Nature reclaims the notorious DMZ
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The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the two Koreas established after the 1953 Korean War cease-fire (the two nations are technically still at war), it is the most dangerous and heavily militarized border in the world. It is also one of Northeast Asia’s last bastions of biodiversity. This stretch of wilderness is home to migrating flocks of rare cranes and some of the last wild bears and leopards in the region.
The de facto wildlife preserve encompasses 390 square miles of diverse terrain virtually untouched by human development for 55 years. Now, as this accidental Eden faces major development pressures, a growing contingent is pushing for its establishment as a transboundary nature park – which could also be a step toward peace between the two Koreas.
“This strip of land contains almost every type of ecosystem you can imagine,” says Alan Weisman, author of “The World Without Us.” “It has inadvertently become one of the most important wildlife conservation sites in the world.”
While covert military activity does occur inside the DMZ, it’s officially off-limits, and anyone entering from either side risks being shot. Barbed-wire fences also prevent land animals from moving in and out of the 2.5-mile-wide zone. Many studies have taken place along both sides of its perimeter and through distant observation, but none within the DMZ itself.
All doubt about the zone’s ecological value is gone, says Mr. Weisman, whose book explores how nature might recover in the absence of humans, “If you want to know what the world would look like if humans suddenly vanished, the DMZ would be a good first place to look.”
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I read that book, twice. Although there were some technical observations that would be more in like with Krell’s experience,in general it was one fascinating read and I highly recommend it.
That is good news. Tells us how quickly that nature would recover if not touched by man. I remember watching a TV show about what would happen if mankind suddenly vanished. It seemed like all the buildings and such would be gone in about a 1000 years. A mere blink of the eye for the planet.
I saw the same show, that knowledge pulled me into this article.
If they ever reunite as a nation, goodbye biodiversity.
Absolutely Harry, and it takes two countries facing off for nearly 60 years for us to be sure.
Evidence of how badly we screw things up.