Paektusan Biosphere Sanctuary

Pyongyang, October 21 (KCNA) -- The Paektusan Biosphere Sanctuary in Samjiyon City, Ryanggang Province of the DPRK, covers Mt Paektu, the ancestral mountain and the sacred mountain of the revolution, and vast areas around it. Thanks to the nature preservation policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government, the area of Mt Paektu was set as a sanctuary for plants in Juche 35 (1946). Later, it has turned into a nature reserve and a special reserve for Revolutionary Battle Sites in Mt Paektu. In April 1989, it was registered as a world biosphere sanctuary, making it possible to conduct the work for preservation of biodiversity in the area under the world interest. In the area there are several layers ranging from Agnotozoic era to Cenozoic era. All the natural factors of Mt Paektu, including the geology and topography formed by several times of volcanic eruption and their evolution and development, plants, animals and hydrologic movement originated in Lake Chon, present a peculiar natural environment rare to be seen in the country and other regions of the world. The Paektusan Biosphere Sanctuary in the highest zone of the country resembles a natural zoo for various kinds of plants according to climatic zones and lots of animals, birds and other vertebrates and invertebrates acclimated to changeable climate and geological and geographical surroundings. Various units of the DPRK, including the Group for Comprehensive Exploration of Lake Chon on Mt Paektu and the Biodiversity Institute under the State Academy of Sciences, have conducted regular observation, study, management and preservation activities in the area of Mt Paektu. -0-