Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, announced its 2024 forest policy direction aimed at managing healthy and sustainable forests under the urban brand "Oxygen Cafe Cheongsong-gun," which expresses the image of clean air and dense forests.
First, to create healthy forest resources and manage forests, various trees will be planted, and systematic forest management projects will be implemented according to forest functions and age groups.
With a total budget of 3.462 billion KRW, afforestation projects covering 37 hectares and forest management projects (including large tree care, public forest care, and forest fire prevention forest care) covering 1,450 hectares will be carried out to foster healthy forests and expand carbon sinks.
Additionally, major trees representing Cheongsong, such as pine and king cherry trees, will be planted on major vacant lots in each eup and myeon to create urban forests, improve living environments, and contribute to carbon neutrality and green growth.
Next, to prevent forest disasters and protect forests, efforts will be made to reduce open burning and forest fires through intensified crackdowns and publicity, ensuring thorough preemptive prevention activities. Rapid fire suppression operations will be established by solely leasing forest fire helicopters and utilizing available personnel such as specialized forest fire prevention and suppression teams and watchers, actively responding to forest fire prevention.
Furthermore, to protect Cheongsong’s beautiful forests from pests and diseases, a forest pest monitoring and control team will be operated, and aerial surveillance using drones will be strengthened to maintain ecologically healthy forests.
Moreover, to protect the lives and property of residents from natural disasters, 2.8 billion KRW will be invested in forest watershed management projects and erosion control projects in landslide-prone areas to proactively prevent forest disasters such as landslides. Risk factors will be removed or maintained by eliminating hazardous trees in residential areas, protecting residents’ lives and property. Additionally, 65 protected trees and old-growth trees with high preservation value within the jurisdiction will receive sterilization treatment, surgical care, and traditional village forest restoration projects to create forests where people and nature can coexist harmoniously.
Next, to increase income for forest owners and forestry workers and enhance the value of forest recreation culture, a stable production, processing, and distribution system for forest products will be established to support forest income projects aimed at improving forestry workers’ income and strengthening external competitiveness. Customized forestry education will be provided to continuously operate the Cheongsong Forest Products University to develop the forestry industry and enhance the capabilities of forestry workers in Cheongsong-gun.
In particular, the Cheongsong Forest Products University, which has been in operation since 2017, has produced 405 graduates by 2023. This year, about 50 students will be selected and trained to actively promote farm income and nurture professional forestry workers.
Additionally, to compensate for the low income of local forestry workers and promote the public functions of forestry and forests, the forestry direct payment system, first implemented in 2022, compensated 189 eligible forestry workers with 698 million KRW last year. In 2024, efforts will continue through publicity and guidance education to ensure that many forestry workers owning eligible forest lands benefit from the payments.
Efforts will also be made to achieve welfare forests accessible to everyone by expanding forest recreation facilities, operating infant forest experience centers, and maintaining hiking trails in residential areas, providing various forest welfare services.
In particular, since 2021, a forest library has been operated within the Cheongsong Natural Recreation Forest, housing about 1,000 children’s and general education books, providing a space for visitors and local residents to read in pristine nature. To provide recreational services that meet new consumer trends and offer special value, old facilities are being demolished and Forest Houses 1 and 2 are being rebuilt, continuously improving to provide better forest welfare services to the public.
Furthermore, forest welfare services will be provided to vulnerable groups in welfare blind spots through forest welfare vouchers. Customized forest experience programs using excellent forest resources will be offered to local infants at the Cheongsong Infant Forest Experience Center, expected to contribute to fostering creative thinking and emotional development.
In addition, with a secured budget of 200 million KRW for transition projects in 2024, hiking trails in residential areas such as the birch forest in Hwajang-ri, Bunam-myeon, will be maintained to prevent mountain safety accidents caused by the increasing number of hikers and ensure convenience in trail use, creating premium forest trails where recreation, healing, and leisure activities can all be enjoyed.
Finally, to create distinctive landscapes, alongside the creation of premium forests, the operation of Oxygen Cafe Cheongsong Garden and Cheongsong Solbit Garden will provide sightseeing attractions for tourists. Flower paths and various flower beds will be created around popular walking trails used by local residents to improve the landscape and offer healing spaces in everyday life.
Especially, the Oxygen Cafe Cheongsong Garden in the Shingi-ri area of Pacheon-myeon, the largest crape myrtle flower garden in the nation, has become a healing space befitting the regional urban brand image of "Oxygen Cafe Cheongsong-gun," receiving favorable reviews from residents and tourists alike.
The Oxygen Cafe Cheongsong Garden opened as a pilot site in 2021 and officially opened in 2022. Last year, it attracted over 120,000 visitors, establishing itself as a new tourist attraction in Cheongsong. It has gained a reputation as a great place for flower viewing, and with the recent barefoot walking trend, it has become a healing spot where visitors can enjoy both visual pleasure and fresh oxygen, evolving beyond a tourist attraction into a place of health and happiness.
Based on last year’s operation results, this year, to attract more visitors, a poppy garden will be operated in May and a crape myrtle garden in September, creating diverse seasonal landscapes. Various performances and events will be hosted to offer local residents and visitors a true space for rest and healing.
Governor Yoon Kyung-hee expressed her ambition, saying, “We will lead regional economic revitalization through the realization of forest commercialization,” and added, “We will cultivate more beautiful and abundant forests through advanced forest management and create and protect Cheongsong-gun’s forests together with local residents.”
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