Ramsar COP
On the Wetland Inventory in the DPR Korea
Visitors of the Side-Event on the Wetland Inventory in the DPR Korea
HSS
A side event with the title “Implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the DPR Korea and launch of the 2nd National Wetland Inventory of the DPR Korea” took place on 24 October. The event was opened by Mrs. RI Kyong Sim, Director General in the Ministry of Land and Environment Protection of DPR Korea. She emphasized the significance of global efforts for environment conservation and the fact that nature does neither know borders, nor passports, and that it connects people, nations and countries beyond limitations that are existing for human beings. After her opening speech she presented the updated wetland inventory of the DPRK. The publication lists 54 important coastal, inland and artificial wetlands. The directory is also the baseline for the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals, such as the SDG on Clean Water and Sanitation, as well as a contribution to the national policy-making for wetland conservation and management. HSF Korea supported the research and capacity-building activities to gather the information for the directory as well as the final publication of it. A presentation on the Wetland Inventory of the DPRK can be found on the website of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Partnership (here). There is also a video on wetlands in DPRK available on the same page.
Mrs Ri Kyong Sim speaking at the event
HSS
Mrs. Ri Kyong Sim continued the event with a presentation on the status and progress of wetland conservation in the DPRK. There are a total of 16 nature reserves in the country and two sites are now designated as Ramsar Sites of International Importance. Especially the wetlands along the Yellow/West Sea with its location in the center of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway plays an important stopover site of migratory birds. According to Mrs. Ri Kyong Sim more than 2 million migratory shorebirds that account for 40 % of total migrant shorebirds stop at the coastal wetlands in Korea every May during the migration season. Mrs. Ri also introduced the importance and potential for international cooperation to conserve wetlands in the DPRK.
Felix Glenk (HSF) at the event
HSS
As an example how international organizations are already active in the DPRK, Mr. Felix Glenk of Hanns Seidel Foundation introduced the work over the last years. The foundation has continuously supported efforts to conserve the environment on the Korean Peninsula. “Peace through Trust through Dialogue about the Environment” is a slogan used for this engagement and brought together representatives from DPRK with more than 20 international organizations as well as with representatives of national governments and scientific institutions. Lastly, Mrs. Andrea Stewart from the Department of Conservation of New Zealand introduced the involvement in nature conservation in the DPRK by the Pūkorokoro Miranda Trust. The NGO conducts surveys along the West Sea of the DPRK since several years. A documentary was shown and can also be watched online here. For many of the around 100 participants it was the first time to get introduced to the status of the environment in the DPRK. A better understanding for the nature will eventually also lead to a better mutual understanding and exchange on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.