2026 Poil Wetland ecological education program wraps up successfully
Uiwang has successfully concluded its 2026 Poil Wetland ecological education program, carried out as part of a public-private environmental, social and governance (ESG) nature restoration project with Hyundai Rotem.
According to Uiwang on Monday, the city signed an MOU with Hyundai Rotem and the Korea Environment Conservation Institute in July last year to restore the Poil Wetland, which had been degraded by urbanization, and to improve habitat conditions for the narrow-mouthed frog — a critically endangered species — as part of broader efforts to enhance biodiversity.
The ecological restoration of the wetland was completed in December last year, combining the Ministry of Environment's ecosystem conservation charge refund program with the local public-private ESG initiative.
The city is now developing a phased ecological education program using the restored wetland. The latest round of classes was designed as a flagship citizen-participation program to share the results of the restoration effort and raise awareness of the value of biodiversity conservation.
The program ran across eight sessions in June and October, reaching 136 fifth-grade students across eight classes at Poil Elementary School. Students observed diverse organisms living in the wetland and took part in inquiry-based activities to learn about the functions and roles of wetland ecosystems, gaining firsthand experience of the importance of protecting the natural environment.
Particularly notable was the involvement of instructors from the Uiwang Eco School, trained through the public-private ESG project, who led hands-on, field-centered sessions that boosted students' interest and comprehension. The instructors explained the role of wetland ecosystems, the significance of endangered species and the need for nature conservation in an accessible and engaging way.
Uiwang plans to analyze the program's outcomes through participant satisfaction surveys and instructor meetings, and will incorporate the findings to improve future sessions. From 2027, the city intends to partner with specialized ecological education organizations to expand the program to more elementary schools across the city, broadening access to environmental education.
"I hope the restored Poil Wetland becomes a living classroom where students can learn the value of nature and biodiversity," Mayor Kim Seong-je said. "We will continue to preserve local ecological resources through public-private cooperation and expand ecological education so that future generations can grow alongside nature."
pjh@heraldcorp.com
