Local governance for ecosystem recovery of an urban tidal flat in Masan Bay, Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since 1970, the Masan Bay and its vicinity have long been the center of national economic growth for Korea. However, the bay and its estuary got drastically polluted due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. The Bongam tidal flat, as a brackish estuary of Masan Bay, is located in the center of Changwon city, and situated near the Changwon industrial complex zone. The Community Advisory Council (CAC) for Masan Bay established since 2005 as a legal organization of local governance for ecosystem recovery. The loading of COD to the tidal flat of Bay mouth through streams gradually was reduced from 2,090 kg/d in 2006 to 432 kg/d in 2016 by the holistic efforts of local governance. The experience of local governance shows the procedure of how they recovered an urban tidal flat, as well as Masan Bay, and how stakeholders participated and worked together. The lessons learned include the relevance and impacts of coordination mechanisms in conflict resolution even though there was rivalry, competition, and different constituency expectations among stakeholders. In this case study, we also illustrate how the CAC could facilitate stronger cooperation and coordination with relevant agencies at the national and local levels.