1) The ecosystem environment
The Demilitarized zone, which crosses the middle of the Korean peninsula, stretches 155 miles (248Km). The width of the DMZ measures 4km and the covers an area of 992km2. For the past 50 years since the agreement of armistice was concluded, the nature was well preserved in this zone limiting entrance of humans.
The Demilitarized zone crosses the mountainous and the field area. In between are valleys, basins and several rivers. It is an important region geographically, where the mountain ecosystem, inland marsh, freshwater and coastal ecosystem exists all together. Not only international protected species and threatened species but also various natural monuments, endangered species and protected wild animals and plants live in this region. Also, providing habitats and migration routes to the internationally important aquatic bird and cranes, this region is of deep interest on the international dimension for the conservation of biological diversity.
At the DMZ including the Civilian Controlled zone, 1/3 out of 2900 plant species, 1/2 out of 70 mammalian species and 1/5 out of 320 bird species are being discovered. The Demilitarized zone can be largely divided into east coast region, mid-eastern mountainous region, mid-western inland region, west coast and island region. The ecosystem and the characteristics of the biota are clearly defined by the weather and also by topographical differences of mountain range, rivers, and seas.
2) Classification of the DMZ ecosystem region
| The whole northern area of the Civilian Controlled line could be classified into 4 districts considering the weather and vegetation, and topological differences of rivers and seas. (Forest service 1995.) |
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| ①The eastern coastal area. Including the lagoons and wet lands at the East coast |
| ②The mountainous area and the mid- eastern mountainous region including the upper marsh, |
| ③ The mid- western inland region formed by the Hantan river upper stream water system and the lava plateau. |
| ④ West sea and islands including the Hantan river, Imjin river, and Han river |
3) Present status of composition for each ecosystem region
| Flora and vegetation | East coast region | Mid-eastern mountainous region |
| 1. The total of 298 kinds, of 73 families, 193 genera, 263 species, 33 varieties, 2 forms of floras are researched in this area 2. Has milder vegetation characteristics than the plants at the West coast region, affected by the oceanic climate. | 1. The total of 704 kinds, of 89 families, 335 genera, 597 species, 1 subspecies, 98 varieties, and 8 forms of floras are found at this region. 2. The boreal plant and the subtropic plant co-exists | |
| Mid-western inland region | West sea and islands | |
| 1. The total of 604 kinds, of 96 families, 304 genera, 517 species, 1 subspecies, 79 varieties and 7 forms of floras are researched in this area 2. Climatic characteristics of relatively mild weather and large amount of rainfall | 11. The total of 817 kinds, of 115 families, 429 genera, 683 species, 2 subspecies, 120 varieties and 12 forms of floras are researched in this area. 2. Composed of secondary forests, sprout forest and forested land afforested after most of the original vegetation was destroyed by excess artificial disturbance. | |
| Forest resources | East coast region | Mid-eastern mountainous region |
| The broad?leaved forest occupied over 45% of the whole area of Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do. 20.2% was occupied by coniferous forest composed of pine trees.The distributions of pine forests were higher at the coastal regions than at the mountain region.The unstocked forest land occupied 42.5% of the northmost tip at the DMZ region. | The broad?leaved forest occupied over 45% of the region. Comparing to the Yanggu-gun region, the distribution of coniferous forest was higher at the Goseong-gun region with the coniferous forest composed of pine trees occupying 19% of the total region. The mixed forest and shrubbery were distributed in relatively large numbers at the Yanggu-gun region. | |
| Mid-western inland region | West sea and islands | |
| The forest in Cheorwon-gun and Yeoncheon-gun was composed of broad?leaved forest in the coppice forest state and with distributed Mongolian oaks and Acacias.The mixed forest of pitch pine and, alder tree was distributed near the Togyo reservoir. At the Cheorwon plains and the forests in the DMZ where the Pyungang plateau is located, the broad?leaved forest was distributed in small numbers. | 60.1% of the total area of Baengnyeongdo makes up the forest. The coniferous forest makes up 27.1%, broad?leaved forest 35.0%, and the mixed forest is distributed for 37.9% of the region. At Daecheongdo 65% is forest. The coniferous forest makes up 46.5%, broad?leaved forest 33.5% and the mixed forest is distributed for 20.0%.In Ganghwado the region is manly composed of broad?leaved forest, and the broad?leaved forest is also well developed at Gimpo-gun. | |
| Mammals | East coast region | Mid-eastern mountainous region |
