English II
The southwest seashore, which is a rias coast with a shallow marine environment, is favorable for reclamation due to its extensive well-devel- oped inner tidal ats. Land reclamation work was undertaken throughout history: for grain produc- tion and military provisions during the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, and for rice production and land development during Japanese coloniza- tion. After liberation from Japanese rule, small scale land reclamation projects were carried out to enhance the food supply and abolish famine. Further projects were pursued for comprehensive agricultural development after the 1970s, and for multi-purpose development after the 1990s. Large-scale reclamation has completely de- stroyed the marine habitat; pollutants from the land have damaged the marine ecosystem and its diversity. Unlike other developed nations, Korea has not been making extensive shore restorations to repair affected regions. Only some small-scale restorations have been carried out by central and local governments and organizations since the 2000s. Restoring the coastal ecosystem is an es- sential task in order to maintain the ecological and social-economic capacity of the shores and promote further economic sustainability
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