Gimhae City Hwapocheon Wetland Selected for Community Capacity Building Project Competition

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Gimhae City in Gyeongnam announced on the 21st that the Hwapo Stream Wetland Protected Area has been selected as a target area for the Resident Capacity Building Project, organized by the National Institute of Ecology.

This project is a government-supported initiative that provides funding to local councils so that residents can directly manage wetland conservation activities. Among 27 wetland protected areas nationwide, Inje Daeamsan Yongneup, Gwangju Jangnok Wetland, Mungyeong Dolline Wetland, and Gimhae Hwapo Stream Wetland were selected through a public contest.

With this selection, the Hwapo Stream Ecotourism Association will receive 20 million KRW in project funds from the National Institute of Ecology, enabling local residents to autonomously carry out educational programs, tourism revitalization projects, and promotional activities.

The city expects this opportunity to serve as a foundation for registering the Hwapo Stream Wetland as a Ramsar Wetland and for the certification process as a Ramsar Wetland City.

Lee Yong-gyu, Director of the Water Quality Environment Division, stated, “The Hwapo Stream Wetland is a valuable ecological asset of Gimhae City. We will work closely with local residents to preserve it well and strive to develop it into a representative ecotourism destination in Korea.”