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Environmental Designations in South Korea |
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by Soyeon Cho | 21-03-2019 09:06
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In my previous reports, I discussed the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation for the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone hat the South Korean government had requested in 2012. The local officials and the South Korean government submitted the request in their efforts to protect the unique ecology in the DMZ and the Civilian Control Zone region (CCZ, or the region directly adjacent to the DMZ and stretching from the west to east coast of the peninsula) (Mok). However, many remarked that the rather rushed nature of the actual proposal, including the lack of discussions with North Korea and involving their part of the DMZ and the failure to come to an agreement with the locals who were concerned that it would bring limitations to urban development. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is one example of different environmental designations that the South Korean government either requests to a third party (such as a non-governmental organization like UNESCO and Ramsar) or a relevant department under the government system (such as national parks). For example, the Mt. Halla region in the Jeju Island has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, with the total area spanning over around 45 percent of the entire Jeju Island province. Some of the protected areas include the Hallasan National Park, Beomseom Natural Reserve, Seoogwipo Marine Park, and much more (WNH Jeju). To connect from some of the nationally designated areas in the Jeju Island Biosphere Reserve, there are 20 national parks in South Korea covering 6.5 percent of the total area of the country. However, even with other designations such as Natural Reserves and Marine Parks, it has been shown that there are many endangered species outside these officially protected areas, and the designation system mainly focuses on individual environments & species, not the broader goal of ecology conservation. Therefore, the South Korean government should work on connecting the individual national parks and designated areas to make sure that the system is more cohesive and preserves the habitats for all species, not just certain ones. Cho, Soyeon. Dum-bung Observations for the DMZ Ecology Research Institute. Songdo, 21 Oct 2018. “Jeju Island Biosphere Reserve.” World National Heritage Jeju, World National Heritage Jeju, jejuwnh.jeju.go.kr/english/unescoJeju/biosphereReserve.do. Mok, Jeong-min. “UNESCO Denies Designation of DMZ as Biosphere Reserve.” The Kyunghyang Shinmun, The Kyunghyang Shinmun, 13 July 2012, english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201207131046497&code=710100. Shin, Won Woo et al. “Korea’s Protected Areas.” IUCN, IUCN, 2010, portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/IUCN-2009-035.pdf.
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4 Comments
Hi Soyeon,
This is an impressive report and I really enjoyed reading this. I truly agree to your point that the South Korean government should work on connecting the individual national parks and designated areas to make sure that the system is more cohesive and preserves the habitats for all species, not just certain ones. Indeed all species are precious.
Thank you for your report, and it it definitely worth to read! :)
Louis Mentor
Posted 01-04-2019 00:57
Hello Soyeon!
Thank you for sharing this important issue with fellow ambassadors. The UNESCO biosphere reserves have three functions protecting ecosystem, reinforcing scientific research and fostering sustainable development. Thus, these environmental designations definitely can help to preserve the ecosystem. However, since environmental designations can refer to deterring development, people concerned to that areas must have enough time to have a discussion. I feel sorry hear that lack of discussions with North Koreans led to the failure of an agreement. Thank you again for your great report and it would be very meaningful to think of other ways to protect certain area as nature reserves.
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 29-03-2019 15:04
Hello Soyeon
I do hope that you are fine and doing great with your woks. Thanks for your report about Environmental Designations in South Korea. Your report explains how stakeholders and designation have troubled the environment in South Korea and I really loved the way you presented your report.
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Yours,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 25-03-2019 13:58
Hi Soyeon!
I understand you angle in reference to this problem. it becomes a problem when stakeholders who are connected to these designations do not unite for the greater good. Moreover, You are right in saying that there should be a broader onlook at the biodiversity of fauna and flora that they protect. It pays not value to protect one or a few species while the rest are open to danger.
Thank you for reporting Soyeon!
Sincerely,
Rosa
Posted 22-03-2019 17:04