Status and ecological resource value of the Republic of Korea’s De-militarized Zone

Abstract

This paper explores the status and value of ecological resources found in the De-militarized Zone (DMZ), an area of land separating North and South Korea, in terms of habitats and species. This approach contrasts with a conventional species-driven approach.There have been few surveys of ecological resources in the DMZ due to land mines and security issues. As such, there appear to be a number of less well known habitats and understudied and data deficient species within the DMZ. This paper seeks to improve knowledge of ecological resources within the DMZ by combining and synthesizing the author's study results with the outcome of surveys of the DMZ conducted by various organizations. The paper also includes ecological mapping results. Conservation value is assessed using priorities identified by a number of Korean and foreign institutions. The conservation value of habitats, particularly of wetlands including peatland, is based on the Ramsar Site criteria, the International Peat Society criteria, and the designation criteria for the UNESCO World Natural Heritage and Biosphere Reserve. As in-depth studies on the functions of DMZ habitats are not available due to the constraints mentioned above, the habitat assessment is inevitably tentative. Species value is based on the IUCN's Red Data Book (1997). This paper seeks to be used as material contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of the DMZ. In particular, this paper aims to aid in the designation of the DMZ as a World Natural Heritage site through the identification and suggestion of key or prime biodiversity areas within the DMZ. This is completed by using a model suggested by English Nature (UK) based on the aforementioned criteria.

Contributing to Sustainability Education of East Asian University Students through a Field Trip Experience: A Social-Ecological Perspective

“…As a result of complex social-ecological processes, the landscape in the DMZ area, which has been unintentionally well preserved due to the confrontation between North and South Korea, should be novel and impressing. However, previous literature (e.g., [42,55]) and educators in this program have not fully illustrated the social-ecological processes in the DMZ yet. Therefore, the novelty of the DMZ was not directly linked to the participants' learning.…”

Parks, peace, and partnership: global initiatives in transboundary conservation

“…From 1995 to the present, field and literature surveys have been conducted to assess biological resources of the area. Reports detail a broad range in the numbers of species: 256-1,597 plants, 4-66 mammals, 143-939 animals other than mammals, 49-233 birds, 6-46 amphibians and reptiles, 13-98 freshwater fish and 50,000-51,000 insects (Kim and Cho 2005;Shin 2007;Kim 2007). These estimates poignantly portray the vast richness of the area.…”

“…Some of these areas have been subjected to significant numbers of purposeful and natural fires. On sloping lowlands are geranium among other species (Kim and Cho 2005).…”

“…• The DMZ meets all UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR) program criteria: ecosystem representing a biogeographic region; containing a variety of species and habitats to be conserved; where sustainable development can be applied; and where public institutions, regional communities, and the private sector may participate (Kim and Cho 2005).…”

The influence of water characteristics on the aquatic insect and plant assemblage in small irrigation ponds in Civilian Control Zone, Korea

“…Both the DMZ and the CCZ have representative topography of the Korean peninsula, which is high altitude on the eastern-side with mountains, central part with well-developed rice paddy fields, and low altitude on the western-side with well-developed estuary area and rice paddy fields. As a result, CCZ and DMZ have rich ecosystem and landscape diversity, providing a vital wildlife refuge, including several internationally endangered and vulnerable species (Kim and Cho, 2005). Especially, the highest rate of endangered species is found particularly in the western…”