Kumho's hope for birds takes flight with habitat push

Kumho Petrochemical Group announced the full-scale launch of a project to restore migratory bird habitats and protect endangered species, securing biodiversity and combating the climate crisis. 

To execute this initiative, five of the group’s affiliates —Kumho Petrochemicals, Kumho P&B Chemicals, Kumho Mitsui Chemicals, Kumho Polychem, and Kumho T&L — collectively known as the Kumho Petrochemical Group, — cooperated with environmental, social and governance firm Thanks Carbon to push for the creation of flooded paddy zones, with a planned allocation of 260 million won ($173,000) over the next three years for agricultural areas near Yeosu Gasari Ecology Park. 

The project will expand in phases, starting with approximately 1,200 square meters (12,917 square feet) in the initial year, then to 2,400 square meters the next year before ultimately reaching 3,400 square meters.

The Yeosu project site is near Suncheonman Bay, a critical ecological stronghold that serves as a vital stopover and wintering ground for migratory birds. However, recent industrialization and urban sprawl have raised concerns over worsening environmental conditions.

The group intends to restore paddies to maintain water depth during the winter season, providing a stable habitat for migratory birds. To enhance the conservation efforts, the project employs an automated motion-sensor camera to track real-time shifts in wildlife populations and manage the habitat.

The initiative takes on greater meaning with local farmers at the forefront, providing a stable supply of unhulled rice and sweet potatoes, while Kumho Chemical employees joined efforts in March of last year.

Meanwhile, Kumho Petrochemical achieved measurable conservation outcomes through practical initiatives, such as successfully raising 210 specimens of the Class II endangered species Asplenium antiquum, once been on the verge of extinction, at the Kumho Jeju Resort.

BY LEE SO-YOUN [lee.soyoun1@joongang.co.kr]