| 46 species were found to inhabit at this region. The dominant species are the spot-billed duck, black-tailed gull, tree sparrow, barn swallow and brown-eared bulbul, in the order of dominance. The 4 rare species of schrenck’s little bittern, mandarin duck, chinese sparrow hawk, and kestrel were found. As the only place were the black swan dwells in the country, Hwajinpo lake is a very significant place | 51 species were found to inhabit in this region. The dominant species are great tit, marsh tit, parrotbill, barn swallow, brown-eared bulbul, yellow-throated bunting, Siberian meadow bunting, arctic warbler, jungle crow, magpie, bull-headed shrike, daurian redstart etc. The 6 rare species of mandarin duck, merlin, sparrow hawk, chinese sparrow hawk, black woodpecker, and sparrow hawk were located in this region. | |
| Mid-western inland region | West sea and islands | |
| The total of 109 species was found to inhabit in this region. The dominant species in the summer were found to be barn swallow, large egret, parrotbill, azure-winged magpie, magpie, tree sparrow, rufous turtle dove, gray starling, Chinese oriole, brown-eared bulbul, and in winter white-fronted goose, bean goose, mallard, white-naped crane, japanese crane, rustic bunting, hawfinch, magpie were the dominant species21 species required protection among the observed species. This is the region where the largest group of the endangered species, japanese crane and white-naped crane, passes winter in Korea. | [West sea region] 106 species were found to inhabit in this region. The dominant species at summer are the ardeidae, and at winter are bean goose, white-fronted goose, swan goose, mallard, spot-billed duck, pochard, ruddy shelduck, pintail, dunlin, and gray plover etc. 22 species required protection. [Island region] 128 species and subspecies were found in this region. This is the region were the most species appeared at the DMZ and nearby regions. As the place where many groups and diverse species pass, it is an important region as the middle stop-off region at the migration path of the migratory birds. [Baengnyeongdo] The total of 79 species of 3,083 individuals was observed. The bramblings were the dominant species [Daecheong-do] The total of 56 species, 802 individuals were observed.The dominant species were the black-tailed gulls. |
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4) destructive type of ecosystem
| Classification | Type | |
| The continuous widening of Agricultural land | A. Change to farmland from wet land B. Change to farmland from grassland C. Encroachment of ginseng field at forests. D. Water pollution from agricultural chemicals and chemical fertilizers. E. Noise from the agricultural machinaries F. Road widening due to the farm road extension |
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| Non-environmental policies | A. Expansion of cultivation area due to the careless regulation by the military camp. B. Expansion of cultivation area due to the lack of influence of the administrative authorities. C. Support cultivations of cash crops based on economical logics D. The ecologically important waterside vegetations, marshes, biological habitants, are being destroyed as cultivation areas increase. |
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| Building large-scale roads | A. Fragmentation of forests
B. Noises resulting from the increase of traffic C Air pollution D. Difficulty in the migration of wild animals E. Extinction and isolation of ecosystem F. Disturbance in the activities of nocturnal animals caused by light at night |
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| Military drills | A. Water pollution from oil spills B. Indiscreet fill-up of waste C. Noise restricts the activity of wild animals and destroys underwater ecosystem. D. The forest ecosystem is greatly threatened since most military facilities are at the forest region. E. Set forest fire for military purposes |
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5) The counter plan to reduce the effect on the ecosystem
| Ecosystem | Reduction strategies | |
| Forest ecosystem | A. Build a wildlife passage together when placing or building roads B. Construct bypass connecting the forest ecosystem and the river ecosystem. C. Introduce native species at the outside of the coniferous forest to harmonize with the surrounding ecosystem. D. Induce ecological succession process, which gradually changes the rice field to grassland by leaving it without care E. Restore the forest by introducing vegetation at close to the forest damage region. |
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| Grassland ecosystem | A. Prohibit expansion of farmland, illegal cultivation, and illegal use for military purposes. B. Construct artificial ecological ponds for the habitat of species such as bird and mammals. Remove built dikes. C. Build plant communities. Control withered trees. D. Construct ecological bridges, underpasses |
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| Aquatic ecosystem | A. Remove dikes or build fishways. B. Connect waterways and supply deficient water C. Recover the wetland and aquatic birds’ habitat by making large ponds and reservoirs. D. Remove artificial reed field. Prohibit use for shooting field. E. Introduce purification plants to prevent pollution and maintain natural gradient. |
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