Biodiversity and Barbed Wire, Korea

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Biodiversity and Barbed Wire,Koreas
DMZExpediting the Process toward Joint
Conservation

Ke Chung Kim, Ph. D. Center for BioDiversity
Research The Pennsylvania State University
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WAR by Conflict
RESOLUTIION by Non-Violence
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Divided Korea
DPRK
North Korea DPRK
ROK
South Korea ROK
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East Sea (Sea of Japan)
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The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
Created by the War and Nurtured by the Armistice
for the later half of the 20th Century Koreas
Unique Natural Heritage Site .
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SANCTUARY FOR LIFE
Koreas DMZ
Transboundary Corridor
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Biodiversity, Barbed Wire, Koreas DMZ Process
toward Joint Conservation OUTLINE

• Koreas DMZ
• Economic Development
• Dire Environment
• Biodiversity
• Nature Conservation
• DMZ Conservation
• Conflict Resolution

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KOREA
East Sea
3 Thousand Ri Embroidered River and Mountain
Yellow Sea
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Beautiful Country KOREA
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1945
Before
After
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East Sea
Yellow Sea
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Demography

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Yalta Agreement February 1945
World War II 1945 Liberation of Korea from
Japanese Colonization
Korea Divided At 38th Parallel
North - Soviet Union South - United States
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25 June 1950
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Korean War Armistice (1953)
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East Sea
Yellow Sea
Koreas Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) July 1953
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No Mans Land
DMZ Boundary
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The DMZ 4-km wide, 250 km transboundary
corridor separating the two Koreas

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DMZ Ecosystems After the Armistice of the Korean
War, Rapidly Revived from the Devastation Its
Forests Recovered and Wild Habitats Rebuilt
through the Renewal of Life in the Absence of
Human Interference.
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Newly Recreated Habitats Endangered and Rare
Plants and Animal Species have Rebuilt Their
Populations.
The DMZ
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Sanctuary for Native Plants, Animals, Fungi,
Microorganisms, and for Humanity
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Unique Sanctuary Most Important in-situ
Bio-Reserve
The DMZ
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The DMZMost Important Vestige of Koreas Native
Biodiversity
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A Cross-Section of Korea Geology, Soil, Climate,
Biodiversity
East Sea
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KOREAS NATURAL HERITAGE Essence of Koreas
Native Ecosystems and Landscapes
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The Biodiversity of the DMZ/CCZ

• Vascular plants - 1,170 spp/353
• sspp (37 of the Koreas flora)
• Fish - 83 spp. 18 endemic (61)
• Amphibians - 10 spp. (66)
• Reptiles - 13 spp. (45)
• Birds - 230 spp. , (60)
• Mammals - 51 species (67)

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DMZ/CCZ Ecosystems Biodiversity of Special
Concerns
Plants - 41 spp. Endemic 40 rare spp. Fish - 18
endemic (61), some endangered Amphibians
Reptiles - some endangered Birds - 7 spp.
endangered Chinese egret, Black-faced
spoonbill, Red-crowned crane, White-naped
crane, Swan goose, Spotted greenshank, White
stork Mammals - endangered/extirpated Black
bear, Musk deer, Mountain goat, flying squirrel,
perhaps Siberian tiger and Leopard.
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Mountain (Goral) Goat
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Cranes
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Siberian Tiger
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The DMZ Fragile Environment
Easily Vulnerable to the Impact of Development/
Sprawling Urbanization . Enormous Pressure and
Threats Abound from Different Developmental and
Political Forces in KOREA..
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South Korea REPUBLIC OF KOREA
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Process of Economic Development and
Urbanization (1962-66 1st 5-year Development
Plan)
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Transformation of Nature into
• Human Ecosystems
• Human Enterprises Defines the Integrity and Shape
  of Ecosystems and Landscapes.
• IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
• Development Comes with Severe Environmental and
  Human Costs.

