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Jeju Island, Korea soft coral habitat under threat of planned naval base construction

Jean Downey
tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.com
March 20, 2010

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Jeju Island is a beautiful volcanic island south of Korea, with Mt. Halla--the highest mountain in all of South Korea--at its center. 12% of the island is covered by a Gotjawal Forest, a pristine, naturally formed forest habitat for unique and endangered plants and animals. Groundwater from Gotjawal is the main water source for the island's half millon residents.

Coral Reef the U.S. wants to dredge for military expansion in Guam

Jean Downey
tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.com
March 20, 2010

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This unnamed reef, found to the west of Jade Shoals in Apra Harbor, Guam, is one of the healthiest reefs in the harbor. It's also one of the reef areas planned for dredging for the planned U.S. military expansion.

 

The huge Henoko airbase expansion the Pentagon is demanding is being opposed for many reasons, but some of the loudest voices are coming from the biodiversity community. The letter below highlights their concerns and clarifies the environmental stakes.

December 3, 2009

RE: PROPOSED U.S. MILITARY AIR BASE EXPANSION NEAR HENOKO, OKINAWA

Dear President Obama, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates, and Ambassador Roos:

The island of Okinawa has been called the “Galápagos of the East” because of
the incredible variety of marine and terrestrial life it supports. Unfortunately, a
joint military project proposed by the U.S. and Japanese governments threatens
to destroy one of the last healthy coral-reef ecosystems in Okinawa, pushing
many magnificent species to the brink of extinction. You have the power to
protect these unique and priceless creatures.