Eulsukdo, environmental comeback story, first stop for BIE delegation

A delegation from the BIE went straight to Eulsukdo, a river island known for its role as a sanctuary for migratory birds, Tuesday as soon as it arrived in Busan to assess the city's readiness to host the World Expo 2030.

A delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) walks Eulsukdo, a river island known for its role as a sanctuary of migratory birds, Tuesday afternoon. [YONHAP]

BUSAN — A delegation from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) went straight to Eulsukdo, a river island known for its role as a sanctuary for migratory birds, Tuesday as soon as it arrived in Busan to assess the city's readiness to host the World Expo 2030.

Eulsukdo, sitting where Nakdong River empties into the South Sea, was chosen because the sandy island has a unique history of becoming an ecological park from a landfill site for tens of thousands of tons of garbage in the 1980s through the 2000s.

As a result of a nationwide effort to restore the location, Eulsukdo regained its status as a paradise for tens of thousands of migratory birds.

Its history dovetails with the city's emphasis on sustainability to combat climate change and environmental pollution in promoting its bid.

Migratory birds fly from Eulsukdo. The location is where the Nakdong River and the South Sea meet. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

With trees and cherry blossoms in full bloom at the park, the delegation heard about Busan’s proposal to host World Expo 2030.

The inspection then continued with a tour of the 1.9-million-square-meter park, with some taking pictures of the cherry blossom.

The delegation gave a high-five to a group of 40 kindergarten kids who were having picnics at a table in the park.

The sanctuary island, which was farmland in the 1960s, was originally Asia’s largest stopping grounds for migratory birds.

But birds began to avoid the area as the environment was severely damaged, especially in the 1990s, and had been used as a landfill and for human waste plants.

Then the city embarked on a project to turn the contaminated land into an ecological park starting in 2004.

The park opened in 2012, and migratory birds returned. More than 100,000 birds of 50 different species visit the ecological park every year. It was designated as Natural Monument No. 179 in 1966.

“Goni, which is known as a swan, is a very rarely seen bird, but 70 percent of them stop by Korea,” said Kim Sang-hae, a commentator at Eulsukdo.

“And of them, 70 percent are seen in Eulsukdo,” Kim added.

But the ecological park is not a shelter just for migratory birds but also for all Busan residents.

The BIE delegation participates a program where a captured bird was set free on Tuesday at Eulsukdo. [YONHAP]

Eulsukdo now has two parks: Eulsukdo Migratory Birds Park, which has wetlands, and Eulsukdo Ecological Park, which is for visitors to walk and have picnics.

Families and couples were catching some rays Tuesday afternoon, with kids from kindergartens having picnics.

Various water plants could be observed at the park due to its forest belt and wetlands. Prickly water lilies could be seen, which are classified as second-level endangered species.

The delegation’s three-hour visit to the park included a program where a captured bird was set free. Eulsukdo has a center that treats injured animals found within the park.

Busan picked Eulsukdo as the delegation’s first stop to emphasize the city’s harmony with nature, which is a subtopic of its World Expo 2030 — sustainable living with nature.

The BIE delegation greets with kids on Tuesday at Eulsukdo. [YONHAP]

“Eulsukdo is where nature, animals and humans all co-exist after the deep debate between development and preservation," commentator Kim said.

"I do believe Eulsukdo has all that Busan is trying to spread the world through the expo."

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]