Potential Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation of the Ecoregion

© WON, Changman © Xianshi JIN © JE, Jonggeel

© Image provided by GeoEye and NASA SeaWiFS Project © C.K.Tseng et al. © PARK, Jinyoung offered by Ding Lanping © MIN, Byungmee Satellite photo of Yellow Sea Ecoregion Biodiversity of Yellow Sea Ecoregion The Yellow Sea Ecoregion - A Global Treasure, A Global Concern About the area Global Concern The Yellow Sea Ecoregion is one of the world's The global importance of the Yellow largest areas of continental shelf. The Yellow Sea Ecoregion has been recognised by Sea Ecoregion encompasses the Bohai Sea, governments and the international community the Yellow Sea and the . It is in recent years. Starting in 1992, the Chinese a transboundary area, and extends from the and South Korean governments together coastlines of China, North , and South developed a transboundary approach to the (203) Yellow Sea Ecoregion Korea to a depth of 200m. management of the Yellow Sea area with the assistance of UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, Valuable nutrients flow from the Yangtze and and NOAA. In 2005, a UNDP/GEF project, the Yellow rivers and combine with sunlight and Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem project, shallow waters to create an area that teems was officially launched with participation of the with abundant marine life. Chinese and South Korean governments. Global Treasure Meanwhile, in 2002, WWF and other Yellow Sea Ecoregion has been selected by research institutes in China, WWF as one of the Global 200 ecoregions and began an assessment of Yellow LME #48 Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem that are key to global biodiversity conservation. Sea Ecoregion biodiversity. The objective This marine ecosystem is also one of the of this regional partnership was to prioritise Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) of the world. conservation actions based on scientific data.

Biodiversity, People and Threats UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Project The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which the early 1960s to the 80s. Reclamation and Photos by:WON, Changman, PARK, Jinyoung, Xianshi JIN, JE, Jonggeel, MIN, Byungmee, C.K.Tseng et al. offered by Ding Lanping, the United Nations, governments and a broad other forms of conversion have changed coastal Tobai Sadayosi, GeoEye and NASA SeaWiFS Project range of other stakeholders around the world habitat. In South Korea, about 43% of intertidal supported, summarised in its report in 2005 that: wetlands were lost during the 20th century and WWF/KORDI/KEI Yellow Sea Ecoregion Publishers: WWF, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI), Korea Environment Institute (KEI) 'Everyone in the world depends completely on in China, about 37% of intertidal wetlands have Planning Programme Earth's ecosystems and the services they provide, been converted in the last 50 years. These threats such as food, water, disease management, to and losses of biodiversity and ecosystem climate regulation, spiritual fulfilment, and aesthetic services have impacted the well-being of people enjoyment.’ in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion. Everyone in Yellow Sea Ecoregion also depends An urgent need: Finding conservation Date of publication: March 2006 completely on this marine and coastal ecosystem priorities at a transboundary and the services they provide. For example, fish ecoregional scale About the Yellow Sea Ecoregion Planning Programme: The Yellow Sea Ecoregion Planning Programme is an international partnership and other marine invertebrates such as squids and between WWF, KORDI, and KEI for conservation of biodiversity of the Yellow Sea Ecoregion. In order to maintain the full array of biodiversity clams provide food. They also provide many jobs - species, communities, ecosystems, and and a large amount of cash through which local Contact: ecological processes, it is necessary to assess and national economies benefit. Coastal plants and WWF China: Li Lifeng, WWF China, Telephone:+86 10 65227100, Telefax:+86 10 65227300, lfl[email protected], www.wwfchina.org biodiversity beyond political boundaries and at clams in coastal areas help to reduce pollution by the ecoregional scale. WWF Japan: Tobai Sadayosi, WWF Japan, tel +81 3 3769 1713 fax +81 3 3769 1717, [email protected], www.wwf.or.jp taking in excessive nutrients. An ecoregional approach helps ensure that KORDI: Pae Seonghwan, KORDI, tel +82 31 400 7752, [email protected], www.kordi.re.kr The Yellow Sea Ecoregion's biodiversity, marine we do not overlook areas that are particularly ecosystem and ecosystem services have already KEI: Lee Changhee, KEI, [email