Nature Reserves Newly Designated

The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea adopted a Cabinet decision in April Juche 92 (2003) to redesignate the nature reserves of the country and manage them on a scientific basis.

Thanks to this measure the proportion of the area of nature reserves to the total land area increased by 1.5 percent.

Nature reserves, designated on a more scientific basis, were subdivided and their missions and characters classified more clearly. This resulted in the setting of new reserve districts.

Newly subdivided and expanded nature reserves by the state total 1,655.

They include two biospheric reserves, four nature reserves, 80 natural parks, 25 flora reserves, 25 sanctuaries, 24 migratory birds reserves, seven seabird reserves, 26 aquatic reserves, four natural resources protection areas, 36 reserves for natural living monuments protection and 1,422 reserves for protection of historic relics.

Objects for protection and their missions made concrete. The migratory bird reserves include reserves where varieties of seasonal birds would take a rest and reserves where specified summer birds propagate en masse.

On such principles the aquatic reserves divided the eastern and western seaside and inner waters and clearly designated the objects for protection in each reserve.

For example, Yanghwa Aquatic Reserve on the East Sea of Korea was set to protect scallops, Oryuji Aquatic Reserve on the West Sea for trepangs and River Jangjin Fish Reserve for Hucho ishikanai.

Special attention is directed to the designation of nature reserves equally on both sides with the Paektu range as its centre.

The measures for the subdivision and expansion of nature reserves and the establishment of their scientific system of the state guarantees a more satisfactory protection of the natural environment and biodiversity of the country.