Chungnam Accelerates Forest Carbon Neutrality Project

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province has secured ample national funding, enabling it to accelerate the ‘Chungnam-type Forest Carbon Neutrality Project’ next year.

On the 23rd, the province announced that it had secured 108.6 billion KRW in national forest budget for next year as part of its regional mid- to long-term forest policy plan. This amount is 11.2 billion KRW more than this year’s 97.4 billion KRW, and when combined with provincial funds, the total forest sector budget for next year will be 162.1 billion KRW.

The secured forest resources will be used to implement the five major directions and ten detailed projects of the forest carbon neutrality policy currently being promoted by the province.

By project, 44.8 billion KRW is allocated for expanding green spaces such as urban forests, 44.0 billion KRW for forest protection including wildfire prevention, 19.0 billion KRW for policy forest cultivation, 25.8 billion KRW for creating economic forests such as melliferous trees, 17.2 billion KRW for increasing forest income, and 11.3 billion KRW for forest welfare.

In particular, the province plans to systematically operate and manage the ‘Naepo Cultural Forest Trail,’ which was designated as a ‘National Forest Trail’ for the first time among local governments nationwide this year, to establish it as a world-class premium forest trail. The Naepo Cultural Forest Trail refers to a 320 km forest path spanning four cities and counties: Seosan, Dangjin, Hongseong, and Yesan.

Additionally, reflecting social changes such as low birth rates and aging population, which have increased social demand and interest in health and welfare, the province will promote the creation of green and recreational spaces and provide customized welfare services tailored to each life cycle. It also plans to accelerate the completion of Wonsando Natural Recreation Forest, which will become a new tourism hub following the opening of the Boryeong-Taean Undersea Tunnel.

Earlier, the province stood out in 12 nationwide competitions, including being selected as the best institution for ‘Excellent Melliferous Tree Afforestation Site,’ an excellent institution in the ‘Forest Protection’ category, and an excellent institution in the ‘Government Joint Evaluation’ forest sector for eight consecutive years.

Lee Sang-chun, head of the Forest Resources Division of the province, said, “The province’s strategy next year is to enhance the value of forestry by establishing landscape, ecological, and experiential tourism infrastructure centered on the West Coast area, fostering economic forests, and increasing forest income.” He added, “We will strive to ensure that the benefits of forests are evenly distributed throughout the local community through the implementation of projects according to the mid- to long-term forest policy next year.”

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