[Square] Gangwon World Forest Expo, Enhancing National Status through Linkage with World Forestry Congress

South Korea's land area is 10.04 million hectares, of which 6.3 million hectares (63%) are covered by forests. It is no coincidence that the history, traditions, lifestyle, politics, economy, society, and culture of our people have been shaped based on forests. Forests have long served as our living spaces, resting places, and workplaces. Recently, the role of forests as a primary medium for cyclical carbon fixation has been emphasized.

South Korea is recognized as a global role model for successful forest greening. Despite severe forest devastation during the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, from the 1970s onward, the country has progressed through hillside afforestation, forest resource development in the 1990s, sustainable forest management and green welfare since the 2000s, creating dense and useful forests and mountains.

This achievement represents the fruits of the sweat and tears shed by the people over the past 50 years. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), praised Korea's afforestation success as "a global pride," while Braulio F. de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), described Korea as "an amazing country that has succeeded in large-scale forest ecological restoration."

Especially as the role of forests in preventing desertification, land degradation, abnormal climate, and natural disasters is being reevaluated, South Korea's forest greening technology, forest management and operation, forest restoration and rehabilitation, and forest recreation and welfare are gaining renewed attention these days.

Meanwhile, forests are emerging as a key factor in solving global climate and environmental issues. Countries worldwide are strengthening the role of forests as a low-cost, high-efficiency carbon absorption means. South Korea is also currently establishing the ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Promotion Strategy,’ promoting energy transition technology development and expanding carbon sinks in agricultural, forestry, and marine ecosystems, striving to maximize the function of forests as a primary carbon sink.

The ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Promotion Strategy’ is a Korean-style forest new deal strategy that aims to plant 3 billion trees by 2050 to maximize the carbon absorption capacity of forests. Through this, the Korea Forest Service encourages the use of wood as a recyclable material and carbon storage, while envisioning increasing forests to provide clean water and air, forest jobs, and forest recreation and welfare.

The ‘2022 Gangwon World Forest Expo,’ to be held next year in Gangwon Province, is expected to be an opportunity to see South Korea's current forest status, forest management technologies, and various countries' climate change responses and forest management types all in one place.

To ensure the successful hosting of the Gangwon World Forest Expo, Gangwon Province launched the ‘Gangwon World Forest Expo Organizing Committee’ in February to begin full-scale event preparations. The Expo is scheduled to be held from May 4 to June 5 next year at the World Jamboree Training Center area in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, under the theme ‘The World Finds the Future of Humanity in Forests.’

Gangwon Province, the event organizer, will provide useful information on forestry to domestic and international visitors through thematic exhibitions on Korea's forest greening history, forest management and operation, forest disaster prevention and restoration, forest recreation and welfare, forest industry, international exchanges, and various academic seminars during the preparation period.

In particular, the Korea Forest Service expects the Gangwon World Forest Expo, linked with the World Forestry Congress held in the same year, to act as a catalyst to elevate South Korea's national status. The World Forestry Congress, also called the ‘Forest Olympics,’ is scheduled to be held in Seoul from May 2 to 6 next year, with about 10,000 participants from over 160 countries, including government representatives, international organizations, academia, and NGOs, comprehensively discussing forest policies, research, and industry trends.

The mutual linkage of the Gangwon World Forest Expo and the World Forestry Congress, held consecutively next year, will proudly demonstrate that South Korea has risen to a leading position in forest policy.

The Korea Forest Service will strive to ensure that these two events serve as a catalyst for the world to recognize the value and importance of forests at this critical time of accelerating global warming.

Choi Byung-am, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service