ICLEI KOREA’S CASE STUDY SERIES NO.15

Changwon’s Efforts for Biodiversity: 

Activities to Conserve Toads in Ramsar Ecological Park

     Changwon City has undergone industrialization, which started early on, resulting in heavy destruction of its natural environment. During the Ramsar COP 10 in 2008, Changwon declared itself an environmental capital and since then has exerted its utmost efforts to restore its local ecosystem. As a result, the quality of urban streams has improved to which endangered species such as sweet fish and otters have returned.

     Changwon’s interests in urban biodiversity go back to April 2020, during which emergency activities were carried out to protect toads spotted at Ramsar Ecological Park. Amphibians like toads are considered as an indicator species that represent the health of wetland ecosystems. In this sense, Changwon has relentlessly performed research and practical activities systematically to protect toads and revive the urban ecosystems under the joint collaboration with local civic groups, academia, and corporations.

     Activities to conserve toads living in the urban park can be considered a journey to finding an answer for the city and biodiversity to co-exist. Changwon has shown an exemplary case as a sustainable city that is compatible with biodiversity by raising awareness through training and continuously engaging in activities under the cooperative system encompassing the public/private sectors, industry and academia.

○ 문의 : 윤영란 정책정보팀장 (younglan.yoon@iclei.org / 031-255-3251)