Dr. Bernhard Seliger (Hanns Seidel Basis Korea, Birds Korea)
Editorial Help by Dominik Mauersberger is gratefully acknowledged.
Birds Korea began – with the primary fast survey of birds in Rason in 2014 – commonly to report additionally about birds within the Northern a part of the Korean Peninsula. Whereas specifically since 2015 the cooperation with Hanns-Seidel-Basis, Hong Kong Hen Watching Society, WWF, the Ramsar Basis and EAAFP introduced extra actions and probabilities for surveys, the final years, as a result of outbreak of Covid and the next choice of North Korean to completely isolate itself, made details about birds in North Korea a lot much less accessible. Luckily, even within the time of isolation one can see that North Korea´s Ministry of Land and Setting Safety (MoLEP) along with the State Academy of Sciences (SOAS) and different establishments just like the Nationwide Conservation Union of Korea (NCUK) nonetheless work on wetlands and the safety of species. This text will spotlight a few of this work and different info in 2023.
In January 2023, the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) was a dominant matter concerning animals in North Korean media. Amongst others, experiences targeted on the outbreak of AI in Japan[i], Europe[ii] and Latin America.[iii] To focus not on North Korea itself with these catastrophe information however moderately on different international locations, is a method, through which North Korea fairly often familiarizes readers with potential and really taking place disasters, for instance with articles on flooding, famine or international warming. Hardly ever, nonetheless, North Korea admits to have its personal issues with such occurrences. The extra usually they report about it overseas, nonetheless, the extra seemingly it’s that additionally it is taking place in North Korea. January is for ornithologists and conservationists in all of Asia and usually the temperate local weather zones and essential months for counting wintering birds. One of the crucial optimistic developments within the venture to deliver North Korea to cooperation within the area of conservation is the common depend and sharing of knowledge within the Asian Waterbird Census, which is collected yearly by Wetlands Worldwide. Beside 2021 (for unknown causes, perhaps associated to the severeness of Covid restrictions), North Korea yearly ship chook counts. The Asian Waterbird Census is a vital device for scientists in addition to conservationists. For East Asia, there’s a very informative web site as a part of the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (https://www.eaaflyway.internet/asian-waterbird-census/), which explains every little thing in regards to the census, scope, methodology and so on. Under you’ll be able to see the whole counts submitted by North Korea. The dramatic lower of whole counts almost definitely displays the restrictions of assortment of knowledge. Hopefully, from this or subsequent yr, it will absolutely normalize once more.
Abb.1: Species depend totals by nation for the interval 2019 – 2023
Supply: https://iwc.wetlands.org/index.php/nattotals
From the desk above, you may also take a look at single species. For instance, within the low counts of 2023 in North Korea solely 829 mallards have been counted, a yr earlier than 10446. Definitely, extra coaching, visits of counts in different international locations with an extended and extra established custom of chook counts, and higher gear may enhance counts. However the truth that North Korea did take part once more within the Asian Waterbird Census stays optimistic.
In early February, like in every earlier yr since a while, North Korean media commemorated the “World Wetland Day” in numerous media.[iv] Within the article doing so KCNA revealed amongst others that “scientists of the Zoology Analysis Institute and the Biodiversity Institute of the State Academy ofSciences made a survey of greater than 30 wetlands and migratory chook reserves together with the Mundok Migratory Hen (Wetland) Reserve and the Kumya Migratory Hen (Wetland) Reserve.” Each websites are Flyway Community Websites of the EAAFP. In addition they introduced the earlier (2019) manufacturing of a booklet on Kumya Wetland had taken place. February noticed additionally extra articles on Avian Influenza, one of many in regards to the tragic loss of life of a Cambodian woman from AI.[v] This makes you actually surprise what sort of losses and harm North Korea itself skilled.
In March, when wintering birds are flying up North, North Korea reported on the Mundok “White crane” (that is the North Korean phrase for the Pink-crowned Crane) habitat.[vi] In accordance with the article in Pyongyang Occasions, they reside “beneath authorities safety within the tideland on the estuary of the Chongchon River and the broad plains of Tongnim-ri and Ryongo-ri in Mundok County, South Phyongan Province. The world is a perfect place for meals, breeding and inhabitation for the abundance of such crops as reed, cattail, Suaeda japonica, sea blite and Salicornia europaea. The habitat is now beneath the safety of the character conservation coverage of the DPRK. Over 180 species of migratory birds reside there.” Mundok, a Ramsar web site, Flyway Community web site and in preparation to turn into a World Heritage Website (on the tentative record) is actually a showcase for North Korean nature safety and one of the vital essential stop-over websites for migratory birds. Luckily, within the years earlier than Covid, the protected space there was greater than tripled from 3000 ha to greater than 9000 ha. It additionally has a wetland middle and in 2019, a Swan Goose Competition might be celebrated there, co-organized by a number of worldwide organizations, together with Hanns-Seidel-Basis, with the Ministry of Land and Setting Safety (MoLEP).
In mid-March Naenara, a serious North Korean information web site, additionally reported in regards to the winter chook census.[vii] In accordance with that article, researchers of the Biodiversity Institute beneath the State Academy of Sciences “estimated” (in all probability surveyed) 63 main wetlands on the East and West coast and inland of North Korea. 25.000 waterbirds of about 50 species have been discovered. Most typical have been (Higher) White-Fronted Geese, Mallards, Spot-billed Geese, Goldeneyes, Widespread Coots and gulls. This suits with observations within the Southern a part of the Peninsula. Moreover, the article mentions Swan Geese, Lengthy-tailed geese, Horned Grebes, Pink-crowned Cranes and White-naped Cranes. The account of Swan Geese is fascinating, since within the Southern a part of the Peninsula, just a few could be present in December (a number of tons of as much as 2000), for instance within the Han river estuary, however later, when the coastal areas, the place they wish to dig for a particular root, are frozen, they usually go additional South to China. Possibly these have been already returnees in February? One other notable report is that of 210 Mute Swans in Kumya Migratory Hen Reserve, a substantial half (although in all probability not the 50 % talked about within the article) of the Northeast Asian inhabitants. Curiously, the 25.000 birds talked about are nearly double that of the depend submitted to the AWC. This is likely to be associated to counts in February which couldn’t any extra enter the AWC or to different causes.
Mute Swans in Kumya Migratory Hen Reserve
Supply: Naenara (15.3.2023)
In April, there have been once more quite a few experiences on Avian Influenza all over the world.[viii]
Could 13 is World Migratory Hen Day. That is one other commemorative occasion which now’s commonly showing in North Korean media. In 2023, the main focus of WMBD was the position of fresh water, which was additionally highlighted in Korea. The article additionally identified that among the many birds occurring in North Korea are “over 200 species in keeping with seasons. Amongst them are greater than 20 globally-endangered species of migratory birds comparable to Aythya baeri, spoon-billed sandpipers (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus), spoonbills (Platalea minor), storks (Ciconia boyciana), Far-eastern curlews (Numenius madagascariensis), Nice knots (Calidris tenuirostris), Swan geese (Anser cygnoides) and cranes (Grus).Particularly, huge areas of wetlands within the West Sea of Korea play a pivotal position within the habitation of such endangered species as spoonbills (Platalea minor),swan geese (Anser cygnoides) and Far-eastern curlews (Numenius madagascariensis), and snipes.”[ix] Finish of Could, an essential article in Naenara experiences on area surveys the Biodiversity Institute beneath the State Academy of Sciences did in main wetlands within the migration interval (March to Could), together with Mundok, Kumya, Sindo, Kwangpho and Tongjongho (all however the first and third on the East Coast). In accordance with this text, researchers noticed over 125000 waterbirds of 80 species, amongst them 4000 birds of 10 globally-vulnerable or -endangered species, together with Blackfaced Spoonbill, Oriental stork, Far-Jap Curlew, Swan Geese, Widespread Pochard, Chinese language Egret, Pink-crowned Cranes, Hooded Cranes, White-naped Cranes and Saunder´s gull. There have been essential concentrations (multiple % on the worldwide or regional degree) of Tundra Bean Goose, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Widespread Coot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Far-Jap Curlew, Dunlin and Terek Sandpiper.[x]
An article in Pyongyang Occasions on biodiversity conservation
Supply: Pyongyang Occasions
In early June 2023, North Korea issued a brand new set of stamps depicting the (Oriental) magpie because the nationwide chook of Korea. In accordance with KCNA, these birds are known as birds of fortune among the many Korean individuals, dwelling in concord with individuals within the countryside.[xi]
Oriental Magpie – Nationwide Hen of Korea June 2023
Supply: Korea Stamp Corp.
