Gwangyang Steelworks and Jeonnam Green Federation Carry Out Toad Ecosystem Protection Activities

Volunteer Activities to Prevent Roadkill During the Spawning Season
and Improve Habitat Conditions

POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks carried out volunteer activities with the Jeonnam Green Federation and local residents to prevent roadkill of native toads during the spawning season and to improve their habitat environment, in order to conserve the local ecosystem and protect the environment.

On February 20, around Bichon-ri in Jinsang-myeon, Gwangyang-si, about 30 people, including members of the Environment Resources Group of POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks, the Jeonnam Green Federation, and local residents, took part in the volunteer activities.

Every year in mid-February, toads come down to wetlands to spawn and travel back and forth between Bipyeong Reservoir and their habitats to lay eggs. At this time, if they do not use the ecological corridor or if sediment accumulates in the stormwater drains, they are forced to cross the road as a detour route, which greatly increases the risk of roadkill.

In addition, there have been cases where tadpoles that hatched after spawning became trapped in trash inside the reservoir and died, so improving the habitat environment is a very important task for maintaining the population.

To address these issues, the POSCO Environment Resources Group conducted volunteer activities using equipment such as shovels and tongs to remove soil, fallen leaves, and other debris accumulated in the ecological corridor and stormwater drains. They also collected household waste such as plastic, vinyl, and Styrofoam discarded around the reservoir to create an environment where tadpoles can grow safely.

Park Seonggil, head of the Environment Resources Group, said, "Toads play an important role in maintaining ecological balance by eating pests," adding, "Maintaining the population is essential for conserving a healthy ecosystem, and we will use this activity as an opportunity to continue various volunteer activities for local environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the future."