Changnyeong is a county in South Gyeongsang Province, Republic of Korea. Upo wetland is a tourist attraction of the county. It is an important ecological resource together with other wetlands such as Gahang Wetland, Pallak Wetland, Daehak Wetland, and Daedae Rice Paddy.

Changnyeong County established the Changnyeong Local Committee for Upo Wetland Management in 2016, which consists of 12 members each representing Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, Changnyeong County, the resident council, experts, NGOs, South Gyeongsang Province Office of Education, a local elementary school (the principal), and the Gyeongnam Ramsar Environmental Foundation.

All policies and regulations on wetland conservation and management in the Republic of Korea are based on the Wetlands Conservation Act. Designation of wetland protection areas is based on this Act; it is the most powerful regulation that prevents development in and degradation of wetlands. Upo Wetland, consisting of 4 sub-wetlands (Upo, Mokpo, Saji, and Jjokjibeol Wetlands), is the largest inland wetland in Korea and a habitat of 1,000 flora and fauna species. In order to conserve and manage such ecological values of the wetland systematically, Upo Wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site in 1998 and as the first national wetland protection area (860.9 ha) in August 1999. It was also designated as a Natural Reserve (national monument no. 524) for its values in 2011 based on the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

South Gyeongsang Provincial Hall, which includes Changnyeong County, developed ‘Master Plan for Upo Wetland Conservation and Restoration’ in 2007 and established related policies. The plan includes restoration and management plans, building a wetland center, local resident support programs, and raising fund for wetland environment. Later in 2009, ‘South Gyeongsang Province Act on Wetland Conservation and Management’ was enacted, which led to development and implementation of Wetland Conservation Action Plans (1st: 2009-2013, and 2nd: 2014-2018) for all wetlands in the province. The ‘South Gyeongsang Province Wetland Conservation Implementation Plan’ was developed to take necessary measures to conserve and manage wetlands at the local level. The local community has developed and observed ‘Changnyeong Community Agreement and Tourism Guidance on Upo Wetland’ to prevent degradation and loss of the wetland.

Changnyeong County has operated Upo Wetland Eco Center since 2008 to provide information and education on the wetland’s ecological values to visitors and local students. The Center has a VR room, an exhibition hall, view scopes, a theatre, and nature education hall. Curators offer field trip programs on wetland ecology. Around 60 thousand tourists visit the Center every year.

The Upo Eco Education Center, operated by South Gyeongsang Province Office of Education, conducts various programs on Upo Wetland including Upo Wetland field trip joined by 7,000 third-year students, the swallow ecological survey project joined by 100 elementary school student clubs, and the ecological field trip joined by 1,000 students and parents.