[Opinion] Spring Wildfire Prevention Is the First Step to Protecting Our Geochang

Let's Protect the Beautiful Forests of Geochang from Wildfires

Among the 24 solar terms, Usu, when snow melts into water, and Gyeongchip, when hibernating frogs are startled awake, are our representative solar terms signaling the beginning of spring.

Around this time, the cold winds that made us button up our collars change to warm breezes, and dry weather persists, creating conditions conducive to wildfires.

Due to global climate change, wildfires have recently been increasing in scale throughout the year. Nationwide, over the past decade, an average of 597 fires occurred annually, causing damage to 4,004 hectares, with a concentration in March and April. The main causes are arson by visitors to the mountains at 38%, burning of agricultural waste at 29%, and cigarette-related fires at 10%.

Lee Byung-chul, Deputy Governor of Geochang County.

As seen from the main causes of wildfires, unlike natural disasters such as landslides, typhoons, and droughts, wildfires are classified as man-made disasters in disaster management. If we all remain vigilant and work together to prevent wildfires, we can protect our precious forests.

Geochang has 24 peaks over 1,000 meters and is surrounded by three major national parks: Deogyusan, Gayasan, and Jirisan. This year, the Bbaejjae Forest Leisure Sports Park opened, and through existing attractions like the Anti-Aging Healing Land and the Gamaksan Flower & Star Festival, continuous efforts are being made to usher in an era of 2 million forest tourists.

To protect the beautiful forests of Geochang, the county is currently shredding over 500 tons of agricultural byproducts, has installed six additional wildfire surveillance cameras to the existing five to enable rapid initial response and eliminate blind spots, is conducting buffer zone creation projects to prevent large-scale wildfires, and operates a drone response team among various other efforts.

In particular, to achieve zero wildfires in Geochang, 200 wildfire monitors are patrolling and educating day and night until May, and through the campaign to create green villages without burning, they are raising awareness among residents.

Additionally, since the end of last year, Geochang County has imposed fines totaling 1.2 million won for four cases of illegal burning, maintains a strict stance against illegal activities such as unauthorized burning within forests, and promotes awareness that causing forest fires through negligence can result in imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to 30 million won under the Forest Protection Act.

In 2023, Geochang County was honored as the top city/county in wildfire prevention evaluation by Gyeongnam Province. This achievement stems from the efforts and interest of the residents, making it a time when the efforts of all our citizens are once again needed as we enter the full wildfire caution period.

Since cultivating dense forests requires decades to hundreds of years, it is a time when the precious attention and efforts of each resident are needed to ensure that our hard-cultivated forests do not turn to ashes due to a moment of carelessness.