North Korea must take urgent action to protect its environment, the UN environment program (UNEP) said Friday, publishing its first report on the deforestation and pollution caused by more than a decade of famine and hardship.
It said the search for food and fuel had led to the felling of a tenth of the country's trees since 1990, threatening the habitats of rare species and increasing the risk of soil erosion and flooding.
Although the authors admit that much of the information is old and incomplete, the study and its publication -- both done with the cooperation of the North Korean authorities -- is hailed as a breakthrough.
Until now the government has either ignored the environment or launched ad hoc measures, such as the campaign for every citizen to walk 10,000 steps a day rather than use buses and trams.
UNEP's executive director, Klaus Topfer, said: "This country has very severe environmental challenges."
But he praised the government for making a commitment yesterday to work with the international community to clear up the damage.
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