'High population density challenge to nature conservation'

By Kim Se-jeong

A Ministry of Environment official said that Korea’s high population density poses additional challenges to nature conservation across the country.

Speaking at the World Leaders’ Conservation Forum on Jeju Island on Wednesday, Deputy Minister Baek Gyu-seok said, “Korea is a small country but has a relatively large population. And this is a challenge to the ministry’s effort for the coexistence of people and nature.”

Korea is the 23rd most densely populated country in the world, with 503 people per square kilometer.

Baek shared examples of these challenges, one of which is disruption in the national parks. “Almost 80 national parks around the country draw almost 100 million people every year,” he said. “We see people ruining mountain trails and creating illegal trails which outnumber regular ones. The stress on those public parks is very high.”

The deputy minister said the ministry is also concerned about the native black bear restoration project in Mount Jiri in South Gyeongsang Province, which is now a home for more than 30 Asian black bears. The ministry hopes the number will reach 50 by 2020.

“Mount Jiri is one of the most popular national parks drawing many people. We have to figure out ways through which humans and bears can coexist harmoniously,”he said.

Baek said he did not have the solutions to the specific challenges, but added, “There are many possible solutions. Our task is to find the most appropriate ones and that will require communication among people in the country.”

Experts and leaders from around the world gathered to discuss ways to make balance between humans and nature at the forum in Jeju. The three-day event closed on Thursday.