Toad Friends, an environmental organization, reported that 50 to 60 Seoul pond frogs, which are an endangered species, and about 460 toads live in the swamp, which makes the wetland home to the largest toad group in Chungcheongbuk-do. (image: Oscar Shen/flickr)
SEOUL, April 6 (Korea Bizwire) — A site that was once planned to be used for the Osong Biovalley landfill in Cheongju has turned into a wetland that is rich in biodiversity, after seven years of sitting unattended.
The Cheongwon County Office bought the site in December 2007 to establish a landfill, but has since left it unoccupied, allowing natural habitat for several endangered amphibian species to develop.
Toad Friends, an environmental organization, reported that 50 to 60 Seoul pond frogs, which are an endangered species, and about 460 toads live in the swamp, which makes the wetland home to the largest toad group in Chungcheongbuk-do.
According to the organization, about 200 female toads from a nearby mountain have come down to the swamp to spawn recently, and it is expected that there will be a massive migration of baby toads from the swamp back to the mountain next month.
The organization has asked city officials to develop wildlife passages linking the swamp and the mountain for the toads’ safe passage, and city officials have said that they would consider installing nets over nearby waterways. Toad Friends is also planning to submit a proposal to the city government to turn the swamp into an ecological park.
By J. W. Choi (summerchoi@koreabizwire.com)
