National Workshop in Pyongyang
Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands in the DPR Korea

Dr. Lew Young, Chief Executive of the EAAFP, in a ceremony handed out the partnership documents to Vice Minister Jong.

HSS

Since 2015, HSF together with international partners worked with MoLEP for the preparation of the membership of MoLEP in various international organizations, partnerships and conventions regarding the protection of wetlands and migratory birds. In 2017, MoLEP became a government agency partner of IUCN, in April 2018 a member of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) and in May 2018 it acceded to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, as the 170th contracting country. 

The workshop, which also celebrated the World Migratory Bird Day, was opened by Director-General Ri Kyong-Sim of MoLEP, who welcomed the national and international guests. Jong Yong Nam, Vice Minister of the MoLEP, in his congratulatory remarks stressed the commitment of DPRK to the protection and wise use of wetlands. Dr. Lew Young, Chief Executive of the EAAFP, answered for the international guests, and in a ceremony handed out the partnership documents to Vice Minister Jong, as well as the site managers of Kumya and Mundok, two so-called Flyway Network sites, i.e. important stop-over sites for migratory birds during migration.

Dr. Bernhard Seliger of HSF Korea looked into issues of international environmental cooperation with the DRPK.

HSS

In the first session, Dr. Young of EAAFP gave an introductory overview of the tasks and potential of membership in the Ramsar Convention and EAAFP. Kim Kwang-Ho of MoLEP gave an overview of wetland conservation in DPRK, focusing on legal, political and management aspects. Finally, Dr. Bernhard Seliger of HSF Korea looked into issues of international environmental cooperation with DRPK and the region, focusing mainly on the work done in Rason, which became one of the first two Ramsar sites of DPRK. Two videos, produced by the MoLEP on wetlands in general and by HSF on their last survey in Rason in March 2018 gave some impressions of wetlands and wetland protection to the audience. An exhibition about birds in DPRK was shown aside the workshop.

The Mundok Reserve: Ramsar- and Fly Network Site

The second session started with a presentation by Raphael Glemet of the IUCN Asia Regional Office, who showed the protection of the Gulf of Mottama Ramsar site, the Coastal Natural Resource Management plan, as an example for the understanding of a sustainable and wise use of wetlands. U Un-chong of the MoLEP gave an update on the progress of the DPRK National Wetland Inventory. In 1995 a team supported mainly by Prof. Jong Chong-Ryol by Korea University in Tokyo, Japan, produced the first wetland inventory. However, afterwards many changes happened and since 2017 MoLEP together with experts from the State Academy of Sciences works on an updated wetland inventory, focusing on the 55 most important wetland sites. Among others, HSF supported workshops and survey activities in 2016 and 2017. Also, after the workshop site surveys in Mundok (West coast) and along the East coast took place, supported by Hanns Seidel Foundation.

Two groups had talks with person responsibles.

HSS

The last session was devoted to group discussions to identify areas for possible cooperation on wetland conservation and management in the DPRK. Among the guests were representatives of UNDP (the UN resident Tapan Mishra), the FAO, the Russian Embassy and the Swiss Development Corp., all involved themselves in certain projects related to environment protection. Media of the DPRK also reported on the event. Site visits to Mundok Migratory Bird Reserve, the first Ramsar Site in DPRK (next to Rason MBR) followed the National Workshop. Two groups conducted a survey on biodiversity in the area, and had talks with local site managers, farmers, fisherman and officials with a focus on ecosystem services, respectively.

HSF is active in the field of environment conservation in the DPRK since almost 10 years.

HSS

HSF is active in the field of environment conservation in the DPRK since almost 10 years. The project on Wetland Conservation was strongly coordinated with and support by international partners, such as the Ramsar Secretariat, the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Birds Korea, WWF, Beijing Forestry University and other partners.

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