Help restore Saemangeum
Jul. 9th, 2007 04:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gemfyreIn April 2006 a 33km seawall was completed at Saemangeum on the Yellow Sea coast of South Korea. The wall excluded the tide from 400 square kilometres of mudflat which was the most important staging area for many species of migratory shorebirds which visit the Yellow Sea as they travel from Australia to their breeding grounds in Siberia each year. This action completed the creation of the now infamous Saemangeum Reclamation Area. It will certainly increase pressure on the Threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann's Greenshank, both of which number 1000 or less individuals. There is every likelyhood that the reclamation will bring about a reduction in migratory shorebird numbers overall - as former feathered visitors to Saemangeum compete with other populations around the Yellow Sea for resources - and we are particularly concerned about the one third of the global population (280,000) of Great Knot which relied upon this region for refuelling before proceeding to their Siberian breeding grounds each year.
The South Korean government can find no use for the "reclaimed" site but, despite this, there is no realistic chance of having the wall removed. The chances are good that some of the site can be returned to nature if the sluice gates on the wall are fully opened, permitting the reintroduction of a tidal flow and I am appealling to all of you to assist me in calling for this take take place. You can do so by visiting http://www.restoresaemangeum.com. Admittedly, the likelyhood of attaining even this concession is not good. However, to do nothing will only encourage continued reclamation activity on more sites along the South Korean coastline and beyond. This is part of a range of actions which are currently in train and which are aimed at restoring Saemangeum and discouraging further reclamations in the region so please lend just a few moments to act on behalf of the magnificent migratory shorebirds.
Ricki Coughlan
I worked with Ricki among these awesome creatures for 9 months and it makes me want to cry in rage and sadness that such ecological crimes are allowed to continue. Please sign your name and give these amazing animals a voice.
The South Korean government can find no use for the "reclaimed" site but, despite this, there is no realistic chance of having the wall removed. The chances are good that some of the site can be returned to nature if the sluice gates on the wall are fully opened, permitting the reintroduction of a tidal flow and I am appealling to all of you to assist me in calling for this take take place. You can do so by visiting http://www.restoresaemangeum.com. Admittedly, the likelyhood of attaining even this concession is not good. However, to do nothing will only encourage continued reclamation activity on more sites along the South Korean coastline and beyond. This is part of a range of actions which are currently in train and which are aimed at restoring Saemangeum and discouraging further reclamations in the region so please lend just a few moments to act on behalf of the magnificent migratory shorebirds.
Ricki Coughlan
I worked with Ricki among these awesome creatures for 9 months and it makes me want to cry in rage and sadness that such ecological crimes are allowed to continue. Please sign your name and give these amazing animals a voice.
