Wetland Protected Space – both within the FNS or alongside the Hwaseong coast. Extra threats embrace an authorized mission to construct a boardwalk alongside the coast from Gunpyong to Maehwari, immediately impacting a significant shorebird roost there; the authorized improvement of a resort advanced and resort within the instant hinterland of the tidal flat roost web site (a mission which has already provoked expressions of critical concern from famend shorebird specialists); and the proposal to construct a large worldwide airport inside the rice-fields of the FNS, with the runway roughly ending on the reclamation lake (utilized by many hundreds of shorebirds throughout highest excessive tides in addition to tens of hundreds of geese) , and solely 2.5km from this identical Wetland Protected Space. Is it not doable to study from the horrible tragedy at Muan Worldwide Airport and keep away from finding airports inside and subsequent to internationally essential wetlands?
On February twenty first, whereas there have been 1,900 Eurasian Curlew and greater than 2,000 Frequent Shelduck at Maehwari, there have been no birds at excessive tide in any respect in the primary roost space of the Hwaseong Maehyang-Ri Wetland Protected Space.
Beneath follows an preliminary response – to assist elicit opinions. And we at the moment are looking for further knowledgeable opinions that may be handed on by Mr Jung Hanchul to related authorities in an effort to problem the methodology of this blue carbon mission, and to boost consciousness of the wants of shorebirds alongside this a part of the coast.
The restoration of saltmarsh could make an essential contribution to biodiversity conservation, to fisheries, and to local weather change mitigation together with growing “blue carbon”. Subsequently, there are lots of examples of saltmarsh restoration apply around the globe, and a big physique of scientific analysis to assist the design and implementation of such initiatives. As a conservation scientist who has performed analysis on shorebirds together with on the Hwaseong-Maehyang-Ri Wetland Protected Space (Moores et al. 2022), and who has contributed to literature on shorebird roosts (e.g., Jackson et al. 2020), there appear to be three main areas of concern: (1) the doable impacts of onerous engineering development on tidal flat well being within the instant space; (2) the impacts on shorebirds throughout and post-construction inside an space trusted each by foraging and particularly roosting shorebirds; and (3) the potential affect on different protected areas of allowing such development to go forward inside a nationwide Wetland Protected Space.
- Not one of the examples of saltmarsh restoration that I’ve seen in e.g., the USA or Europe, have entailed the development of a wall throughout an open tidal flat; the driving of heavy equipment on nationally protected tidal flats; or the employment of huge groups of employees hammering constructions into the tidal flat. Examples I’ve seen (as a result of they’re frequent apply) embrace the measured introduction of adjustments, made below the direct supervision of groups of well-trained specialists. In such areas, these groups use well-tested strategies of saltmarsh restoration, as documented in peer-reviewed literature together with e.g., elimination or breaking of current dykes to revive tidal circulation; native addition of sediments; and/ or use of small synthetic limitations fabricated from pure supplies, wooden or geotextiles, to extend sedimentation and scale back erosion. Building of a seawall throughout a tidal flat seems to be an experimental onerous engineering method. In different areas, massive autos driving on the mud have resulted in compacting of sediments, inflicting injury to affected invertebrate species; and the addition of partitions have induced domestically essential adjustments in patterns of abrasion and sedimentation, altering ranges of salinity the landward facet of the wall following heavy rain occasions. It appears essential to ask what scientific proof is there that the method now being taken within the Hwaseong Maehyang-Ri Wetland Protected Space has been examined and confirmed to work? How will unfavorable impacts on tidal flat well being be averted?
- The realm at the moment present process development is among the most essential areas for roosting shorebirds within the ROK throughout neap tides and tides beneath about 7m. The instant space meets a number of Ramsar standards for the identification of internationally essential wetlands, together with concentrations on some dates of greater than 20,000 shorebirds, and common use by an assemblage of worldwide threatened species, in concentrations of 1% and extra of their populations (see Moores et al. 2022). Whereas the tide is low, in depth tidal flats are uncovered, and there are lots of choices obtainable to shorebirds as they disperse over a large space to forage. Throughout excessive tide, nonetheless, the identical species are concentrated into a lot smaller areas, nearer to land, making them far more susceptible to predation. Though just a few species (e.g. Terek Sandpiper) commonly roost on partitions, most tidal flat obligate species choose to roost standing within the water or on the water’s edge (e.g., globally Endangered Far Japanese Curlew); or on gently sloping mud or sand close to to the water (e.g., globally Endangered Nice Knot) or in drier, increased areas of the tidal flat above the attain of most excessive tides (e.g., globally Weak Siberian Plover). Virtually all tidal flat obligate shorebird species, together with Terek Sandpiper, attempt to keep away from areas of dense vegetation throughout excessive tide as a result of all species require an open, unobstructed view of the sky to be able to see aerial predators. The addition of a sea wall and of constructions with straw partitions as now being constructed will create a number of “blind spots” for roosting shorebirds. It subsequently appears possible that after this development, many shorebirds will probably be unable to make use of this space for roosting. Many, or most, shorebirds will subsequently be pressured to fly to the Hwaseong Reclamation Lake for roosting even throughout neap tides. Commuting from the tidal flat to this reclamation lake each excessive tide will make further calls for on the power expenditure of those shorebirds. For some people and species, particularly long-distance migrants throughout northward migration, this extra demand on power is perhaps unsustainable. Many of the shorebirds that forage within the Hwaseong Maehyang-Ri Wetland Protected Space will probably be pressured to change into much more depending on the Hwaseong Reclamation Lake for roosting. This synthetic wetland, nonetheless, is usually unavailable for roosting shorebirds as a result of water ranges are saved too excessive. It appears cheap to ask what analysis was performed to be able to assess the possible impacts on roosting shorebirds of this “blue carbon” mission? And what measures will probably be taken to cut back the elevated power prices to shorebirds?
- Wetland Protected Areas are supposed to offer long-term (everlasting?) authorized safety. That this type of mission has been permitted within the Hwaseong Maehyang-Ri Wetland Protected Space suggests that every one different protected tidal flats within the ROK may and may additionally be focused by this type of improvement mission. The cumulative impacts of this type of improvement would possible be monumental and unfavorable, each on biodiversity and on peoples’ expertise of wetlands. As an alternative of encouraging individuals to cherish the Excellent (Common) Worth of internationally essential tidal flats and pure processes, this difficult engineering method means that in every single place can and ought to be managed by individuals to pursue no matter coverage is taken into account to be a precedence at the moment.
Respectfully, within the absence of opposite data, it subsequently appears wisest to us if the mission could be stopped and reviewed, till measures are taken to make sure the persevering with worldwide significance of this space for shorebirds and different tidal flat obligate chook species.
References
- Jackson, M., Choi, C-Yeung, Amano, T., Estrella, S., Lei, W-P., Moores, N., Mundkur, T.,
Rogers, D. I. & Fuller, R. 2020. Navigating coasts of concrete: pervasive use of synthetic
habitats by shorebirds within the Asia-Pacific. Organic Conservation, 247 108591, 108591.
2. Moores, N., Jung, H., Kim, H.-J., Hwang, B.-Y., Hur, W.-H., Borzée, A. 2022. The Hwaseong
Wetlands Reclamation Space and Tidal Flats, Republic of Korea: A Case of Waterbird
Conservation within the Yellow Sea. Conservation 2022, 2, 526–549. https://doi.org/10.3390/
conservation2040036
