Hwasun-gun, Fully Committed to Proactive Response for Natural Disasters and Forest Protection

[Hwasun=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Young-gyun] Jeonnam Hwasun-gun (Governor Gu Chung-gon) announced on the 21st that it has taken proactive measures with a budget of 5.2 billion KRW this year for natural disaster and forest protection, including forest roads, erosion control projects, and pest prevention.

The county is promoting the construction of forest roads and erosion control facilities, establishing wildfire prevention measures, and managing protected trees to prevent landslides and enhance disaster prevention and safety.

By securing forest management and maintenance infrastructure, strengthening forest road maintenance, and expanding erosion control projects, the county is leading efforts to prevent disasters and protect human and material resources through the restoration and maintenance of disaster-prone areas.

This year, to reduce stream velocity in forest streams and prevent human and property damage caused by erosion and landslides (debris flow), stream conservation projects were completed over 0.36 km in two locations including Iyangi District, and an erosion control dam installation project was completed in one location, Iyangi Pumpyung District.

Even after the projects, safety inspections were conducted at 35 locations including Wolsan-ri, Iseo-myeon, to maintain the function of erosion control facilities, and detailed safety diagnoses were performed on erosion control dams located in Nochi-ri, Baekam-myeon, and Yuma-ri, Sapyeong-myeon.

Additionally, to reinforce necessary construction types in sections of forest roads where damage occurred or landscape degradation was a concern, structural improvement projects covering 5.79 km in three locations including Sapyeong Naeri District were completed.

Utilization is being enhanced through the formation of a forest road network, and furthermore, reflecting the demands of residents, various themed forest roads for forest recreation and forest product income projects will be developed.

The county has established and is implementing wildfire prevention measures to identify causes and strengthen prevention systems in preparation for wildfires that have become year-round and larger due to increased dry days.

For rapid initial response, one helicopter has been leased, and wildfire prevention safety spaces have been created in two locations to protect temples and wooden facilities adjacent to forests.

The most manpower and budget are invested during spring and autumn, when the risk of wildfire occurrence is highest.

Frequent patrols and crackdowns are conducted, and during summer and winter, when wildfire risk is relatively low, 11 wildfire surveillance cameras and 3 wildfire extinguishing facilities have been supplemented.

The county is also actively engaged in effective and practical forest pest prevention and response, including early detection and timely control of diversified forest pests and diseases.

To ensure efficiency and sustainability in monitoring, facility maintenance and repair for forest disaster prevention, and to create jobs, the county is promoting a Green Job project.

Through the Green Job project, about 160 people have been employed to carry out various projects.

During the wildfire caution period, specialized wildfire prevention and suppression teams, forest pest monitoring and control teams, landslide site prevention teams, forest road managers, and provincial forest patrol officers are organized and operated for wildfire prevention and suppression activities.

For the first time this year, a Forest Protection Support Team is also being operated. The support team conducts activities to crack down on and prevent illegal acts such as the illegal harvesting of forest products.

A county official said, “Knowing the value of forests and preventing forest disasters is the best way to pass on healthy and beautiful forests to future generations,” and added, “The county will minimize human and property damage to residents from disasters and discover and implement effective forest disaster prevention measures.”