Whereas North Korea usually depicts birds on stamps, in addition to different animals, crops or landscapes, it’s fascinating that they appear to have modified the nationwide chook (or perhaps, simply added a second one), since till a yr earlier than, it had moderately been the Northern Goshawk. Solely a yr earlier than, an article in Voice of Korea detailed: “From olden occasions, Korean ancestors regarded goshawk, intelligent, nimble and courageous, as an expensive and intimate chook, extensively utilizing it for searching. It’s proved effectively by means of the truth that goshawk was mirrored on many fantastic artwork works, proverbs, historic tales, poems and people songs. Among the many photos drawn with animals as topics prior to now, the image of goshawk is likely one of the fantastic artwork works with comparatively diversified genres and lots of legacies left. Because the goshawk took after the disposition of the nation, the Korean ancestors drew it of their fantastic artwork items greater than different birds. Goshawk beloved by the Korean individuals for a very long time was designated because the nationwide chook of the DPRK in 2008.”[xii]
Nonetheless a nationwide chook? The Goshawk as nationwide chook in a publication of 2020
Photograph: Hanns Seidel Basis
In early June, an article in Rodong Sinmun mentioned the position of wetlands for a wholesome atmosphere.[xiii]
In July, the web site Uriminzokkiri introduced an interview with two researchers of the Biodiversity Institute beneath the State Academy of Sciences, Ri Chung Track and Ryu Kum Hyok, in regards to the position of biodiversity for sustainable environmental, but in addition financial improvement. Amongst others they stress they’re member of the Conference on Biodiversity, they talked about a number of measures of biodiversity safety (like planting timber and bringing greater than one million of younger fry of the Alaska pollock into the ocean), and highlighted the Nationwide Wetland Stock of 2018.
In August 2023, North Korea was one matter of the IUCN Worldwide Goose Specialist Group assembly in Ulaan-Baatar, Mongolia. The 20th assembly, of the IUCN Goose Specialist Group introduced collectively round 100 specialists from across the globe to debate each the species- and habitat-related points. All in all, geese are an instance for fairly profitable efforts – some goose species like Greylag Geese, but in addition Higher White-Fronted Geese, noticed big will increase in numbers during the last many years, none the least attributable to extra sustainable searching follow. Others, just like the Brent geese, are usually not globally, however regionally threatened. Within the meantime, common conferences and worldwide cooperation led to a vastly improved understanding of the ecology of the birds. Hanns-Seidel-Basis was among the many sponsors of the assembly. A lot of fascinating displays handled the migratory routes of brent geese, the state of affairs of geese in South Korea, and the conservation of geese in international locations neighboring Korea. Yusuke Sawa of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Abiko, Chiba, Japan talked about “Migratory routes and inhabitants standing of brent goose in East Asia”. Northeast Asia has solely a moderately small inhabitants estimated to be solely 8,700 birds and little info is obtainable for his or her migration. Since 2017 Japan outfitted 67 birds with transmitters. Whereas now there appears to be higher info on migration routes, nonetheless the touring route of birds in DPRK is at nighttime. Observations on the bottom present Brent Geese in Rason to Wonsan – from there, they may migrate by means of the Korean Peninsula to China.
Discussing Geese in North Korea within the IUCN Worldwide Goose Specialist Group assembly in Ulaan-Baatar, Mongolia, August 2023 (Photograph: Hanns Seidel Basis Korea)
North Korea might be one of the vital under-research areas on the East Asian Australasian flyway, attributable to difficulties to enter the nation and to survey the nation, as Hyun-Ah Choi and Bernhard Seliger mentioned. Nonetheless, within the early 2000s after which once more from 2015, there have been rising potentialities to do some type of analysis, associated to the accession of North Korea to the Ramsar Conference on Wetlands (2017) and the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership (2018). Essential analysis on waders and Anatidae included a examine on Swan Geese in Mundok, establishing Mundok as a major stopover space of the globally susceptible species. That is associated to the nonetheless largely intact tidal flats within the Korean West Sea (Yellow Sea). Whereas North Korea like its neighbors China and South Korea does some giant reclamation tasks, progress is sluggish as a result of lack of equipment. Presently, when the harm carried out to the ecology and the very restricted – if in any respect – financial advantage of reclamation turns into seen in South Korea and China, there’s nonetheless time to forestall bigger harm to be carried out in North Korea. For this, work on the preservation of tidal flats is critical, together with capability improvement of environmental choice makers and specialists in North Korea. One very encouraging issue is that Mundok not too long ago has been ready as a possible candidate for UNESCO World Heritage, which supplies hope for even larger recognition nationally and higher safety of the world.
There are nonetheless a number of open analysis questions concerning geese in North Korea; there’s a lack of awareness and observations on much less quite a few geese and vagrants noticed within the South, however not North Korea, there’s a lack of awareness on the precise migratory routes, few is thought on wintering geese (since winter is the time when visits to the North are most tough) and so on.[xiv]
In September 2023, an article in Rodong Sinmun talked in regards to the position of shrinking forests in decreasing biodiversity.[xv] Whereas the main focus was moderately on tropical rain forests, it’s the stark actuality in North Korea that perhaps half of the as soon as ubiquitous forests are degraded or fully disappeared, this additionally had a large affect on the probabilities of small passerines emigrate and breed and is a vital lack of habitats for Korean forest birds.
