Land Use in Korean Tidal Wetlands: Impacts and Management Strategies

• Published in: Environmental management (New York) 2010-05, Vol.45 (5), p.1014-1026
• Main Authors: Hong, Sun-Kee, Koh, Chul-Hwan, Harris, Richard R, Kim, Jae-Eun, Lee, Jeom-Sook, Ihm, Byung-Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biodiversity; Bird migration; Coastal ecosystem; Coastal zone; Coasts; Conservation; Conservation biology; Conservation of Natural Resources - economics; Conservation of Natural Resources - legislation & jurisprudence; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Construction; Development projects; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological function; Ecology; Economic importance; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystems; Education; Environment; Environmental economics; Environmental impact; Environmental impact analysis; Environmental impact assessments; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring - economics; Environmental Monitoring - legislation & jurisprudence; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental objective; Environmental stress; Fish populations; Forestry Management; Freshwater ecosystems; Geography; Government Regulation; Habitats; Hydrobiology; Integrated management strategy; Islands; Korea; Land use; Management; Marine ecosystems; Migratory birds; Nature Conservation; Nonpoint source pollution; Pollutants; Public schools; Republic of Korea; Sediments; Sustainability management; Terrestrial ecosystems; Tidal Waves; Tidal wetlands, Tourism resource; Tourism; Urban agriculture; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0364-152X; 1432-1009
• DOI: 10.1007/s00267-006-0164-3

The coastal landscapes in southwestern Korea include a diverse array of tidal wetlands and salt marshes. These coastal zones link the ecological functions of marine tidal wetlands and freshwater ecosystems with terrestrial ecosystems. They are rich in biological diversity and play important roles in sustaining ecological health and processing environmental pollutants. Korean tidal wetlands are particularly important as nurseries for economically important fishes and habitats for migratory birds. Diking, draining, tourism, and conversion to agricultural and urban uses have adversely affected Korean tidal wetlands. Recent large development projects have contributed to further losses. Environmental impact assessments conducted for projects affecting tidal wetlands and their surrounding landscapes should be customized for application to these special settings. Adequate environmental impact assessments will include classification of hydrogeomorphic units and consideration of their responses to biological and environmental stressors. As is true worldwide, Korean laws and regulations are changing to be more favorable to the conservation and protection of tidal wetlands. More public education needs to be done at the local level to build support for tidal wetland conservation. Some key public education points include the role of tidal wetlands in maintaining healthy fish populations and reducing impacts of nonpoint source pollution. There is also a need to develop procedures for integrating economic and environmental objectives within the overall context of sustainable management and land uses.