Nakdong Estuary Eco Center(NEEC)
Management organization
The Nakdon Estuary Eco Centre (NEEC) is run by the Busan Metropolitan City. Its mission is to foster public awareness of estuary and wetland; to educate people throughout school programs, activities, guided tours, champions etc.; to manage restored wetlands of Eulsukdo (island) and Nakdong estuary; and to serve domestic and oversea tourists as ecotourism base 
What we do
Conservation and use of the Nakdong estuary; management and use of Eulsukdo Migratory Bird Park; education, exhibition, eco-tour and research of the Nakdong estuary; domestic and international network and communication about migratory birds and wetland issues; rescue, medical treatment, care, breeding and research of wildlife animals
http://wetland.busan.go.kr
Annual budget and visitation
2008 2,214,000,000 won (equivalent to some US$ 2,214,000). The Nakdong Estuary Eco Center funded by government (Central government 50% + Local government (Busan city) 50%)
2007. 6.12(Open) - 2007.12.31 : 74,398 (person); January 2008 to end of June 2008 : 50,006 (person)
History
In August 2006 the plan for Nakdong Estuary Eco Study Center was created and in December 2005 construction started. November 2006 saw the name confirmation (Nakdong Estuary Eco Center), with construction completed in February 2007. In june the centre was pre-open (free entrance) with a grand opening in January 2008.
Nakdong Estuary Eco Center (NEEC) is Busan Metropolitan Government-affiliated organization. NEEC was founded at Feb. of 2007 and opened 12 Jun. of 2007.
Eulsukdo Migratory BirdPark
This Bird Park is partly covering Nakdong Estuary Bird Habitat designated as Natural Monument (NO. 179). This bird park area was restored agricultural field and waste landfill to wetland by Busan Metropolitan Government. 
Bird park is divided into 3 zones:
Zone A - Utilization/Education Zone Zone B - Buffer(Neutral)Zone C - Core Preservation Zone
the site is about 2.69 km2, and the main facilities include: Nakdong Estuary Eco Center, picnic field, area for outdoor activities, parking place, bird watching facilities, wood deck and boardwalk etc.
Nakdong Estuary EcoCenter(NEEC)
The Nakdong Estuary Eco Center provides ecology education for local residents, students and general public etc. It also offers various information related with wetland, estuary and conducts related studies. The building area covers 4,075m2 (3 floors). On the 1st floor is the information desk, office zone, education room(multipurpose room), volunteer room, storage, rest room, electric and machinery room etc. The 2nd floor houses the exhibition hall, bird watching platform, souvenir shop, mini library, rest room, and on the 3rd floor is a multipurpose auditorium
Wildlife
Plant: 324 species(include unique aquatic plants)
Common Reed (Phragmites communis), Japanese Sedge (Carex kobomugi), (Carex pumila), Bulrush (Scirpus triqueter), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus), Suaeda (Suaeda glauca) etc.
Fish: 38 species
Gray Mullet (Mugil cephalu), Dotted Gizzard Shad (Konosirus punctatu), Sea Bass (Lateolabrax japonicus), Horse Mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) etc.
Mammal: 7 species
Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropu), Korean Raccon Dog (, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis), Siberian Weasel (Mustela sibirica) etc.
Reptile: 10 species
Korean Tiger Lizard (Eremias argus), Wolter lizard (Takydromus wolter), Grass Snake (Natrix tigrina laterali), Red-backed Ratsnake (Elaphe rufodorsata) etc.
Amphibia : 7 species
Japanese Tree frog(Hyla arborea japonica), Black-Spotted Frog (Rana nigromaculat) , Bullfrog(Rana catesbeiana) etc.
Bird: 166 species 
Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Whooper Swan (Cygnus Cygnus), Bean goose (Anser fabalis), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Little tern (Sterna albifrons), Swinhoe's Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Spoon-Billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Black-Faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) etc.
Nakdong estuary has been protected as a wintering grounds of waterfowl and waders in the Nakdong River delta by being designated as a Natural Monuments No.179 in 1966. It is also designated as a natural environment conservation area, ecological landscape conservation area, wetland protection area and coastal pollution special control area.
Reference: Nakdong estuary ecosystem monitering, 2003-2008, Busan Metropolitan City
CEPA (Communications, education and public awareness) activities
(1) General
Nakdong Estuary Eco Center mange and preserve restored wetlands of Eulsukdo bird park and Nakdong estuary, carry out exhibition for ecology in estuarine wetland through various visual references and diagrams, operation of study programs, interchange with other wetland visitor center domestic and international as well as research and monitering of the Nakdong estuary.
