Gokseong-gun Opens the Era of Forest Management

Jukkok-myeon Seondo Forest Management Complex Operation Council Meeting Held

[Gokseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Jeonnam Gokseong-gun (Governor Yoo Geun-gi) announced on the 29th that it has completed the formation of an operating council for the creation of a pilot forest management complex and will begin full-scale operation.

A pilot forest management complex is a project aimed at establishing a cyclical utilization system for forest resources such as timber. Through this, it aims to increase the income of forestry workers and preserve nature sustainably and healthily.

Gokseong-gun was selected for a Korea Forest Service public project last year and is promoting the pilot forest management complex creation project in the areas of Gochi-ri and Hahan-ri, Jukgok-myeon. Starting this year, it will invest 7.5 billion KRW over 10 years to carry out forest cultivation, forest road installation, and forest complex management projects to generate forestry income.

Since most forests are privately owned, Gokseong-gun emphasizes that cooperation between the public and private sectors is important for effective project implementation. Therefore, on the 28th, Gokseong-gun formed an operating council including forest owners, local residents, and forest experts and held the first meeting.

At the meeting, officers such as the chairman, vice chairman, and auditor, who will lead the council for two years, were first elected. Then, opinions and suggestions regarding the basic plan establishment service to be promoted in the first year of the project and the forest road project were heard.

In particular, there was high interest in specialized forest products for income generation during the meeting.

Participants emphasized that the opinions of forest owners and residents must be sufficiently reflected when selecting specialized forest product items.

They also stressed that income should be the most important factor in item selection above all else.

Park Bong-su, the representative forest owner elected as chairman of the operating council, said, “Let’s create a special pilot forest management complex through the various suggestions and ideas of the operating committee members. I ask for your active participation going forward.”

A county official said, “Since starting is half the battle, it is important to establish an effective basic plan. We will strive to create a model that leads forest management specialized for our county by reflecting diverse opinions.”

Gokseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr