Planting Trees with Excellent Fine Dust Reduction Effect to Reduce Fine Dust and Lower Urban Temperature... Each Tree Proven to Reduce 35.7g of Fine Dust Annually
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) is actively promoting the 'Creating a Green City Jongno Project,' which aims to plant one million trees over five years from 2020 to 2024 to contribute to fine dust reduction and provide residents with a pleasant living environment.
This project considers Jongno's geographical characteristics, located in the heart of Seoul, vulnerable to fine dust and the heat island effect. From a long-term perspective, it aims to reduce fine dust and lower urban temperatures by planting tree species that are highly effective in reducing fine dust.
According to the National Institute of Forest Science and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, one tree is known to reduce 35.7g of fine dust annually. Considering that one diesel vehicle emits 1,680g of fine dust per year, planting one million trees equates to reducing the fine dust emissions of approximately 21,250 diesel vehicles annually.
Furthermore, during the growth period of the trees, the fine dust reduction effect continues steadily without additional energy or budget, making tree planting a sustainable and eco-friendly fine dust reduction measure.
Accordingly, the 'Creating a Green City Jongno Project' promoted by Jongno-gu consists of a total of 10 detailed projects spanning both the public and private sectors.
Key public sector projects include the 'Ecological Forest Creation Project,' which focuses on planting fine dust-reducing trees intensively in Jongno's forest areas such as Inwangsan Mountain to create large-scale forests that function as the lungs of the city; the 'Our Neighborhood Clear Air Purification Forest Creation Project,' which plants trees around apartment complexes and residential areas to reduce fine dust; and the 'Greening of Urban Fringe Spaces Project,' which utilizes roadside areas, traffic islands, and alleyway gaps to create forests that reduce fine dust while providing shade and beautiful scenery.
Additionally, projects such as the 'Roadside Tree Planting Project,' which installs shade trees and roadside green belts along roads and traffic islands?major sources of fine dust in the area?are underway, along with the 'Fine Dust Reduction School Forest Creation Project,' 'Fine Dust Reduction Afforestation Project,' 'Clean Forest Creation Project around Hiking Trails,' and 'Healing Forest Creation Project in Urban Parks.'
Major private sector projects (non-budgetary) include the 'Jongno Carbon-Eating Forest Creation Project,' which encourages private sector participation through corporate social responsibility tree planting to achieve public fine dust reduction effects, and the 'Resident Participation Happiness Forest Creation Project,' which promotes and guides the planting of fine dust-reducing tree species during housing development, reconstruction projects, and new construction.
Beyond the 10 projects currently underway, Jongno-gu plans to discover additional project ideas and make every effort to address urban heat island phenomena and fine dust issues in the city.
Moreover, the district intends to continuously raise awareness about the value of a single tree in combating fine dust and the role of urban forests through the district office website and social media channels.
District Mayor Kim Young-jong stated, “While past tree planting projects focused on beautifying residential areas and creating resting spaces, moving forward, efforts must be made with a long-term perspective to solve environmental and urban problems. Through the Creating a Green City Jongno Project, we will expand green spaces in the city, reduce fine dust and urban temperatures, and provide residents with a pleasant living environment.”
Meanwhile, since 2010, Jongno-gu has recognized the risks posed by fine dust early on and, considering Jongno's geographical characteristics in the city center, has been implementing solid policies to create a 'Breathable Jongno' and a 'Fine Dust-Free Jongno.'
For local residents, the district has carefully considered and consistently carried out essential measures such as 'road water cleaning,' 'building rooftop cleaning,' 'indoor air quality improvement,' and 'air pollution source management.' It has also expanded efforts from the district to the city level by proposing to Seoul City to strengthen vehicle speed limits in Jongno to reduce emissions.
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