[Opinion] Reflections on the Forest Logging Site

Kim Myunghwan, Director of the Technology Center at the Korea Forest Technicians Association (Ph.D. in Forestry / Certified Forest Technician)

I agree with the argument to address the age imbalance of forests in our country and to establish a circular economy. It is necessary to maintain and enhance the photosynthetic function of forests and the resulting carbon absorption function. Biomass such as trees inevitably reaches a point where their life ends and their function deteriorates, and at that point, the physical functions of the trees should be maintained by harvesting and utilizing them.

I exchanged opinions with experts from various fields at the Hongcheon timber harvesting site. This area is a pine wilt disease outbreak zone, and the disease is spreading. In preparation for cases where all trees outside the 2km buffer zone of the outbreak area must be shredded or buried if the disease spreads beyond the buffer zone, preemptive timber harvesting was carried out to utilize the resources and to prevent further spread, which was confirmed.

2019-2020 Pine Wilt Disease Outbreak and Timber Harvest Locations

It is very regrettable that the Korea Forest Service did not respond appropriately and officially to this timber harvesting. This area was planted with Korean pine in the 1980s and is not a restricted removal zone. Therefore, the timber was harvested and transported outside for use, and it was understood as an attempt to suppress the pine wilt disease affecting Korean pine.

It is unfortunate that there is still a lack of diversity in standards and guidelines regarding timber harvesting for pine wilt disease control outside the buffer zone. For residual forest belts for environmental purposes, pest control is considered unnecessary as they serve as stepping stones. The assumption that timber harvesting applies only to mature forests free of disease cannot be applied in all cases. I hope this opportunity will lead to policy and guideline revisions that consider various cases of timber harvesting.

For large-scale timber harvesting like in Hongcheon, it is necessary to have opportunities for preliminary inspections such as basic plan establishment. Forests have changed from being the private property of individual owners to being something that belongs to all of us, considering the environment and disasters. Our society and citizens have matured to the extent that the lives and property of others, as well as landscapes and ecology, must be considered during timber harvesting. In the reality of Korean forestry, characterized by many small-scale forest owners, various methods to consolidate fragmented small forest areas for management should be considered. Fragmented patches should be consolidated into units, and disconnected areas linked to establish management plans. Small-scale one-time operations lack connectivity and may damage forest land, but large-scale connected operations are more efficient. Dividing the scaled-up area into several parts and harvesting and reforesting one section each year in a rotational system can create a link in the circular economy.

After touring the Hongcheon site, it was evident that some newspaper photos somewhat exaggerated the risks. Of course, if there are risk areas related to disasters and calamities, preemptive measures must be taken to protect the lives and property of the public. Their concerns and attention should never be neglected, and I appreciate their interest and love for forests, trees, and nature. Forests must be viewed from various perspectives, and when such collective intelligence is gathered, more rational and efficient solutions can emerge.

During the period when administration was central, the number of public officials was allocated according to the population of the region. However, technical personnel dealing with mountains or seas should be assigned based on the area of mountains and seas. Hongcheon is the largest administrative district nationwide and has a very high proportion of forest area. However, it is presumed that a few staff members cannot handle the management of absentee forest owners and the vast target area.

Hongcheon On-site Photo

On-site timber harvesting under current laws and guidelines showed efforts to work diligently. Most of the constructed work roads were restored, residual forest belts were left, and efforts were made to comply with current guidelines by leaving broadleaf trees and some larch. Work roads that were backfilled require additional seeding to prevent erosion through early greening, and branches hanging over valleys and slopes should be cleared before the rainy season. There were also regrets about timber harvesting extending to adjacent areas near houses and landscapes, as reflected in media and various criticisms. Timber within forests is private property, and there are no separate regulations under current laws regarding adjacent logging. Timber harvesting considering landscape and residential safety has been raised multiple times within the forestry sector. This opportunity should be used to listen to public opinions and engage in rational revision discussions to foster a forestry industry that coexists harmoniously.

Logging Considering Scenery and Residential Areas

Forest owners own the mountains, pay taxes, and manage them over a long time, and through the public functions provided by forests, they act as public function performers. The now-common understanding of the public functions of forests should not be left solely to forest owners; instead, a forest environment tax like that in Japan should be introduced so that forest owners can generate income rather than being a burden who only pays taxes without harvesting timber. We must now give something back to forests and forest owners who perform public functions. It is time to actively consider the introduction of such an environmental tax.

Regarding timber harvesting, the current clear-cutting (open cutting) should be expanded to selective cutting or group selection cutting. More research and investment are needed for the domestic production of forestry machinery suited to our terrain and forests. Imported machinery is often avoided due to issues with breakdowns and parts procurement during use. Additionally, forestry work is a high-risk occupation with many industrial accidents, and since it involves working with large trees in mountainous areas, mechanization should be introduced to reduce fatal accidents. Damage to forest sites caused by excavator operations can also be reduced through forestry mechanization. Research on soil factors, terrain, and work routes is needed for excavator yarding in wetland areas, and standards should be established.

In our lives that lived alongside mountains, we separated mountains and life with entry bans to restore and protect devastated forests. As that time lengthened, what was originally one has come to be perceived as separate. Memories of picking acorns with friends in the mountains, gathering wild greens with mothers, and chasing rabbits across ridges in winter are gradually fading. However, the great mother earth grows trees, and we who live on that land will, as from the beginning, always live together with forests and trees.

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