Forest Ecology Restoration Division Newly Established in Korea Forest Service for Dedicated Forest Restoration

Aerial view of Daegwallyeong grassland restoration project site. Provided by Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A new Forest Ecological Restoration Division dedicated to forest restoration will be established.

The Korea Forest Service announced on the 30th that it will establish and operate the "Forest Ecological Restoration Division," a department dedicated to forest restoration policies.

Forest restoration refers to the process of recovering the structure and function of forests damaged naturally or artificially to maintain and enhance the ecosystem and biodiversity as close to their original state as possible.

The Korea Forest Service has been promoting policies such as the legalization of forest restoration projects, the establishment of the Basic Forest Restoration Plan (2020?2029), and notifications regarding the supply of native plants and natural materials for forest restoration to restore forest ecosystems.

With the establishment of a dedicated organization for forest ecosystem restoration, the Korea Forest Service expects to not only advance forest restoration but also enhance the role of forests as carbon sinks. Currently, major countries worldwide are also actively utilizing forests as carbon sinks to respond to climate change.

Going forward, the Forest Ecological Restoration Division will be responsible for expanding forest restoration in key ecological corridors such as Baekdudaegan, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) area, islands, and coastal regions, while developing related technologies and establishing systems to maintain and improve the health of the Korean Peninsula's forest ecosystems.

In particular, it is expected to improve the quality of forest ecosystem restoration by focusing on restoring high-altitude tree species such as Abies koreana, establishing systems for the distribution and mass production of native plants, introducing professional qualification systems, and building networks with related organizations and local communities.

Kim Won-jung, head of the Forest Ecological Restoration Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, "We will secure the health and continuity of the national land through high-quality forest ecosystem restoration that connects policy, research, technology, and forest sites," adding, "Above all, we will actively strive to revitalize the local economy by developing forest restoration-related industries and creating new jobs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.