The wetland protection area of Yongneup of Mt. Daeam was expanded from 1.06㎢ to 1.36㎢on August 4, 2010. The high moor, Yongneup is Korea’s first Ramsar wetland and was designated as a “Wetland Protection Area” by the Korean government in August 1999. At that time, trails to the summit of Mt. Daeam were excluded from the protection area and peat deposits were damaged by visitors. In addition, as new high moor which has similar vegetation to that in Yongneup was discovered near Yongneup in 2007 by the National Institute of Environmental Research, there has been necessity to include the area in the protection area.

Mt. Daeam area is famous as habitat of endangered wildlife. According to the report by the National Institute of Environmental Research, endangered species including Trientalis europaea, Menyanthes trifoliate (Marsh trefoil), Fabriciana nerippe, Accipiter gentilis (goshawk ) and Dryocopus martius martius(black woodpecker), and natural monument, a mountain goat inhabit the area. In particular, Yongneup is a peat wetland, which is uncommon in Korea. Peat wetland is an area which has peat deposits made by undecomposed plants. It is known that peat deposits of 1㎜ take one year to be piled. The peat deposits in this area are estimated to be formed about 4,500years ago and their average thickness is 1m, controlling carbon emission.

According to a resolution, adopted at the 10^th meeting of Ramsar Convention, destroying peat wetland is equal to emitting 10 percent of the whole carbon emitted by fossil fuel throughout the world. Also, the International Wetland Conference (INTECOL) 2008 mentioned that destroying wetland -- a storehouse of carbon -- means explosion of carbon bomb. Thus, preservation of peat wetland can become one of measures to deal with global warming.

The competent authority, Wonju Regional Environmental Office, said it plans to restrictively permit eco-tour to the area for those who took prior procedures so as to prevent indiscreet entering to the protection area and manage visiting effectively.

The newly designated area

Yongneup

Peat