Yangcheon-gu 'Anyangcheon Migratory Bird Protection Area Shelter' Wins Seoul Mayor's Award for Natural Environment Excellence

Efforts to Restore River Ecosystem Health Recognized through Creation of Birdwatching Deck and Ecological Wetland in Migratory Bird Protection Area
Birdwatching Deck Used as Learning Site for 'Winter Migratory Bird Watching Course,' Graduating 180 Students
Ecological Wetland Serves as Habitat for Wildlife and Migratory Birds, Also Functions for Rainwater Retention and Purification, Contributing to Ecological Diversity

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced that the ‘Anyangcheon Migratory Bird Protection Area Ecological Rest Area,’ created on the Anyangcheon riverside near Omokgyo, won the Seoul Mayor’s Award at the 23rd Natural Environment Awards Contest sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and hosted by the Korea Ecological Restoration Association.

The ‘Anyangcheon Migratory Bird Protection Area Ecological Rest Area’ was selected in 2022 for the Ministry of Environment’s Ecosystem Conservation Burden Fee Return Project, and with a national budget of 430 million KRW, it was established earlier this year over an area of 9,197㎡ along the lower Anyangcheon migratory bird protection zone between Omokgyo and Mokdonggyo in Yangcheon-gu.

The district restored the riverside area near the migratory bird protection zone, which had been damaged by invasive plant species, to strengthen ecological connectivity. They created a bird observation deck and walking trails to observe the river, aiming to restore the health of the urban river ecosystem. In particular, the bird observation deck, designed to minimize environmental impact by considering the birds’ non-disturbance distance, was used as a learning site for a total of 12 winter migratory bird watching programs held in February this year, producing 180 participants. It has established itself as an ecological cultural space within the city that offers residents opportunities for healing and nature exploration.

Additionally, the constructed ecological wetland serves as a habitat and refuge for small creatures and migratory birds such as the dragonfly species Gitdongjamjari, the true frog (Chamgaeguri), and the Eastern spot-billed duck (Huinppamgeomdungori). It also functions as a purification system by retaining rainwater during rainfall and gradually releasing it into Anyangcheon, greatly contributing to ecological diversity.

The ‘Natural Environment Awards,’ sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and hosted by the Korea Ecological Restoration Association, have been held annually since 2001 to discover exemplary cases of ecological conservation and restoration of damaged sites and to raise public awareness about natural environment preservation.

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “The ‘Anyangcheon Migratory Bird Protection Area Ecological Rest Area,’ a treasure trove of biodiversity and a key ecological resource of the district, will be carefully preserved to become an ecological welfare space connecting nature and people within the city.”