Chungnam Creates 6 Indoor and Outdoor Lifestyle Gardens

Partial view of the indoor garden created in Asan last year. Provided by Chungnam Province

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province will create 'life-close forests' in six counties within the region. The forest creation is being promoted as part of climate change response efforts, including expanding carbon sinks.

The province announced on the 25th that it will establish one indoor garden in Taean County and five outdoor gardens in Geumsan, Buyeo, Seocheon, Cheongyang, and Yesan counties this year.

The indoor gardens will be created in public facilities such as hospitals and libraries in the form of rooftop gardens. The outdoor gardens will be established using public and multi-use facilities in areas experiencing population decline, thereby expanding green living spaces and increasing the utilization of national and public lands.

The life-close garden creation project was first implemented in 2019. Up to last year, seven life-close gardens have been created in Chungnam, including two indoor gardens in public facilities, four outdoor gardens in residential areas, and one outdoor garden in small towns.

The province plans to conduct a demand survey for the life-close garden creation project by the 27th, evaluate from July to August, and finalize the target sites in September.

Spaces excluded from gardens under the Arboretum and Garden Act, such as cultural heritage sites, natural parks, and urban parks, are excluded from the project.

The evaluation criteria consist of climate change response effects such as carbon reduction and heatwave mitigation, expansion of green living spaces in daily life, potential for revitalizing garden culture and garden policies, site conditions, accessibility, maintenance, and project effectiveness.

Lee Sang-chun, head of the Forest Resources Division of the province, said, “By creating life-close forests, we will effectively respond to climate change, reduce fine dust, and alleviate the heat island effect. After completion, we will do our best to maintain and manage the forests so that they can be used as healing and communication spaces for the public.”