South Korea - Upo Wetland

Upo Wetland located in Changnyeong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, is the largest riverine wetland in the Republic of Korea with a well preserved natural environment. The area of Upo Wetland spans about 2.3km2 and many smaller wetlands are scattered around. In recognition of its values as a migratory bird habitat, the wetland has been inscribed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1998, and during the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP10) held in 2008, many experts visited the wetland. The creation of Upo Wetland dates back to when the Korean peninsula was formed. It has provided people with a means of livelihood, while retaining its well-preserved primitive ecosystem. In addition, the wetland plays an important role as a habitat for more than 10 endangered species, a fact that draws global attention. The beautiful landscape surrounding the wetland area increases the invaluable aspect of the wetland as a rich repository of the primitive ecosystem.