Environment ministry reports wildlife return to restored Palgongsan valley

The environment ministry said that martens and northern goshawks were detected in a Palgongsan National Park valley after illegal structures used as a prayer site for about 70 years were removed.

The national park agency removed 92 illegal structures, disposed of about 356 tons of waste including discarded concrete, and returned natural stones moved off-site. The Palgongsan National Park East Office completed the demolition and valley restoration in May after working with relevant authorities and securing the occupants' voluntary removal of the structures and departure through sustained persuasion. The structures included shelters, an iron footbridge, candle boxes and altars.

Sensor cameras monitored the area from early June to early August and recorded 17 wildlife species using the valley as a passage or resting place. The tally included six mammal species, such as raccoon dogs and roe deer, and 11 bird species, including northern goshawks. Martens and northern goshawks are classified as Class II endangered wildlife. The agency said the findings show that removing the structures and reducing human interference restored the valley's natural character.

"We will continue to restore damaged areas in national parks and manage them systematically so that nature can recover on its own," Joo Dae-young, chairman of the national park agency, said.

The agency plans to operate an unmanned guidance system at the valley entrance, conduct regular patrols and continue ecological monitoring with sensor cameras.