Choi Byung-am, Korea Forest Service Chief, "Korea Will Become a Role Model for Forest Restoration Amid Climate Crisis"

Forest Service Chief Choi Byung-am emphasized the value of forests in the era of climate crisis and Korea's role at the press conference for the 'Global Forest Finance Pledge' during the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Glasgow, UK, on the 2nd (local time). Provided by the Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] “Based on the experience of forest restoration (afforestation) in the 1970s, we will strive to make Korea a role model for forest restoration amid the climate crisis currently faced by the international community.”

On the 2nd (local time), Choi Byung-am, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, made this statement at a press conference for the ‘Global Forest Finance Pledge’ held during the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP26) in Glasgow, UK.

The core of the Global Forest Finance Pledge is a commitment by 12 countries, including the UK, the US, Germany, Norway, France, and Korea, to provide official development assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 for the conservation and restoration of tropical forests.

The UK government, as the chair country, hosted one of the three events during the session involving heads of state, titled ‘Forests and Land Use,’ led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, emphasizing the importance of forest and tropical forest conservation and restoration, as well as sustainable land use.

Immediately after the heads of state session, Administrator Choi highlighted the value of forests, recognized as the planet’s carbon sink and the foundation of biodiversity in the era of the climate crisis, and Korea’s role through an international press conference.

Korea succeeded in large-scale forest restoration in the 1970s, serving as a model for other developing countries. Currently, Korea is preparing to host the ‘15th World Forestry Congress’ in Seoul next year, gaining recognition for its leadership in the forestry sector within the international community.

Administrator Choi said, “Korea became a role model for developing countries through its past success in forest restoration, and now, as the host country of next year’s World Forestry Congress, the international community expects us to lead the purpose of the ‘Global Forest Finance Pledge.’”

He added, “The Korea Forest Service will do its best to ensure that forestry becomes a key area of green official development assistance representing Korea, in line with the president’s emphasis on expanding green ODA.”

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