Signed a Business Agreement between the National Institute of Ecology and Suncheon City
HiteJinro announced on the 28th that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Institute of Ecology and Suncheon City to implement measures to reduce toad roadkill. This MOU was established to devise countermeasures against the decline in the toad population.
They plan to protect toads and lead efforts to build public consensus and improve awareness through ▲ twice-yearly ecological education for citizens ▲ installation of ecological passages and road safety rumble strips ▲ production of promotional materials to reduce roadkill.
Jung Se-young, Executive Director of HiteJinro (right), and Choi Tae-young, Head of the Ecological Application Research Division at the National Institute of Ecology, signed a business agreement to reduce toad roadkill on the 27th at HiteJinro headquarters in Seocho-dong, Seoul, and are taking a commemorative photo. [Photo by HiteJinro]
Toads are becoming increasingly important as a representative environmental indicator species that reflects the health of the ecosystem. However, as roadkill incidents involving toads increase, their population is decreasing annually. In particular, toad roadkill is concentrated during the toad spawning season in March and May.
Kim In-gyu, CEO of HiteJinro, stated, “The crisis faced by toads will soon become our own crisis,” adding, “Through this MOU, we will strive to create an environment where toads can live more safely.”
The National Institute of Ecology is investigating the roadkill status of toad habitats in Suncheon, Daegu, Ulsan, Cheongju, Gwangyang, and other areas. Suncheon City was selected for the Ministry of Environment’s Ecosystem Conservation Burden Return Project in 2023, securing 400 million KRW in national funding to carry out an ecological passage construction project to prevent toad roadkill.
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