“United with the International Community” Korea Forest Service Expands Forest Genetic Resource Protection Zones

2022 Biodiversity Convention and International Community's Approach to Species Decline
Korea Forest Service Gradually Expands Forest Genetic Resource Protection Areas through Public Interest Land Purchases

The international community has rolled up its sleeves to designate Forest Genetic Resource Protection Areas (hereinafter referred to as protection areas). This movement is a response to the decline in species due to climate change and other impacts, and domestically, there is a recent trend to expand protection areas recognizing the importance of maintaining species.

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 27th, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently released the '2050 Environmental Outlook Report,' predicting that 10% of global biodiversity will decrease by 2050.

In response, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has emphasized that countries worldwide must expand forest genetic resource protection areas and continuously conduct management effectiveness evaluations.

In particular, at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD held in Canada in December 2022, the 'Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)' was adopted, which includes designating and managing at least 30% of terrestrial and marine areas as protected areas.

Centered on the CBD, the international community is strategically advancing the protection of forest genetic resources for biodiversity conservation. This fully reflects the fact that 92% of Earth's organisms, including plants, insects, and microorganisms, inhabit forests. The CBD came into effect in 1993, and Korea joined in 1994.

The Korea Forest Service has also rolled up its sleeves to expand protection areas in line with the international community's stance. The '3rd Basic Plan for Forest Genetic Resource Protection Area Management (2023?2027)' announced by the Korea Forest Service last year aligns with recent international trends. The core of the basic plan is to designate an additional 50,000 hectares of protection areas by 2027 through the designation of national forests and the purchase of public interest forest lands.

As of the end of last year, a total of 446 sites covering 176,699 hectares of forest have been designated as protection areas domestically. This is the result of the Korea Forest Service steadily increasing the total area of protection areas. However, the annual increase rate showed a declining trend from 2012 to 2016.

For example, the total area of domestic protection areas increased from 131,812 hectares in 2012 to 149,432 hectares in 2013, 150,316 hectares in 2014, 152,436 hectares in 2015, and 152,366 hectares in 2016, but the year-on-year increase rates were 13.37% in 2013, 0.59% in 2014, 1.41% in 2015, and -0.05% in 2016.

Based on this, the Korea Forest Service plans to expand protection areas centered on existing forest protection areas and public interest forest lands from this year through 2027. Additionally, it will establish long-term management plans for local conditions and future research functions to maintain biodiversity within protection areas.

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