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Land Conversion, Urbanization
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Cars, Cars, Cars Cars Cars
Impacts on the Environment NOISE AIR ACID
RAIN GLOBAL WARMING Etc.
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South Korea (ROK) 10th Largest Global
Economy with continued vibrant economic
development. Almost a developed industrial
nation ENVIRONMENT GDP (2004) 777.4 billion
(Ranking 10) Trade 372 billion (12) Per
Capita Income 14,162 (2004) DPRK GDP 18.4
billion Per capita Income 818 (2004)
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• Koreas
• Environmental Problems
• A FORGOTTEN CALAMITY
• -Rapid Development Land Exploitation-
• Development at Costs
• Lack of Environmental Stewardship
• No Serious Agenda for Cleaning Up Polluted
• Environments.
• Inter-Korean Commerce and Developmental
• Enterprises into the DPRK.

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1975
1st National Conference on the Environment
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1994
KOREAS BIODIVERSITY ASSESSED
LOSS OF HABITATS LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY DETERIORATIO
N OF ENVIRONMENT
Loss of Living Partners of Our Life-Support
System. Ecosystem Indicators
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North Korea Reality Check

• Closed Society of Juche ideology
• ( self-reliance) Austerity
• 1/4 of Total GDP for Military
• Failed Economy Food, Fuel, Poverty, Public
  Health
• Environmental Degradation Deforestation,
• Flood, Soil Erosion, Military Operation

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1996
Koreas environment is in a dire state! 2005
Yale-Columbia Envir. Sustain. Index (Esty et
al. 2005) 146 nations studied ROK 122th
DPRK Last of 146
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2003 UNEP, UNDP, DPRK
Y-C ESI 2005 Last of 146 Nations
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Koreas Urgent Agenda
2005
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THE COSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
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WE DESTROY BIODIVERSITY
Human species is the greatest evolutionary
force shaping the evolution of global
ecosystems.
Massive Loss of Species Continued Loss
Degradation of Habitats
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WE DESTROY BIODIVERSITY How?
Rapid Increase of Human Population (6.3
billion) Economic Development, DEVELOPMENT Environ
mental Pollution Conversion of Natural
Ecosystems Habitat Destruction and
Fragmentation NO EXCEPTION TO KOREA Population
Density, Development,
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• THE COSTS OF
• BIODIVERSITY LOSS
• permanent
• Loss of Genetic Resources
• Loss of Unique Organisms
• Loss of Ecosystem Partners
• Loss of Natural Resources
• and Natural Capital
• Impact on Human Health
• Degradation of Ecosystem Structure Function

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ECOSYSTEM COSTS OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS
Loss of Ecosystem Services for Humanity Valued
33 Trillion that includes Soil Generation,
Watershed Functions, Pest Control,
Weather/Climate Control, Pollination,
Photosynthesis, Carbon Sink, etc. (Costanza et
al. 1997)
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BIODIVERSITY
ENVIRONMENT Ecosystems Communities Species Populat
ions

Our Living World Your Life Depends on
It!
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Biodiversity Variety of species of plants,
animals, fungi, and microbes, genetic variation
within them, the ecological roles they play,
and their interrelationships in biological
communities in which they occur.
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Essence of Biodiversity Complex, Core of
Ecosystem SPECIES INTERACTION

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ESSENCE OF BIODIVERSITY

• Basic Natural Resource for Human Enterprise
• Capital Asset for Supporting
• Our Life-support System
• Ecosystem Function/Products
• Biodiversity Sustains Humanity

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BIODIVERSITY How Many Species are There On the
Planet Earth?
10 million Species (5-30 million or more) 1.7
million Species Identified and Described.
(Global Biodiversity Assessment 1995)
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KOREA
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1994
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ENVIRONMENT LANDSCAPEchanged

• Natural Ecosystems converted to Industrial Sites
  and Urban Centers
• (South Korea)
• Pollution of Farmlands, Water, Air
• Destruction of Natural HabitatsUseless Land
  Reclamation of Coastal Zones and Wetlands
• Deforestation, Pollution, Soil Erosion
• (North Korea)

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BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Nature
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BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

• Ultimate environmental strategy for sustaining
  the human life-support system
• Linkage of sustainable development, environmental
  stewardship stable population
• Restoration of habitats and backyard biodiversity

