Gwangju City Promotes Project to Eradicate Ecosystem-Disrupting Species

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 21st that it will promote a project to eradicate invasive species in order to preserve native habitats and protect indigenous biological resources.

Gwangju City has been selecting specialized contractors through public competition every year since 2019 to enhance the effectiveness of the project, as biodiversity issues have intensified due to the spread and rapid increase of invasive species.

This project involves selected private organizations and experts participating in habitat surveys of invasive species and simultaneous removal operations to protect biological resource habitats and promote biodiversity.

Gwangju City plans to select subsidy recipients to carry out the invasive species eradication project through a public competition for private subsidy recipients by next month and review by the Local Subsidy Deliberation Committee in March.

Eligibility for application is limited to corporations or organizations located in Gwangju City as of the announcement date, with a track record of public interest activities such as invasive species eradication (removal).

Applications will be accepted by mail or in person at the Climate and Environmental Policy Division of the city from the 22nd until the 5th of next month.

For more details, refer to the '2021 Invasive Species Eradication Project' local subsidy recipient recruitment announcement on the city’s website under notices or contact the Climate and Environmental Policy Division.

Organizations selected as private subsidy recipients will conduct surveys and removal operations of invasive species around rivers and reservoirs such as the Yeongsan River, Hwangryong River, and Gwangju Stream from April to October.

Song Yong-su, head of the city’s Climate and Environmental Policy Division, said, “Through the invasive species eradication project, we will do our best to restore the health of the native ecosystem, promote biodiversity, and raise environmental awareness.”