48 Important Wetland Sites

 

 

Surveys in 1998-1999 and an extensive literature review led to the identification of approximately 63 wetlands nationwide that meet Ramsar waterbird criteria: however, only one of these, Woopo, is listed under the Convention.
Follow-up work in 2000 further suggested that appoximately 48 of these coastal wetlands can be considered part of the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, and these are the sites listed below.

 

  1. Paeknyong Island. Remote nesting/foraging area for Black-faced Spoonbill. Chinese Egret.
  2. Han-Imjin Estuary. Largely natural/semi-natural. Cranes, Swan goose, shorebirds.
  3. Ganghwa Island. Shorebirds (esp Far Eastern Curlew), Black-faced Spoonbill (max 170 in Sept.
  4. Shin Islet and tidal flats. Chinese Egret nesting/foraging area: over 400 pairs in early 1990s.
  5. Yeong Jong Is North. Red-crowned Crane and geese in mid-winter.
  6. Yeong Jong Is South. >10000 Shorebirds, Chinese Egret, nesting Saunders' Gull.
  7. Song Do tidal flat. 300+ wintering Saunders' Gull. Also nesting colony. Relict Gull in winter.
  8. Sorae tidal flat. Value much reduced - possibly still important for Chinese Egret.
  9. Yong Hung/Sonjae Is. Nesting osculans Oystercatcher. Significant number of Chinese Egret.
  10. Shihwa Reclamation lake. Former Saunders' Gull colony. Staging site for Hooded Crane?
  11. Teibu Do. Foraging and staging area for Chinese Egret.
  12. Cheibu Island. Foraging site for Chinese Egret.
  13. Namyang Bay. Previously extremely important, but inner part now reclaimed.
  14. Kia tidal flat. Shorebirds, especially Great Knot.
  15. Namyang Lake. Occasionally (?) supports large numbers of Baikal Teal.
  16. Honwon Ri rice fields. Black-tailed Godwit on northward migration.
  17. Asan Lake. Large concentration of anatidae, especially Baikal Teal.
  18. Asan Bay. Shorebirds, especially Black-tailed Godwit, Terek Sandpiper. Saunders' Gull.
  19. Sapkyo Lake. Large concentration of anatidae, especially Baikal Teal.
  20. Dangjin eco-reserve. Geese.
  21. Daeho. Large concentration of anatidae, especially Baikal Teal
  22. Karolim Bay. Chinese Egret.
  23. Taean Marine National Park. Chinese Egret.
  24. Seosan Lakes A and B. Huge numbers of anatidae, 300000 or more at peak, inc Baikal Teal.
  25. Cheonsu Bay. 300 Saunders' Gulls at peak, ca 5000 shorebirds, ca 100 Chinese Egrets.
  26. Geum Estuary/Piin Estuary. Shorebirds, especially Far Eastern Curlew, and osculans Oystercatcher (5700 in Jan 2001). Also Saunders' Gull, and Chinese Egret (120+ recorded in September).
  27. Geum River. Very large concentrations of anatidae, especially Baikal Teal and several thousand geese.
  28. Saemangeum. THE most important site for shorebirds - see our Saemangeum links page.
  29. Komso Bay. Common Shelduck.
  30. Dongrim Lake. Reclaimed lake and rice-fields used by geese.
  31. Paeksu tidal flat. In autumn, Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Egret, and Black-tailed Gull.
  32. Hampyong Bay. Shorebirds, especially Charadrius sp, and Terek Sandpiper.
  33. Muan Chido-up. Shorebird roost, though site possibly no longer qualifies as some populations higher than thought.
  34. Muan Meian. Shorebird roost, especially for Terek Sandpiper (>1000).
  35. Aphae Is. Shorebirds, Chinese Egret, and Common Shelduck.
  36. Chindo Is. Greater white-front.
  37. Haenam Hwangsan. Shorebirds, especially Dunlin.
  38. Puckchon, Jeju. mandarin Duck (>2000 in Jan 1999).
  39. Hadori, Jeju. Coastal lake, wintering Black-faced Spoonbill.
  40. Seongsan Po, Jeju.Brackish lagoon, wintering Black-faced Spoonbill.
  41. Gangjin Bay. Whooper Swan and Common Shelduck.
  42. Taedoek. Common Shelduck.
  43. Posong Bay. Greater Scaup and Saunders' Gull.
  44. Suncheon Bay. Despite extensive reclamation still important for eg Saunders' Gull and Hooded Crane.
  45. Gwangyang bay (west). Common Shelduck and Saunders' Gull.
  46. Gwangyang Bay (Kalsa). Black Brant and Saunders' Gull.
  47. Namhae Is East Greater Scaup, Grey-tailed Tattler, Saunders' Gull.
  48. Nakdong Estuary. Despite extensive reclamation still important for many waterfowl and shorebirds.

 

 

Map and data from "Yellow Sea Ecoregion: Reconnaissance Report on Identification of Important Wetland and Marine Areas for Biodiversity Conservation". March 2001. Ed Nial MOORES, KIM Su-kyung, PARK Sung-bae and TOBAI Sadayosi.