In October 2023, Naenara featured a brief article describing the Zoology Institute beneath the State Academy of Sciences, established in 1966, which is positioned in Pyongyang and “engages in a complete examine for cover and propagation, administration and sustainable use of animal assets within the nation. It has animal taxonomy, animal ecology, and science and data labs. It has surveyed the distribution of fauna within the nation and the flyways of migratory birds and carried out the work of setting the Paektusan Biosphere Reserve and different nature reserves, thus making a tangible contribution to implementing the state’s coverage on defending animals.”[xvi]
An introduction to Mundok Migratory Hen Reserve (a Flyway Community Website and a Ramsar Website) in a North Korean publication in October 2023
Supply: Kumsugangsan
In November 2023, Pyongyang Occasions featured an article now and again of the Worldwide Day for Biosphere Reserves. [xvii] It confused that between 1989 and 2018, the DPRK registered Mts Paektu, Kuwol, Myohyang, Chilbo and Kumgang as biosphere reserves. In accordance with the article, there are common surveys of biodiversity and the atmosphere in these reserves, together with Mt. Chilbo. To see these in additional detailed actually can be very fascinating, given the relative lack of knowledge for this space. Additionally, the article mentions common evaluation of seabird reserves, one other challenge the place extra info can be very useful.
In December, an article in Naenara targeted on the surveys of Swan Geese in North Korea.[xviii] This sort of article could be very fascinating, since in addition they characteristic a number of photographs of birds and landscapes.
Swan Geese in Mundok in late 2023
Supply: Naenara
Definitely, solely to observe North Korea´s media to study its birds has a number of limitations. Whereas the notice elevating perform of commemorating numerous days (World Migratory Hen Day, World Wetland Day and so on.) is laudable, fairly often there’s solely normal info, not detailed info on North Korea´s state of affairs. Due to this fact, we are able to solely hope that from subsequent yr we are able to once more go to North Korea and see one thing in regards to the state of affairs on the bottom. To cooperate with the Ministry of Land and Setting Safety, the State Academy of Sciences and the Nationwide Conservation Union of Korea, three essential gamers in biodiversity safety in North Korea, stays an essential, and hopefully achievable objective for 2024.
[i] Rodong Sinmun (03.01.2023), Rodong Sinmun (04.01.2023), Rodong Sinmun (06.01.2023), Rodong Sinmun (22.01.2023), Rodong Sinmun (27.01.2023).
[ii] Rodong Sinmun (05.01.2023), Rodong Sinmun (07.01.2023).
[iii] Rodong Sinmun (18.01.2023).
[iv] KCNA (2.2.2023), Naenara (02.02.2023).
[v] Rodong Sinmun (26.02.2023).
[vi] Pyongyang Occasions (04.03.2023).
[vii] Naenara (15.03.2023).
[viii] Rodong Sinmun (01.04.2023), Rodong Sinmun (06.04.2023), Rodong Sinmun (10.04.2023).
[ix] Naenara (13.05.2023).
[x] Naenara (30.05.2023).
[xi] KCNA (05.06.2023).
[xii] Voice of Korea (12.03.2022).
[xiii] Rodong Sinmun (01.06.2023).
[xiv] Birds Korea Weblog (26.09.2023).
[xv] Rodong Sinmun (24.09.2023).
[xvi] Naenara (10.2023).
[xvii] Pyongyang Occasions (04.11.2023).
[xviii] Naenara (01.12.2023).
Bibliographie:
Birds Korea Weblog. “Some observations on the standing and conservation of geese in DPRK.” 26.09.2023. Unter URL: https://www.birdskoreablog.org/?p=27864 (Accessed 05.04.2024)
KCNA.co.jp. “Exercise for Safety of Wetlands Brisk in DPRK.” 02.02.2023.
KCNA. “New Stamps Depict Magpie, Nationwide Hen of Korea.” 05.06.2023. unter URL: kcna.co.jp/merchandise/2023/202306/news05/20230605-04ee.html (Accessed 05.04.2024)
Naenara. “Safety of Wetlands for Human and Nature.” 02.02.2023.
Naenara. “Survey of Waterbird Sources in Winter Performed.” 15.03.2023.
Naenara. “Wetland reserves for Migratory Birds.” 13.05.2023.
Naenara. “Discipline Survey of Main Migratory Hen Reserves in Spring Performed.” 30.05.2023.
Naenara. “Zoology Institute.” 24.05.2023. unter URL: http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/weblog?web page=tourism&subpage=nature&blogid=6545c6d090735605c084762a (Accessed 16.11.2023, by now deleted)
Naenara. “Hen Sanctuaries Surveyed to Affirm Variety of Anser Cygnoides.” 01.12.2023.
Pyongyang Occasions. “Mundok white crane habitat.” 04.03.2023.