protected], www.kei.re.kr unique or threatened,allowing for smarter trade- been greatly changed and are still facing threats. offs and greater positive impacts that are more Will the next generation continue to enjoy a healthy Yellow Sea Ecoregion? This pamphlet was funded by the Japan Fund for Global Environment.UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Project is a sponsor of this pamphlet. For example, overfishing has reduced commercially likely to endure over time. important fish species by more than 40% from 8 Methodology for finding Potential Priority Areas Potential Priority Areas (PPAs) in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion Cooperation among scientific experts prioritise among important species and from China, South Korea, Japan and important habitats. Each taxonomic group Table of Potential Priority Areas (PPAs) and Ecologically Important Areas of Six Taxonomic international conservation NGOs again reviewed and adopted the group's Groups in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion Scientists from universities and ocean, own appropriate set of criteria. Mammal Coastal Mollusc Coastal Plant Algae fisheries, and environmental research institutes Thirdly, the scientists overlaid maps of Area Name of Fish Ecologically Area Ecologically Bird Ecologically Important Areas Ecologically Ecologically Ecologically in China, South Korea, Japan and international important habitat for each indicator species Potential Priority Important Areas code Important (BEIAs) Important Areas Important Areas Important conservation NGOs cooperated to review Areas (PPAs) (FEIAs) within their taxonomic group. This allowed Areas (MEIAs) (CMEIAs) (CPEIAs) Areas (AEIAs) and identify priority species and their habitat the scientists to visualise overlapping areas of global significance. Together they have and to delineate areas that are important for PPA1 Zhoushan Archipelago n/a n/a FEIA1 Zhoushan n/a n/a n/a set a common methodology and reached an a number of Indicator species. These areas Wetland in Yangzte MEIA1 Yangzte BEIA1 JiuduanshaBEIA2 Chongming CPEIA1 Yangtze agreement on priorities areas for biodiversity PPA2 River and n/a n/a n/a were named Ecologically Important Areas Estuary Estuary Dongtan River Estuary conservation. (EIAs). In total, six EIA maps were produced: PPA3 Southern Jiangsu Coast n/a n/a FEIA2 Lusi n/a n/a n/a Biological Assessment 1) Mammal Ecologically Important Areas Scientific experts from China, South Korea, Japan CMEIA1 CPEIA2 Yancheng (MEIAs), and other countries cooperated to analyse priority areas PPA4 Northern Jiangsu Coast n/a BEIA3 Yancheng coast n/a Lianyungang Beach n/a Scientists first developed a set of criteria for indicator CMEIA1 species and habitat types that are important for 2) Bird Ecologically Important Areas (BEIAs), FEIA3 Haizhou PPA5 Haizhou Bay n/a BEIA4 Lianyungang coast Bay LianyungangCMEIA2 CPEIA3 Lu-su Coast AEIA1 Rizhao biodiversity conservation. The scientists designated 3) Fish Ecologically Important Areas (FEIAs), Rizhao (smaller part) six animal and plant groups (taxonomic groups: CMEIA4 AEIA2 4) Coastal Mollusk Ecologically Important FEIA4 Shidao- CPEIA4 Rongcheng mammal, bird, fish, coastal mollusk, coastal plant, PPA6 Qing-Shi n/a BEIA6 Rongcheng coast Rushan RushanCMEIA5 Beach QingdaoAEIA3 and algae groups) and developed a set of criteria Areas (CMEIAs), Rongcheng Rongcheng (representative species and/or habitat types, 5) Coastal Plant Ecologically Important Areas CMEIA6 PPA7 Yanwei n/a n/a FEIA5 Yanwei WeihaiCMEIA7 CPEIA5 Jiaodong AEIA4 Weihai endemism, threatened status, and commercial (CPEIAs), Yantai Peninsula Coast importance criteria). The scientists then applied a 6) Algae Ecologically Important Areas (AEIAs). CPEIA6 Laizhou Bay combination of these criteria to each taxonomic PPA8 Huanghe-Laizhouwan n/a BEIA7 LaizhouwanBEIA8 Huanghe FEIA6 Laizhou n/a East CoastCPEIA7 n/a group. Fourthly, the scientists examined overlapping delta bay Huanghe Delta areas of the six Ecologically Important Areas. According to these common criteria, each BEIA9 Bohaiwan SBEIA10 Bohaiwan In order to delineate areas that are suitable as PPA9 Bohaiwan n/a SWBEIA11 Bohaiwan NWBEIA12 FEIA7 Bohai Bay CMEIA9 Tanggu CPEIA8 Nandagang n/a scientist analysed nationally available data Marsh units of biodiversity conservation, not only exact Bohaiwan N in China and South Korea, and for the fish overlapping areas but also size and connectivity CPEIA9 assessment, data available in Japan was FEIA8 Liaodong CMEIA10 AEIA6 of Ecologically Important Areas are examined. PPA10 Qinghuangdao n/a BEIA12 Bohaiwan NBEIA13 Beidaihe Bay Qinhuangdao Qinhuangdao Sand Qinhuangdao also analysed. The scientists then finalised Beaches The areas that the scientists