Damyang County, crowdfunding for the preservation and management of bamboo groves begins

(Damyang=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Cheol-hong = On the 2nd, Damyang County in South Jeolla Province announced that it will launch a crowdfunding project for the "Damyang Bamboo Grove," a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) and the 4th National Important Agricultural Heritage, to protect it.

The Damyang Bamboo Grove, which was designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage in 2020 due to its high ecological value and unique landscape, is facing difficulties in preservation due to the aging of the rural population and the risk of regional extinction, which has led to a sharp decline in the workforce to manage the bamboo grove.

In response, Damyang County has decided to promote crowdfunding as an alternative for local and urban residents to participate in the preservation activities of the bamboo grove.

Crowdfunding is a method of raising small amounts of funds through public donations to invest in projects or businesses. This project will be carried out through the funding platform "Omycompany" until September 25.

The funds raised through the crowdfunding will be used for ▲ restoration and preservation of the bamboo grove ▲ emergency maintenance of damaged bamboo groves ▲ operation of farmer-urbanite exchange programs ▲ provision of agricultural product packages, among other things.

Participants who contribute 30,000 won or more will receive a package of agricultural products including a bamboo grove farming diary and bamboo products, and a chance to win an invitation to a bamboo grove farm party through a draw.

Yoon Jae-hwi, the representative of the residents' council "Great Damyang Bamboo Grove," which was formed to preserve the bamboo grove, said, "We hope that this crowdfunding will not be a one-time fundraising event, but will establish itself as a new model for urban and rural areas to jointly preserve the regional heritage."

pch80@yna.co.kr