Ramsar Wetland City

[Anchor Lead]

The process has begun to get the area around Upo Wetland, Korea's largest marshland, accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City. Once the wetland in southern Korea is named a Ramsar Wetland City, it will be recognized as a model of wetland and local community coexistence.

[Pkg]

Upo Wetland, measuring over 2.3 million square meters in area, is home to a great number of wild animals and plants. This year the wetland is covered with a grade 2 endangered flowering plant in the water lily family. Nearby, a family of spot-billed ducks enjoys an outing, swimming in a row.

[Soundbite] "The mother is at the lead, teaching them to feed."

There used to be only two sacred ibises at Upo Wetland back in 2008, but now the bird has been restored to number more than 300. The resurrection of the wetland's ecosystem boosted the number of visitors. Kim Ryang-han's life has been all about Upo Wetland for the past 46 years. His job is to share his experience as a local resident with the visitors.

[Soundbite] Kim Ryang-han(Upo Wetland Tour Guide) : "Since I tell them about the experiences of local residents, visitors can somewhat relate to them."

Local residents volunteer to stage a performance about Upo Wetland and lead the efforts to preserve the ecosystem.

[Soundbite] Lee In-sik(Environmental Activist) : "The model is for the co-existence among the government, local residents, and environmental groups. Local residents use their childhood experiences to generate economic profits."

Inscribed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1998, Upo Wetland is very likely to be accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City in October of next year.