HomeEcology White Paper of DMZEcosystem map
 

East Coast region
The effort to conserve of original form of this coastal area and to prevent water system pollution is necessary. Ecologically stable stands are hard to find in most regions as the result of accumulated artificial interference. Also, except in the costal, inland, lowlands at the base of the mountain and at the post near Hwoejinpo the pine forest, being the dominant species, is greatly decreasing in number by the cleaning of the field of fire and cutting down for artificial reasons.
As the alternative plant, the Mongolian oak coppice forest and the overcup oak is flourishing in number.
The effort to conserve of original form of this coastal area and to prevent water system pollution is necessary. Ecologically stable stands are hard to find in most regions as the result of accumulated artificial interference. Also, except in the costal, inland, lowlands at the base of the mountain and at the post near Hwoejinpo the pine forest, being the dominant species, is greatly decreasing in number by the cleaning of the field of fire and cutting down for artificial reasons. As the alternative plant, the Mongolian oak coppice forest and the overcup oak is flourishing in number.
 
   
Toad flax
 
Glehnia root
 
Sowthistle
Mid-eastern mountainous region
This region contains various natural environmental characteristics. It is the origin of the valleys, basins, and plateaus from the Taebaek mountain range, and the Nam-river that flow in to the East sea, Bukhan-river and Hantan-river that flow in to the West Sea. Considering these important facts, this is a biogeographically important region. In the viewpont of plant geographics, it is the place representing the flora of the Korean peninsula where the boreal plant and the subtropic plant co-exists.The plants distributed in this are 704 kinds in total, with 89 families, 335 genera, 597 species, 1 subspecies, 98 varieties, and 8 forms

Mid-western inland region
The plants distributed in this area are 604 kinds in total with 96 families, 304 genera, 517 species, 1 subspecies, 79 varieties and 7 forms. In areas such as Cheorwon, Yeonchun, Paju are some mountainous districts over 800m above sea level, but most are hills below 500m such as the Icecream hill, Myulgong OP, Baekma-hill, Mt. Yawol and Chunduk. Also, there is the Chulwon plain that centers on Igil-ri, Daema-ri, Woljeong-ri, and several reservoir and swamps such as Sanmyeong-ho, Togyo-reservoir, Gangsan-pond, Hak-reservoir. Because of the relatively mild climate and large amounts of rainfall it is predicted that Mongolian oak, Hornbeam were the dominant mountain plants in the past. Presently most regions are developed centering on the lowlands, and there are many afforested lands and secondary forest at the early stage of succession. The streets of old- Cheorwon in the past are transformed mostly into farmland, meadow and false acasia forest.

West sea and islands
There are 817 kinds of plants distributed in this area with 115 families, 429 genera, 683 species, 2 subspecies, 120 varieties and 12 forms. It is the region with the most plant species among the 4 regions. The plant vegetation at the West coast and the island area of the Demilitarized zone that includes Paju, Kimpo, Ganghwa-do, Sukmo-do, Gyohang-do, Daecheong-do, Baekryung-do, except for the steep areas of Daecheongdo in the island region, was of secondary forest, coppice forest and aforrested land restored after the destruction of the original vegetation by artificial interruption. Presently, there are many fallow fields of fire-fields and unused land that were left aside for a long time since the Korean war. The flora succession is being advanced nearly as good as in the natural condition at the unused land in the whole area of Sami-chun. The Goknyeungcheonbyeon was a region with excellent natural state with the formation of grass community, typical at the coastal estuary and reed community. The Phacelurus lalifolius communities were distributed here and there, and besides, marsh dwelling plants such as reed grass, carex and Sium ninsi were observed.
 
   
Reed grass
 
Carex
 
Sium ninsi