identified and appropriate indicator species and ecologically CPEIA10 Liaohe mapped according these rules were named PPA11 Liaohe Estuary n/a BEIA14 Liaodongwan N n/a n/a n/a important areas and compiled national Biological River Delta Potential Priority Areas (PPAs). Assessment papers. Haiyangdao - MEIA2 Dalian - FEIA8 Liaodong Finally, the scientists checked that all PPA12 Changxing Islands Baengnyeong BEIA15 Dalianwan Bay (small part) CMEIA12 Dalian Bay CPEIA11 Dalian Bay n/a Priority Area Analysis major habitat types were included in MEIA2 Dalian - FEIA9 Haiyang CPEIA12 Changhai AEIA7 Secondly, the scientists reviewed a further the list of Potential Priority Areas. An PPA13 Changshandao Islands Baengnyeong BEIA16 Changshan Islands dao n/a Islands Changhai set of criteria that defines globally significant Ecologically Important Area that covered MEIA2 Dalian - FEIA9 Haiyang CPEIA13 Yalujiang indicator species and their ecologically critical an unrepresented habitat type (cold water PPA14 Yalujiang Estuary Baengnyeong BEIA17 Yalujiang coast dao (small part) n/a River Mouth n/a habitat. The objective of this step was to mass) was added to the list. FEIA10 CPEIA14 PPA15 - MEIA2 Dalian - n/a Hwanghae-do n/a Baengnyeongdo- n/a Islands Baengnyeong South Coast Ganghwado-Jawoldo

BEIA18 Hangang estuary and Imjingang estuaryBEIA19 Sihwaho The Results - 23 A Call to Action lake BEIA20 Jangdan BEIA21 Yudo BEIA22 Ganghwado Island BEIA23 CPEIA14 Potential Priority The results provided key data for developing PPA16 Gyeonggi Bay n/a Yeongheung-doBEIA24 Yeongjong FEIA11 Gyeonggi- CMEIA13 Gyeonggi Baengnyeongdo- n/a a regional conservation strategy and island BEIA25 Songdo islandBEIA26 do Coast Bay Ganghwado-Jawoldo monitoring Namyang bayBEIA27 Asan Areas bayBEIA28 Seonjedo IslandBEIA29 its successes. In particular, the results Daebudo for biodiversity will help to: 1) Establish a network of representative FEIA12 Greater Geum River CMEIA14 conservation marine protected areas at the ecoregional PPA17 Cheonsu Bay n/a BEIA30 Cheonsu bay Estuary(smaller Chungcheongnam- CPEIA15 Sinduri AEIA8 Taean scale; part) do identified 2) Evaluate effectiveness of existing Geumgang- BEIA31 Yubudo islandBEIA32 FEIA12 Greater CPEIA16 protected areas; PPA18 Mangyeongang- n/a Geumgang riverBEIA33 Geum River CMEIA15 Jeollabuk- Mangyeong and AEIA9 Buan 122 Indicator Species in six taxonomic groups Dongjingang Estuaries Mangyeonggang estuaryBEIA34 Estuary(smaller do Dongjin esutuaries were analysed for their global significance 3) Monitor the status of biodiversity. Dongjingang estuary part) -Hampyeong bay In order to conserve biodiversity, in FEIA13 and 111 Ecologically Important Areas were PPA19 Huksando Island n/a n/a Jeollanam-do CMEIA16 West n/a identified. In total, 23 Potential Priority Areas particular, these 23 sets of globally Jeollanam-do significant Potential Priority Areas, various west coast were identified in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion. CPEIA16 stakeholders need to take concerted Mangyeong and This was the first time such a comprehensive actions. Community-based organisations, and trans-regional assessment and analysis MEIA3 Coasts BEIA36 Youngamho, Geumho FEIA13 Dongjin esutuaries the scientific community, national and local PPA20 Yeongsangang Estuary and Islands of and Youngsanho lakesBEIA37 Jeollanam-do n/a -Hampyeong n/a of priority areas for biodiversity conservation government agencies, legislative bodies, Jeolla-do Gocheonamho lake west coast bay (smaller for the Yellow Sea Ecoregion was conducted. part)CPEIA17 Jindo non-government organisations including - Suncheon bay The Yellow Sea Ecoregion Planning religious groups, the general public, the (smaller part) Programme will publish the full results of the media, donor communities, industries, CMEIA17 East biodiversity assessment and the priority area consumers, and youth groups all have MEIA3 Coasts FEIA14 Jeollanam-do important roles to play. For example, BEIA38 Gangjin BayBEIA39 1CMEIA18 East CPEIA17 Jindo - analysis so that the results will be accessible PPA21 Boseong-Yeoja Bays and Islands of Suncheon bay Jeollanam-do Jeollanam-do Suncheon bay AEIA10 Wando by scientists and government agencies to national and local government agencies Jeolla-do south coast 2CMEIA19 East use in the future. can contribute by strengthening cross- Jeollanam-do 3 sectoral coordination in the establishment AEIA13 and improvement of the management PPA22 Jejudo Island n/a BEIA42 Jeju Island n/a CMEIA20 Jeju island n/a Seogwipo of marine protected areas (MPAs). Filling Yellow Sea Cold Water FEIA16 Yellow major knowledge gaps in ecology and PPA23 Mass n/a n/a Sea Cold Water n/a n/a n/a human impacts on indicator species is also Mass an important action to take.