Birds Korea

Description

Birds Korea is an organisation dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats in South Korea and the wider Yellow Sea Eco-region.

Founded in 2004 and based in Busan, it works on research, advocacy and education, maintaining regularly updated websites in both English and Korean. Its activities have covered issues such as outbreaks of avian influenza, the impacts of the Taean oil spill, restoration work at the Mokpo Namhang urban wetland, and threats from the proposed Korean Grand Canal project.

In 2006 Birds Korea developed the Saemangeum Shorebird Monitoring Program with the Australasian Wader Studies Group, tracking the effects of the large Saemangeum coastal reclamation on migratory shorebird populations. Further survey work, including a national shorebird survey, documented declines in species such as the spoon-billed sandpiper and the great knot. Its work also includes education and training on birds and wetlands, planning and design proposals for wetland conservation, and publications and presentations on Yellow Sea biodiversity.