Day Ten: Gyeongpo Prickly Waterlily Wetland Protected Area

Today our group toured the Gyeongpo Prickly Waterlily Wetland Protected Area. At first glance, the area was massive and looked like a picturesque park for public use. However, I did not yet realize the protected area's rich history. The protected area was originally even more expansive than it is currently and included a massive lake known as Baedari Village, numerous prickly waterlilies that were not endangered, and expansive areas of wetlands with good soil. The land was so fertile that it soon became desirable to farmers who would use the area of Gyeongpo for farming purposes, especially rice. Around the 1960s, more people became attracted to the Gyeongpo area, and the area began to experience residential, agricultural, and commercial development. As development increased, however, the area of Gyeongpo began to suffer. Chemicals from development harmed GYeongpo and caused its ecosystems and environment to decline. These chemicals especially harmed one flower that originated in Gyeongpo: the prickly waterlily. This flower, which was once numerous in count, was now considered an endangered flower. Due to developmental impacts, the plant slowly began to disappear, becoming dormant for fifty years. Environmentalists began to see the rising issues that development in the Gyeongpo area was causing for the wetlands and took action to preserve and restore the area. In the early 2000s, the Gyeongpo area became the Gyeongpo Prickly Waterlily Wetland Protected Area due to environmental efforts to preserve and restore the area. Soon, farming became limited within the area, and regulations were soon placed to protect the area. Chemicals like pesticides were no longer allowed to be used by farmers, and fishing was no longer allowed within the Gyeongpo area to protect the different types of fish who lived within the lake of the Gyeongpo area. After Gyeongpo's restoration, the area transformed into a beautiful park where the public can enjoy walking, sightseeing, and the beautiful ecosystems and endangered plants preserved by the area. It was so much fun learning the significance of the area and being able to see the results of active preservation and restoration.

Below are some of the photos showing the Gyeongpo Prickly Waterlily Wetland Protected Area including the natural lake, protected plants blocked by ropes, species within the Gyeongpo area, sleeping waterlilies, and trails accessible to the public.