(2) Interpretation and major exhibits
- Detail of each Zone
| Classification | Main contents |
| Central Hall | Watching man-made wetlands, birds and the Nakdong Estuary through CCTV |
| Zone 1 | Understanding of wetlands and the Nakdong river as an origin of culture and history |
| Zone 2 | Understanding the formation and features of Nakdong Estuary |
| Zone 3 | Understanding the food chain in the Nakdong Estuary |
| Zone 4 | Learning about the birds visiting the Nakdong Estuary |
| Zone 5 | Room for experience-oriented learning, Mini Library, Bird Watching Platform, and Souvenir Shop |
- Mini Library (2ne floor)
| Classification | Details |
| Children | Ecological fairy tale books and Science Books |
| Adolescents | Ecology and science books |
| Adults | Technical and general ecology books and Pictorial books |
- Multipurpose Auditorium (3rd floor)
| Classification | Details |
| Mini Documentaries | About 70 audiovisual materials including ones showing the Nakdong Delta, Estuarine wetland, Ecosystem and birds of Eulsukdo etc. |
- Experience-oriented outdoor programs for individuals
| Classification | Details |
| Field Trip to the Estuary | Understanding the names given to deltas in Nakdong Estuary |
| Aquatic insects | Learning the ecology of aquatic insects |
| Aquatic plants | Learning ecology of aquatic, land and plants on the shore of the estuary |
| Experience in tidalflat | Field trip to Shinho and Dadaepo tidalflat |
| Reed crafting | Crafting various things with reeds |
| Bird watching | Learning about Birds of passage and winter birds |
| Wood crafting | Crafting bird with wood |
| Straw crafting | Making craftwork with straw |
| Finding traces of wildlife animals | Finding traces of wildlife animals(footprints, feather, dung etc) |
- Indoor programs for groups and individuals
| Classification | Details |
| Making rubbings | Making copies of various plants and animals by rubbing on embossed metal plate with crayon |
| Watching Birds | Watching Birds through a field scope |
| Doing a jigsaw puzzle | Doing a jigsaw puzzle with pieces of wetland life picture |
| Comparing feathers | Comparing feathers of different part of bird's body and learning about the functions of different feathers |
| Comparing bones of ducks and chicken | Comparing bones of ducks and chickens and learning about the features of the birds |
| Whistling duck call | Mimicking various sounds of birds by whistling duck call |
| Comparing various beaks | Understanding the relation between beaks and the sort of food eaten |
| Pressing stamps | Learning about various habitats of animals and plants by stamping |
| Performing hand dolls | Understanding estuary ecosystem by performing hand dolls |
| Foot printing | Classifying bird and mammal feet |
(3) Formal (school and university) learning
The elementary school program is focused on experience and activity, the middle school program on research & activity. Both the elementary & middle school program are in proceeding.
NEEC does not have high school & university programs but, has the making history of NEEC and Nakdong estuary explanation program for high school and university student as a custom-made program base. Each school program has textbook and teaching materials. NEEC is planing teacher trainning/developement programs as well.
(4) Informal (general public) learning
This includes: and ecotour guide book - 1 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese); an eco map of Nakdong estuary - 1 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese); a center information leaflet - 1 (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese); and educational material - more than 10 (Korean only, Korean and English)
(5) Professional
Special lecture - more than 2 times/year, volunteer education program - 2 times/year and wetland related professional meetings and conferences - at least 1 time/year
(6) Staffing
NEEC has a staff of 24 people who are working in 3 sections.
Organization
Volunteers
Around 70 volunteers help this center by educating and guiding people.
(7) Contacts
Director - Jeong, Youngran (e-mail: yrjeong@busan.go.kr)
CEPA officer Lee, Yeongae (e-mail: leeyes@busan.go.kr)
Park, Sung Bae (e-mail: sbpark0122@busan.go.kr)
Address: Nakdong Estuary Eco-Center
1207-2 Hadan-dong, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea.
Telephone : +82-51-209-2000
FAX: +82-51-209-2099
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Last name: Sung-Bae First name: Park
Title: Mr Email address: sbpark0122@busan.go.kr
Organisation: Nakdong Estuary Eco-Center
Position: CEPA program
Telephone: +82-51-209-2055 Fax: +82-51-209-2099
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