The South Korean Government plans another massive infrastructure project that could have enormous environmental impact. The project is a proposition that would link up all four of the country’s major river systems. It would require the dredging, deepening and widening of approximately 2,000 km of shallow river courses in South Korea (and apparently another 1000km in North Korea). These shallow rivers are currently used by a broad range of threatened bird species, including breeding Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus and Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, as well as roosting Hooded Cranes Grus monachal while on southward migration and large numbers of wintering waterbirds, including small numbers of the Endangered Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus.
It has been reported that the maintenance of the proposed 6m water depth in these river-canals, especially in drought prone Korea, will cause major changes in the hydrology of much of the whole river system, impacting numerous relict freshwater wetlands, as well as one of South Korea’s most well known Ramsar sites, the Upo Wetlands.
It is logical to assume that the Grand Canal system will also require concrete reinforcement of the embankments along its entire length projected at 3,100km. The use of the waterway by shipping is likely to increase disturbance and pollution of the canal and associated wetlands systems.
To add insult to injury one of the canals will run through the reclaimed Saemangeum area further reducing any opportunities for mitigation of impacts of that project. It has also been estimated that between eight and ten Important Bird Areas (IBAs) indentified by BirdLife International will be significantly affected (about a quarter of the IBAs so far identified).
Ironically, South Korea is hosting the triennial meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance 28 October to 4 November 2008.