Naju City Operates 'Sumok Donation System'... Created in Yeongsangang Garden

Naju City in Jeollanam-do is operating the ‘Tree Donation Program,’ which will serve as the foundation for the Yeongsan River Garden project, a key initiative of the 8th local government administration.

According to the city on the 31st, the Tree Donation Program is a system where individuals, groups, and institutions donate trees to Naju City.

If unnecessary trees on private land, rivers, roads, or planned development sites are voluntarily donated, the city supports the transplantation costs.

Naju City is operating the 'Tree Donation System,' which will serve as the foundation for the Yeongsan River Garden project, a key initiative of the 8th local government administration.
[Photo by Naju City]

The donated trees are taking root anew in the floodplain area where the Yeongsan River Garden is being established.

This program was newly introduced by Naju City last year under the slogan “A National Garden Created Together with Citizens.” The aim is to increase public interest and participation in the policy through voluntary tree donations from citizens at the initial stage of garden creation.

Considering that it can take decades to secure sufficient canopy and vigor for planted saplings to provide shade, the Tree Donation Program is regarded as an innovative policy that achieves two goals at once.

The city presents plaques of appreciation to major tree donors, institutions, and companies who have contributed to the creation of the Yeongsan River Garden as a token of gratitude.

In August last year, five individuals from various sectors donated large trees they owned personally in line with the program’s launch. Then, in October, the Jeollanam-do Forest Resources Research Institute (Director Oh Deuk-sil) and SE Co., Ltd. (CEO Yeom Gyu-dong) each donated trees valued at about 100 million KRW, becoming the first and second major tree donors and receiving plaques of appreciation.

Earlier this year, Jang In-gyu, CEO of Heungin Farm and a native of Sanpo-myeon, Naju, donated 3,400 trees including Emerald Gold, worth approximately 294 million KRW, becoming the third recipient of a plaque of appreciation.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “The trees voluntarily donated by donors from all walks of life are the roots and valuable resources of the Yeongsan River Garden, which will grow into a national garden in the future. We will do our best to create the Yeongsan River Garden, where flowers bloom year-round and lush greenery provides a resting place for citizens and a tourist attraction.”

Meanwhile, the Yeongsan River Garden project, a pledge of the 8th local government administration, is part of a water control project to prevent disasters such as heavy rain and floods, as well as a waterfront project utilizing the space and characteristics of the floodplain.

By dredging the 1,908 km² Yeongsan River floodplain, the water retention capacity will be increased from 7 million tons to about 10 million tons, and trees and flowers will be planted in the transformed floodplain to create an ecological garden of national garden level.

Naju = Kim Yuk-bong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr

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