Gwangju Bukgu to Pursue Ramsar Wetland City Certification, Targeting 2031 Conference

Bukgu District in Gwangju has announced a mid- to long-term plan to obtain certification as a 'Ramsar Wetland City,' an international eco-city certification system, to mark the first anniversary of Pyeongdume Wetland's designation as a Ramsar Wetland. On June 10, Mayor Moon In stated on Facebook, "We will make preparations so that Pyeongdume Wetland can become a symbol of Bukgu, an ecological city."

Pyeongdume Wetland, Bukgu, Gwangju.

Bukgu aims to receive certification at the Ramsar Conference of the Parties in 2031 by establishing a wetland conservation management plan, constructing a wetland education center, and enacting conservation ordinances. The district also plans to develop the section from Damyang River Wetland to Wolsanbo as a local garden and expand the ecological city foundation by linking it with Pyeongdume Wetland.

Pyeongdume Wetland, located at the foot of Mudeungsan Mountain, is a mountainous paddy field wetland and was the first in Gwangju and the 26th in Korea to be registered as a Ramsar Wetland. It is home to a total of 786 species of wild animals, including endangered species such as otters, yellow-throated martens, and fairy pittas. It is recognized as a key area for biodiversity, with approximately 40% of domestic amphibian species distributed there.