A new government project from next year will seek to preserve the environment in the Demilitarized Zone starting with a basic ecosystem inspection.

An official on Wednesday said a regular ecosystem inspection will cover the southern part of the DMZ.

In addition, the government will seek to have the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designate the DMZ as a biosphere preservation zone over the long term.

Seoul will also push for developing the inter-Korean maritime border from the mouth of the Han River in Seoul to Baekryung Island as a global marine peace park.

The four kilometer-wide buffer is home to 2,700 organisms, 100 of which are rare, endangered or unrecorded species of plants, animals and microorganisms.