Wetlands in and near cities always have to balance between the understandable desire of citizens to enjoy nature close to their home and the necessities for protection. The outcome is often a compromise between both. In South Korea, also the desire to tame nature seems to play a role in designs for wetlands. A recent visit of Gyeongpo lagoon, named the “Gyeongpo Prickly Waterlily (Kasiyon) Protected Area”, is a case for this trend. Gyeongpo lake in Gangneung has been the scene of major remodeling in the last years, partly due to the upcoming Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, which are co-hosted by Gangneung. There were a few hundred birds seen, among them most numerous Eurasian Coots, Mallards, Eurasian Teals, Great Crested Grebes, Little Grebes, some Greater Scaups, Tufted Ducks, Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Common Mergansers, Grey Herons, Great Cormorants and Great Egrets. The formerly “wilder” part of the wetland with swampy areas and reeds has now been completely surrounded by nice wooden walkways including bridges and on one side a small ferry to pull. Hides made from reed allow bird watchers to look from the (quite busy) street side. A small observation center hands out maps and other visitor information. Certainly a place where people stressed from life and ongoing construction in Gangneung can well recover – from the point of view of conservation, however, this orderly wetland seems to have lost much of its value…
Overview over the “Gyeongpo Prickly Waterlily Wetland Protected Area” © Bernhard Seliger
Information on the Prickly waterlily (Kasiyon), which gave the wetland its name © Bernhard Seliger
“Tamed wilderness” – the ferry across the water © Bernhard Seliger
Wetland center © Bernhard Seliger
Information on valuable species © Bernhard Seliger
View over the main lake © Bernhard Seliger
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus © Bernhard Seliger
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis © Bernhard Seliger
Bullheaded Shrike Lanius bucephalus © Bernhard Seliger
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca © Bernhard Seliger
Birds (Grey Herons Ardea cinerea Great Egrets Ardea alba and Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo roosting), a plastic bird (on the roof of the pavilion) and houses… © Bernhard Seliger