DMZ 일원의 환경보전 기본방안

Abstract

An Environment Conservation Master Plan for the Korea DMZ Area This study aims at developing an environment conservation plan for the DMZ area. Although there have been a number of studies on the DMZ areas, they were fragmented or not detailed enough to be utilized as an effective policy alternative. In particular, as environment conservation plans were not converted into spatial plans, natural environment destruction caused by development plans and development behaviors was not addressed effectively. Also, areas with conservation value are not being conserved properly. Therefore, in order to realize environment conservation and sustainable development in the DMZ area, there have been continuous requests for the development of a comprehensive and specific as well as spatial environment conservation plan that can control various development activities and conserve valuable areas in the DMZ area. In this context, this study proceeded in the following steps. First, the significance of the DMZ area was clarified and rationales for conserving the area were described. The DMZ area is the symbol of separation of two Koreas and the Cold War ideology. Although it is an area where military tension between North Korea and South Korea still remains, it will transform into a global ecological & peaceful area in the future. However, growing development pressure in the DMZ area is increasing the possibility of environment destruction. While keeping a close eye on such environmental changes in the DMZ area, quality biodiversity, unique natural ecosystem, prevention of further natural environment destruction, sustainable development through environment conservation, environment conservation benefits to future generations, high ecological conservation value, and environment-friendly national land management were suggested as the necessity of environment conservation in the DMZ area. Second, the scope of environment management for the DMZ area was defined. By overlapping the micro-spheres of ecological survey spheres used in developing an ecological & natural map and basin zones in the Standard Basin Map developed by Water Resource Corporation with transboundary areas in the Transboundary Area Support Law, the scope of environment management in the DMZ area incorporating a bio-regional perspective was defined. Third, environment management districts were defined by conducting land environmental assessment in the DMZ area and categorizing them by grades. In land environmental assessment, "National Land Environmental Assessment Items and Criteria" by Ministry of Environment were applied. The results of management district grading analysis showed that out of total area of 7.718.76 ㎢, grade 1 or core area that requires absolute conservation is 55.51% (4,284.85 ㎢), grade 2 or buffer area that should be conserved is 23.45% (1,809.76 ㎢), grade 3 within transition area that requires environment-friendly development is 8.20% (632.98 ㎢), grade 4 within transition area is 2.41% (186.27 ㎢), grade 5 or already developed area is 5.09% (393.00 ㎢), and ungradable area is 5.34% (411.90 ㎢). Here, the ungradable areas are those where land environmental assessment is not possible because lack of data. Fourth, as environment conservation strategies for the DMZ area, building a framework for an environment plan through spatial environment map development, differentiated management of management districts, correction of unfair spatial distribution effect from environment policies, a shift from passive regulatory policies to proactive conservation policies, and the role defining and cooperative system among stakeholders were suggested. In here, differentiated management of management districts means that no development is allowed at all in grade 1 area as it is high-priority conservation area. In grade 2 area, while development is not allowed, small-scale environment-friendly development is allowed partially. In grade 3, development after environment-friendly planning and rigorous environmental assessment is allowed. While environment-friendly development is allowed in grade 4, its restriction is eased than in grade 3. Grade 5 is an already developed area where environment is protected from further deterioration through environment-friendly management and environmental restoration. Fifth, a sector-specific environment conservation direction to be included in district-specific environment conservation was suggested. Sectors include natural resource, land use, industrial activities, tourism activities, and military activities. The management of natural resource should be done in directions of conserving natural ecosystems considering regional features, natural ecosystem survey and on-going monitoring, wetland ecosystem conservation, and restoration of vulnerable and destroyed ecosystems. In land use, prevention of reckless development through planned land use management, minimization of impact of development projects on ecosystems, and differentiated land use plan across districts are required. In industrial activities, fostering of quality economics (economic activities that are environmentally sound and enable local community promotion and regional development) is required. Tourism activities need to seek sustainable tourism and honeycomb development method (focused development of existing city and settlement areas + minimum lodging facilities in unit tourist destination + transportation linking base area and unit tourist destination). As for military activities, on-going efforts by the military in environment conservation activities, detailed ecosystem survey within military jurisdictions, environmental review during military exercise review in military facility protection districts, and establishment of civilian-government-military cooperative system are necessary. Sixth, as for action plans for environment conservation, streamlining of law & regulations, compensation and support to local residents, establishment of civilian-government cooperative system, and utilization of international protection districts were suggested. As for the streamlining of laws & regulations, improvement of currently existing laws, signing of "International Agreement for Sustainable Management of the DMZ Area" that targets DMZ and the north of CCA, and legislation of "DMZ Area Sustainable Management Law" were suggested. In order to compensate and support local residents, a land purchase program was suggested for land that is worthwhile to be designated as a protected area. Voluntary agreements such as a biodiversity management contract was proposed for areas where environment-friendly activities such as farming activities are possible. Indirect support method was suggested for areas where environment-friendly development and use were required. In the civilian-government cooperative systems, easing conflicts and consensus building by restoring trust between government sector and local residents were stressed. In order to establish the civilian-government cooperative system, roles need to be defined adequately among stakeholders. As for the civilian-government cooperative systems, setting up "DMZ Special Committee" (tentative) participated by stakeholders in the Ministry of Environment at the central government level and establishing "Local (Consensus) Committee" in short-term and "Local Agenda 21" in long-term at the local government level were proposed. In utilization of international protection district system, the DMZ area should be managed rigorously under the Korean laws & regulations and, based on this, designation of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve should be initiated jointly between North Korea and South Korea. Also, the core areas or major ecosystems associated with core areas of a biosphere reserve can be designated as the World Heritage. Since overlapped designation is possible, an area that can be designated as Ramsar Site can seek to be designated by alone or in association with a biosphere reserve.