Demilitarized Zone in Korea - Making Sustainable Place for Environment

Making Demilitarized Zone in Korea sustainable. No, I am not talking about how to sustain military around the place. Since the end of Korean War in 1953, the DMZ has been dividing South and North Korea. Although it is Demilitarized Zone, the area of DMZ is one of the most militarized zone in the world. With many restricted rules and military bases, the area of DMZ and surrounded places became very difficult to live for civilians. In DMZ, which is 155milies long, there are only a few places for human activities, mostly small military post and Panmunjeom, a meeting point for South and North Korean military officers.

Location of DMZ, the red line. Another few miles from the DMZ is also restricted area.

For more than a half century, the DMZ became the symbol of divided Korea. However, being the restricted area for people turned this place as one of the most nature reserved area in the world. As South Korea more industrialized and developed, many places in Korea have been developed or polluted. The DMZ area was only left behind due to the heavy restrictions. 

Seoul, home of more than 10Million, rapidly expanded last 30 years.

Recently, DMZ became a destination for the environmentalists, geologists and many researchers for endangered plants and animals. Some of species they found in DMZ were known as extincted in South Korea long time ago. More than 100 species were reported to live in DMZ area. Founding endangered species were not the only result. Geologists found out that the DMZ area was one of the least polluted area in nation. Scientists and researchers are looking more species will be found since the area they surveyed was only small part of DMZ. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/08/22/korea.bio.dmz/

Red-crowned Crane, an extremely rare specie, founded in DMZ.

The question of the sustainability of DMZ is directly involved with the environmental issue and the unification of two Korea. In the future, if both South and North Korea unified, what will happened to the DMZ, one of the most reserved area in the world? 

In my opinion, once the two Korea unified, the DMZ should declared as peace park. Today, the DMZ symbolize two meanings. One, the tragic history of Korea and the other one is well reserved nature. Sustaining the environment in the DMZ is not too difficult. If the unification of Korea occurs, all we have to do is change the restriction for military purpose to environmental purpose. This 155milies long reserved area will be remembered as memory of divided nation and also the home of endangered species in Korea.

Even before the unification, both South and North Korea could agree to minimize any military activities, clean up the mine fields, so the area could be more safe for the animals and plants. Some mines are over 50 years old, too old to active. So, we could just leave them there. Wait. Do we even remember where we put them?

 In DMZ, everything is more than 50 years old. All we have to do is declare DMZ as environmental protected area.

In 2005, Ted Turner, founder of CNN suggested making DMZ as UN protected World Heritage Site for reserved environment and the related tragic history. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-11-18-turnerdmz_x.htm

South Korea has been made economic progress since the end of the War. As a result, there are not many reserved nature areas left. Maybe turning this 155miles long area to the largest environment protected area could be the one way to start up saving nature in Korea.