On the issue of Korean wildlife, I've heard that there is incredible
wildlife in the de-militarized zone between North and South Korea. This may
include many species that have been extirpated in the rest of the Koreas
since the Korean War in the early '50's. It may well include species that
would otherwise be extinct. One prominent animal that I heard rumors still
occurred in the DMZ was Tigers, I imagine none remain in the rest of the
Koreas. There has been movement in the past to re-unify Korea and at least
a few years ago relations seemed to be warming between North and South. If
this happened there would be enormous pressure to "develop" (more like
devastate to the wildlife and the naturalists) that land and destroy that
last refugium for those species in that area. At that time when relations
seemed to be warming I wanted to advocate creating an international wildlife
refugium peace park that also might have been a great PR idea for any
politicians involved in promoting it. I would love it if someone else
wanted take on that idea.

Stewart Wechsler
Ecological Consulting
Invasive Removal, Native Restoration
West Seattle
206 932-7225
ecostewart at quidnunc.net

-Search "Camp Long" or "Seward Park" for public nature program offerings
-Skilled efficient manual removal of Himalayan Blackberry
-Advice on the most site-appropriate native plants
and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
of plants and animals
-Habitat Restoration
-Educational programs, nature walks and field trips
-Botanical Surveys


-----Original Message-----

...
One large woodpecker, Tristram's White-bellied Woodpecker of Korea is still
elusive to me. I read on some search engine that there are only about ten
pairs left, and I assume they are all or mostly in North Korea. So if the
war powers in D.C. plan on a "shock and awe" attack, I hope they carefully
avoid hitting the habitat of that woodpecker....
Phil Hotlen
Bellingham,WA
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