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Maybe future Korean generations can have clean water and clean air and plentiful fish harvested from the pristine Han and Imjen rivers.

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The history of the divided Korea is like a lover’s quarrel: after a long and intense fight a cold and silent spell sets in between the two parties for years – interrupted by false hints of appeasement, and reconciliation. However, there is a major difference in the story of partitioned Korea: the presence of a physical barrier between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that came into nexistence after the three-year Korean War was halted, known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The DMZ is no light-hearted subject. This 4km by 250km area demarcated by barbed wire enclosing over a million land mines running across the Korean peninsula separates a tyrannical nation from a democratic nation. It is a memory of a violent war, an obstacle between divided families, a hindrance to the economic development of Korea, a line of separation between wealth and freedom, and poverty and suppression. It is responsible for separating two groups of people sharing the same customs, culture, and language. Could there be any silver lining to come from this intrusive band of space along the 38th parallel?

There is a reason for some to cheer, particularly for biologists, ecologists, bird conservationists, wetland activists, and other environmentalists throughout the world. An expedition completed by the Ministry of Environment was completed in November 2008 and stated, for the first time, the extent of the healthy and flourishing ecosystem located between the man-made explosives and barbed wire fences. Without the presence of people for 55 years the DMZ has become an invaluable source of natural wealth boasting populations of lynx, leopard, dear, bears and possibly even tigers, which are not present on the rest of the peninsula. The DMZ has been able to foster the proliferation of many unique and rare species of wildlife, including a rare plant only found on the Korean peninsula, the Korean epimedium, currently being investigated for its positive effects on osteoporosis. The DMZ is also a significant habitat for a traditional cultural symbol of Korea, the red-crowned crane, which winters here. In fact, one-third of the entire world population visits the DMZ each year.

Furthermore, there are many natural resources important to the future of Korea that are evidence that the DMZ should remain securely unspoiled. There are five significant sources of water that have been protected from unsanitary disturbances in the DMZ: the Han, Imjen, Bukhan, Soyang and Nam rivers. They will be necessary as sources of drinking water in the future development of Korea. There are large tracts of wetlands important for recycling natural waste and habitat for rare birdlife. Forests, covering 75% of the DMZ, assist with improving the air quality and will have valuable potential use for timber. The pristine coastal habitat within the DMZ will be an important source of food. The untouched wilderness flooded with picturesque mountains, rare wildlife and other beautiful natural sites would be a wonderful weekend get-away from the high paced life in the cities. This has great potential to benefit the local economies of the residents in and around the DMZ.

Thanks to the support and guidance given by international organizations such as the United Nations Environmental Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Peace Park Foundation, International Crane Foundation and the DMZ Forum, plans have been set forth to secure the natural wealth within the DMZ to benefit the residents of Korea for generations to come. It has been urged that a trans-boundary, Peace Park adjoining the Koreas be established as a step toward reunification and to protect the invaluable natural ecology that currently exists, greatly supported by influential people like Nelson Mandela and Ted Turner. This would bring tourists into the area creating jobs and developing the local economies as well as strengthening diplomatic ties. This is currently supported by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Environment and positive signs of approval have come out of North Korea, but little interaction with the North Korean government and environmental organizations have been possible.

Establishing a nature reserve to maintain the DMZ’s wild treasures will not be an easy task. Progress has been set back by local residents along the DMZ borders and private development investors as well as the landmines scattered throughout the DMZ. Residents are concerned that their property and farms will be taken away limiting their already limited earnings. Developers envision new cities, ports, dams and even a large-scale amusement park to boost the Korean economy. The landmines will remain a serious issue for years to come due to the difficulty and cost of diffusing them. Each of the estimated 1.2 million landmines would cost about $1,000 to disarm.

Hope remains for many that after the Koreas have made amends, we will be able to spend a weekend get-away on Daeam Mountain, or taking day trips into the Dragon Moors to see some of the rarest plants on the Korean peninsula. Maybe future Korean generations can have clean water and clean air and plentiful fish harvested from the pristine Han and Imjen rivers. Tourists’ enjoyment of these unique sites would create employment, giving current residents-turned-tour guides, and eco-tourism entrepreneurs, and nature lovers a reason to cheer.

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