Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Overview

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Korea has very diverse forest ecosystems, partly due to the vast mountain ranges that cover 80% of the country’s topography. In addition, the country has inland water, agricultural, marine and coastal ecosystems. A recent survey indicates that there are 8,785 plant species, 9,970 animal species and 416 bird species. Due to its long history of agricultural development, DPR Korea is rich in crop genetic resources... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

DPR Korea has established a total of 233 protected areas.

Percentage of Forest Cover

The forest cover is 7,624,000 ha.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Based on assessments of the country’s biodiversity status and existing legal and policy frameworks to address biodiversity-related issues, DPR Korea’s NBSAP proposed a set of goals and objectives for future actions in achieving the objectives of the Convention. The document also includes proposed priority projects and activities, including those to address conservation, sustainable use, benefit-sharing, protected areas, research, information networks and biosafety... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

As of June 2003, DPR Korea’s protected areas coverage reached 7.2% of its 8% target. Considering that mostly mountains and forests cover the country, great efforts have been made in reforestation. In its ten-year plan (2001-2010) for forest development, DPR Korea aims to increase to 1.5 million hectares of forest plantation areas... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

DPR Korea’s NBSAP has targeted to increase its protected areas to 8% of its total land area. Nature protection areas in DPR Korea have expanded six times since its ratification of the CBD in 1994. 12 wetland reserves have been established in Chongchon, Amnok and other rivers, providing major habitats for migratory birds in Northeast Asia... More »

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

DPR Korea attaches great importance to the protection of genetic resources of crops, wild animals and plants. This has been reflected in its five-year plan for science and technology development as well as in its plan for land development. Research has been undertaken on the use of genetic resources of some crops with the assistance of some international organizations such as FAO and IPGRI... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

DPR Korea is making great efforts to protect traditional knowledge, particularly traditional Koryo medicine. Legal and administrative measures have been adopted to promote the use of traditional knowledge and practices in the conservation and use of biodiversity. Protection is achieved through intellectual property rights and copyright laws... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr. Chol Guk Kim	CBD Primary NFP
National Coordinating Committee for the Environment	CHM NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mr. Chol Guk Kim

Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP, BCH NFP