Lee proposes inter-Korean environmental cooperation

By Yoo Cheong-mo

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday that he is ready to cooperate with North Korea in protecting wetlands and forests on the Korean Peninsula.

"South and North Korea will be able to conduct a joint probe into the ecosystem
of the Korean Peninsula if they agree on the need to protect forests and wetlands
in the North," Lee said in an address to the 10th meeting of the Contracting
Parties of the Ramsar Convention, which opened in Changwon, South Gyeongsang
Province in South Korea.
"We're willing to push for various environmental cooperation projects with North
Korea. We wish such an effort would lead to the unification of the two Koreas'
ecosystems, paving the ground for a 'healthy' Korean Peninsula," said the
president.
Since his inauguration in February, Lee has said his government is ready to
extend full support for the forestation of North Korea.
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and
sustainable utilization of wetlands. The convention was developed and adopted by
participating nations at a meeting in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and came into force
in 1975. At present, the convention has 158 signatories, while the Ramsar list of
wetlands of international importance includes 1,801 sites worldwide.
"Wetlands are not a deserted land, but a valuable asset for mankind. Without
consideration for the nature and environment, the world can hardly attain
sustainable growth," said Lee.
"The government will make South Korea an exemplary member of the Ramsar
convention. We'll also further expand our assistance to environmental projects in
underdeveloped countries," the president said.