Cranes, Crops and Conservation: Understanding Human Perceptions of Biodiversity Conservation in South Korea’s Civilian Control Zone

Abstract

South Korea's Civilian Control Zone (CCZ), a relatively untouched area due to tight military oversight since the end of Korean War, has received considerable attention nationally and internationally for its rich biodiversity. However, the exclusion of local communities from the process of defining problems and goals and of setting priorities for biodiversity conservation has halted a series of biodiversity conservation efforts. Through qualitative research, we explored CCZ farmers' views of key problems and issues and also the sources of their opposition to the government-initiated conservation approaches. Key findings include the farmers' concerns about the impact of conservation restrictions on their access to necessary resources needed to farm, wildlife impacts on the value of rice and other agricultural goods they produce, and farmers' strong distrust of government, the military, and planners, based on their experiences with past conservation processes. The findings regarding farmers' perceptions should prove useful for the design of future participatory planning processes for biodiversity conservation in the CCZ. This case highlights how conservative measures, perceived to be imposed from above--however scientifically valuable--can be undermined and suggests the value that must be placed on communication among planners and stakeholders.

Adapting international conservation strategies to local context: perceptions of biodiversity values and management responsibility in two Mediterranean deltas

“…This study supports previous research emphasizing the importance of understanding human perceptions of biodiversity for conservation planning (Kim et al 2011). Identifying the different perceptions and social landscape values of biodiversity is a first step to understand the context of a specific site (Duraiappah et al 2013).…”

¿Son compatibles la conservación de plantas y las guerras? El papel de las áreas en disputa, las áreas militares y las reliquias militares como reservas naturales

“…The DMZ covers a total of 907 km 2 , and has remained a virtually "noman's land" for the last 65 years and, thus, a sanctuary for biodiversity (Kim, 1997(Kim, , 2013. Moreover, along the southern boundary of the DMZ, the Civilian Controlled Zone (CCZ) was set for military purposes, with a width ranging from 5 to 20 km; the CCZ, with 1369 km 2 (Kim, 2013), has become an area where human activities are strictly limited (only some farming is allowed; Kim et al, 2011). Altogether, both areas account for almost 2300 km 2 of relatively pristine lands that are acting as a de facto nature reserve.…”

“…Given that CCZ and, especially DMZ, have remained almost untouched since the 1950s, it is not surprising that this area may harbor ca. 1600 plant species (Kim et al, 2011); that is, a remarkable one third of the total vascular flora estimated for the Korean Peninsula (4662 species; Kim, 2006) is found in a mere 1% of its total area. Figures are even more significant for animals: 71% of all amphibians and reptiles, 51% of all birds, and 52% of all mammals native to Korea are found in this narrow strip (Kim & Cho, 2005;Kim et al, 2011).…”

“…1600 plant species (Kim et al, 2011); that is, a remarkable one third of the total vascular flora estimated for the Korean Peninsula (4662 species; Kim, 2006) is found in a mere 1% of its total area. Figures are even more significant for animals: 71% of all amphibians and reptiles, 51% of all birds, and 52% of all mammals native to Korea are found in this narrow strip (Kim & Cho, 2005;Kim et al, 2011). According to Kim (1997), the DMZ and the CCZ provide wintering habitats for two of the world's most endangered birds, red-crowned crane [Grus japonensis (Statius Muller, 1776)] and white-naped crane (Grus vipio Pallas, 1811), and are also home of threatened, iconic animals such as the Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus G.…”

Habitat Fragmentation by a Levee and Its Impact on Frog Population in the Civilian Control Zone

“…(Sung and Cho, 2012;John et al, 2003;Kim et al, 2011). Without laws properly protecting it from development and destruction, and the risk of an uncertain future amidst a tense political climate, the ecological future of the DMZ and nearby sites does not seem bright.…”