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Koreas Conservation

• Minimize the destruction of habitats and
  biodiversity loss
• Manage the overall landscapes and ecosystems
• Apply comprehensive land-use policy and
  management
• Integrate protected areas with other natural and
  artificial lands

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Building the New Keum-Su-Gang-San

• Provide adequate habitats and Sustain healthy
  ecosystem processes for all the ecological
  players through which humans can enjoy biophilia
  and natural amenities

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Pan-Korean Nature Conservation-Building New
Keum-Su-Gang-San-

• Biodiversity Nature Conservation Network (BNCN)
  of Protected Areas, National Provincial Parks,
  and Municipal Parks Gardens.
• The DMZ Transboundary Peace
• Reserves Crown Jewel of BNCN.
• Conservation Network of Nature Corridors
  Greenways.

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Stewardship of Natural Heritage Biodiversity
Conservation
The DMZs Biodiversity and Ecosystems are Essence
of and Central to PAN-KOREAN NATURE
CONSERVATION toward building New Keum-Su-Gang-Sa
for Koreas Peace and Sustainable Development.
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TOWARD DEVELOPING A KOREAN CONSERVATION NETWORK

• Two Koreas band together with strong political
  wills through grassroots activities, legislative
  and policy actions.
• Preserve the dynamics of ecosystem processes
• Preserve manage habitats and ecosystems
• Ecosystem management for resources

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Koreas Transboundary Peace Reserves
East Sea
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The DMZ
A Landmark Nature Reserve
ECOLOGICAL LABORATORIES Natures Resilience and
Revival Human Ecology Sustainable Development
Cultural and Spiritual Advancement Environmental
Security
PROTECTED, PRESERVED SUSTAINABLY CONSERVED
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Korea Transboundary Peace Reserves System (KTPRS)

• Classes of Protected Areas
• Peace Parks Eco-Tourism
• Nature Reserves Research Education
• Peace Nature Villages Farming, Fishing
• Nature Camps Recreation, Education
• Wildlife Refuge Sanctuary, Conservation
• Special Maritime Reserves Research Conservation,
  Education, Ecotourism

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Benefits from KTPRS

• Critical Habitat Protection
• In-situ Biodiversity Resources
• Unique Wildlife Laboratory
• Ecological Services and Products
• Cooperative Protective Enforcement
• Education and Research Opportunities
• Mutual Confidence Trust Building
• Enhanced Land Tenure

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KTNRS Nature Conservationas A Peace Effort

• Nature Conservation - Pan-Korean Issues
• KTNRS/DMZ - Bilateral Issues
• Nature Conservation involves Habitats,
  Biodiversity People Villages, Municipal
  Government Economy, Food, Shelter, Landscape,
  Energy Education, Health
• 1992 RIO Convention on Biodiversity - Common
  Policy, Joint Efforts Dialog, Cooperation
• Environmental Security - Human Security

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The DMZ FORUM for Preserving the DMZ Ecosystems
Goals Joint Agreement by the Two Koreas to
Establish the Korea Transboundary Peace Reserves
System.
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Strategy for Ultimate Goal

• Bottom-Up (Project-based) approach
• Site-specific or Specific-specific project
• Horizontal (Inter-Korean) approach
• ROK gov. or NGOs direct contact
• Top-Down (High-level) approach
• Well-known personality or group directly
  interact with DPRK leadership

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Conclusion Challenges

• Koreas Demography Continued Growth - 70M to
  100M??
• Economic Expansion Inter-Korean Enterprises
  Land Appropriation
• Continued Loss of Biodiversity
• Public Education of Environmental Stewardship
• Welfare of North Korean Citizens

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Conclusion Perspectives

• DPRK - ROK Bilateral Interactions
• Environmental Reality
• Development - Environmental Stewardship
• No one wants War - No more Cold War
• Captive DPRK citizens - Dire economy
• Biodiversity Pollution do not recognize
  political boundary
• Korean Nationalism
• Environmental Security

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RESOLUTIONS TO DILEMMA

• Pan-Korean Nature Conservation
• Bottom-up approach
• Community-based conservation
• Transboundary Peace Reserves
• Horizontal approach ROK
• High-level approach Ted Turner

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