The Korea Forest Service is set to expand forest genetic resource protection zones. These zones are key areas for conserving forest biodiversity and are designated to maintain and preserve rare, endemic, and useful plants affected by climate change.
Recently, the international community has also emphasized expanding protected areas such as forest genetic resource protection zones and conducting management effectiveness evaluations to respond to species decline caused by climate change. This is precisely why expanding forest genetic resource protection zones is considered important domestically.
On the 2nd, Nam Seong-hyun, the Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, held a press conference at the Government Daejeon Complex to announce the "3rd Basic Plan for the Management of Forest Genetic Resource Protection Areas (2023-2027)." Photo by Korea Forest Service
On the 2nd, the Korea Forest Service announced the "3rd Basic Plan for the Management of Forest Genetic Resource Protection Zones (2023?2027)." The core of this plan is to newly designate 50,000 hectares of forest genetic resource protection zones through the designation of national forests and the purchase of public interest forest lands from this year until 2027.
Although the total area of forest genetic resource protection zones has increased over time, the annual growth rate from 2012 to 2016 showed a declining trend.
For example, the total area of forest genetic resource protection zones increased as follows: 131,812 hectares in 2012, 149,432 hectares in 2013, 150,316 hectares in 2014, 152,436 hectares in 2015, and 152,366 hectares in 2016.
However, the year-over-year growth rates were 13.37% from 2012 to 2013, 0.59% from 2013 to 2014, 1.41% from 2014 to 2015, and -0.05% from 2015 to 2016.
Nonetheless, as of 2022, the forest genetic resource protection zones cover 170,000 hectares, an increase of approximately 17,000 hectares (11.15%) compared to 2016. This is interpreted as the result of the Korea Forest Service steadily expanding these zones through the establishment and implementation of basic plans.
The 3rd Basic Plan aims to increase the forest genetic resource protection zones by 50,000 hectares over the next five years, raising the total area to 220,000 hectares, building on past achievements.
The Basic Plan is a statutory plan based on the "Forest Protection Act," which requires the Korea Forest Service Commissioner to establish it every five years. The Korea Forest Service has been formulating these plans since 2013.
The Korea Forest Service's efforts to expand forest genetic resource protection zones through the Basic Plan align with the overall trends in the international community.
Previously, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicted in its "2050 Environmental Outlook Report" that global biodiversity would decrease by 10% by 2050 due to climate change and other factors.
In this context, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) emphasizes that countries worldwide should expand forest genetic resource protection zones to cover up to 17% of their land area and conduct management effectiveness evaluations for 60% of protected areas.
At the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Canada last December, the "Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)" was adopted, which calls for designating and managing at least 30% of terrestrial and marine areas as protected areas. The CBD came into effect in 1993, and South Korea joined in 1994.
Nam Sung-hyun, Commissioner of the Korea Forest Service, stated, "The expansion of forest genetic resource protection zones is becoming a global trend," and added, "The Korea Forest Service will strive to realize the targeted expansion of these zones over the next five years in line with the international community's momentum."
Scenery of Jeombongsan (Gombaeryeong). Gombaeryeong is one of the forest genetic resource protection areas designated by the Korea Forest Service. Provided by the Korea Forest Service
Meanwhile, the Korea Forest Service included a strategy in the 3rd Basic Plan focusing on the efficient use and industrialization of forest resources.
The core of this strategy is to strengthen monitoring to understand changes in forest ecosystems caused by external environmental changes such as the decline of high-altitude conifers due to climate change, and to promote research and development of forest bio-materials and life resources using useful plants. This will be pursued through industrialization linked with local communities.
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