June 5 Designated as "Cirsium Removal Day"
Uprooting Is Most Effective
Voluntary Participation by Citizens and Organizations Encouraged
400 Million Won Invested in Promotion, Education, and Removal Activities
On May 20, the city of Chuncheon in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Mayor: Yuk Donghan) announced that it would officially launch citizen participation-based removal activities to prevent the spread of the invasive alien plant, Cirsium.
Appearance of Cirsium growing as a vine. Photo by National Institute of Biological Resources website
Chuncheon has designated June 5 as "Cirsium Removal Day" and plans to carry out an ecosystem protection campaign in cooperation with citizens, organizations, and military units from May through October.
Cirsium (Sicyos angulatus) is an annual naturalized vine plant of the gourd family, originally from North America. It is a representative ecosystem-disrupting species that kills native plants due to its rapid growth and reproductive capacity. The Ministry of Environment designated Cirsium as an ecosystem-disrupting species in 2009. It is rapidly spreading by covering trees and surrounding areas with vines along rivers, roadsides, and forests near urban areas.
The most effective way to remove Cirsium is to uproot it when it is young. Accordingly, Chuncheon plans to systematize removal activities by encouraging voluntary citizen participation and implementing a responsible management system in collaboration with institutions and organizations.
This year, the project will run for a total of six months with a budget of 410 million won. Environmental education related to Cirsium removal will be provided to Chuncheon citizens, and participation in these activities will be recognized as volunteer service hours.
In particular, weed control equipment will be intensively deployed on steep roadside slopes and other hard-to-reach areas, while simultaneous removal around military facilities will be carried out with the cooperation of the military.
In addition, Chuncheon plans to actively promote the dangers of Cirsium through "Bomnye Newsletters," media reports, and environmental education programs. The city will designate 10 major habitats and assign dedicated management responsibilities to environmental organizations.
A Chuncheon city official stated, "Cirsium is not just a simple weed but an invader of the ecosystem," adding, "The small actions of each citizen can become a great force in protecting the ecosystem. We hope all citizens will actively participate for sustainable ecological conservation."
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