DMZ 일원 생태 í‰í™”ì  관리를 위한 êµ­ì œì»¨í¼ëŸ°ìŠ¤ - ìœ ë„¤ìŠ¤ì½”í•œêµ­ìœ„ì›íšŒ

International Conference on Conservation and Peaceful Use of the Korea DMZ
(South Africa). This Conference, organised jointly by IUCN and Peace Parks Foundation, was
one of the founding grounds for IUCN’s development of a widely acclaimed guideline on
transboundary protected areas, including the Draft Code for Transboundary Protected Areas in
Times of Peace and Armed Conflict. The Guideline was developed by IUCN’s World
Commission on Protected Areas - Transboundary Protected Areas Task Force (recently renamed
to the Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group).
IUCN defines Parks for Peace as "transboundary protected areas that are formally dedicated to the
protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural
resources, and to the promotion of peace and cooperation." It therefore combines ecological and
social elements and encompasses collaborative management of natural areas for improvement of
the existent social and political systems. Establishment of Parks for Peace is gaining much
support from countries, especially those that were involved in some form of conflict. Although
environmental issues usually do not suffice for conflict resolution, Parks for Peace, as research
and practice has shown in recent years, have significant role in peace building, by providing a
constructive, optimistic and fruitful atmosphere of collaboration and mutual understanding. Parks
for Peace open a path to dialogue, cooperation and confidence building between concerned
parties. Socio-cultural dimension is reaching its full potential in this type of transboundary
conservation practice with building of trust, understanding and reconciliation. Combined with
cross-border cooperation for more successful management of natural values of a particular area,
Parks for Peace provide a valuable mechanism for testing innovative management and
governance models in protected areas while supporting maintenance and establishment of good
relations between countries.
Politically, transboundary conservation initiatives offer possibility for regional stability and
environmental security. Often referred to example of successful transboundary conservation
efforts in peace building is the case of Peru and Ecuador. The Peace Agreement of 1998
included designation of areas on both sides of the border for conservation purposes, which
helped resolve conflicts related to boundary demarcation. Subsequently the Cordillera del
Condor Peace Transborder Reserve was established, as the first Park for Peace involving the
countries in armed conflict, while celebrating cooperation between the two countries.
Transboundary conservation initiatives are complex and often difficult to implement as they
entail a range of issues, often conflicting, that need to be negotiated between two or more
countries that usually have unequal human, financial and technical resources, different legal
settings etc. However, they create an entry point for discussions between countries divided by
economic, social, environmental interests, bringing families and other people together across an
artificial border and addressing ecological issues.
Nature, Peace and Local Development ❙ 15