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2018 DMZ International Forum: Connecting People and Nature for Peace 2018. 9. 6. 의정부예술의전당 Cooperation between two Koreas for Nature Conservation of Korean Peninsula HEO, Hag Young Senior Research Fellow, Korea National Park Service

Index 1. Biodiversity & Protected Areas in Korean Peninsula 2. Cooperation in the Nature Conservation • Hanbando Eco-Peace Park, DMZ Eco-Peace Park • Possible Future Cooperation 3. (Suggestion) Environmental Principles

1. Biodiversity & Protected Areas in Korean Peninsula  Territory Status • Total area : 223,000㎢ (ROK 10,000㎢ 45%, DPRK 123,000㎢ 55%) • Total length of coastal line : about 11,352㎞ (DPRK 3,070㎞, 27%)  Biodiversity Status • ROK (2016, Total 47,003) : Plant 5,379, Animals 27,468, Fungi/Lichen 4,840, Protozoan 1,750, Procaryote 1,709, Algae 5,857 • DPRK (2006) : Plant 10,012 species, Animals 9,795species

 Protected Areas in ROK • Introduced Protected Area Systems in 1960s • About 20 types of Protected Areas • Total PAs(2017) : 2,646 sites (26,773 ㎢), Overlapped area: about 3,697 ㎢)  Protected Areas in DPRK • Established the first PA in 1946 • About 10 types of Protected Areas (mainly in accordance with Environment Protection Law) • Total PAs(2005) : 327 sites (8,720 ㎢) 1. Biodiversity & Protected Areas in Korean Peninsula

6 World Database on Protected Areas ( U N E P - W C M C , 2 0 1 8 ) C B D A i c h i Ta r g e t - 11 ( b y 2 0 2 0 ) - Te r r e s t r i a l 1 7 % - M a r i n e 1 0 %

 New Economic Map of the Korean Peninsula • East Sea Economic Belt ( Mt.Seorak – Mt. Kumgang – Wonsan – Chongjin – Rason) • Border Area Peace Belt (Environment & Tourism Belt) • West Coast Industrial, Logistics & Transportation Belt Background

DMZ  Integrate Baekdu-daegan ecosystem (Great Paektu Mountain Range)  DMZ Eco-Peace Park International Peace Park World Heritage Sites Symbolic Areas for Peace (Peace Zone)

The Hanbando Eco-Peace Park (HEPP) Initiative, would create a significant transboundary protected area (TBPA) from Seorak-san NP in the South to Geumgang-san NP in the North, through the DMZ. Hanbando Eco-Peace Park

• To integrate peninsula level PAs into the larger BDMS ecosystem; • To promote collaboration and eventually joint management between Seorak-san NP & Geumgang-san NP across the DMZ • To enhance the conservation and sustainable use of DMZ areas in the way to achieve SDGs  Aims and Objectives  Peace, Protection, Prosperity

Hanbando Eco-Peace Park (Symbol of reconciliation and peace) Hub of Local Economy • Geumgangsan & Seoraksan Tour • Connection by Railway & Road • Vitalize the local communities • Famous tourist attractions Something in common • Seorak & Geumgang: National Park • Same Province : Gangwondo • Same geographic features Ecological aspects • Unique ecological values • Endangered and threatened species • Incorporate DMZ as a ecological axes of Korean Peninsula Strong public support • Strong internal & external support • Public will for Peace and conservation • Corner stone for mitigating political tension  The reasons why?

Geumgangsan Geonbongsan Hyangrobong Seoraksan DMZ  To connect the main ecological axes in Korean Peninsular

(Seorak-Geumgang) Hanbando Eco-Peace Park  Provide a good cooperation model  Integrated management approach Cooperation Model  Connect a main eco-axes  Conserve core ecosystem Conservation Encourage actual cooperation Decline the political tension Peace & Reconciliation  Sustainable use  contribute local economy Eco-tourism  Expected outcomes of HEPP • To connect a main ecological axes in Korean Peninsula • To develop a effective cooperation model regarding natural environment • Eco-tourism: contribute local economy and revitalize the local community • Try to integrate management of ecosystem in Korean Peninsula • Peace and Reconciliation

 Feasibility Study for designating the HEPP • Identify the values, priorities, challenges and opportunities • Gap analysis: baseline information & knowledge, legal & governance framework • Local context for transboundary cooperation • Benefits and impacts of collaboration for HEPP • Strategies to conservation and sustainable use • Consider to link with designating the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, etc Possible Future Cooperation

 Capacity building program • To raise awareness of the values within DMZ and HEPP for both Koreas • Capacity building program for PA managers and other stakeholders Eg> survey & monitoring method, management tool, etc. • Supporting DPRK capacity needs Eg> Management plan, MEE, Red listing of threatened species, etc.  Strengthen the efforts on the neighborhood area of DMZ • Encourage to designate new national protected areas at the gap of main ecological axes of Korean peninsula • Encourage to expand current areas of two National Parks for HEPP (Seoraksan NP in the South, Geumgangsan NP in the North) • Sustainable and Peaceful use for local communities Possible Future Cooperation

 Integrate management approach for Korean Peninsula • Encourage and Support the survey on northern part of DMZ • Publish the Biodiversity Databook for Korean peninsula • Establish the Comprehensive Protected Area System Plan for Korean peninsula including DMZ Conservation Master Plan • Establish the Comprehensive Biodiversity Strategy for Korean peninsula The rivers of Southern Africa are shared by more than one country. Our mountain ranges do not end abruptly because some nineteenth-century politician drew a line on a map. The winds, the oceans, the rain, and atmospheric currents do not recognize political frontiers. - Dr. Z. Paulo Jordan, 1997 Possible Future Cooperation

Environmental Principles for all kind of Cooperation Works in Korean Peninsula 1. Contribute to achieve UN SDGs in Korean Peninsula 2. Comply domestic laws and policies 3. Increase the connectivity of the ecological axes of Korean Peninsula 4. Conserve representative ecosystem and (biological, cultural, geo) diversity 5. Enhance human health and environmental right 6. Secure the participation of environment experts in the whole process 7. Consider appropriate recommendations of relevant international conventions and organizations 8. Embedded these environmental principles into Project plans and Report the implementation progress in public