Korea Forest Service Conducts 'Basic Survey' of 468 Mountain Villages Nationwide

The Korea Forest Service will conduct a basic survey targeting 468 towns and townships in forest villages nationwide.

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 18th, the basic survey of forest villages is a statutory survey conducted every 10 years. The survey items include eight categories such as the distribution and use of forest resources in forest village areas, trends in population changes in forest villages, and the forest village economy. The survey results will be used to establish the basic plan for forest village promotion.

In the previous survey conducted in 2014, the main focus was on the distribution status of forest resources. This year, emphasis will be placed on collecting data to revitalize the forest village economy, such as forest village population management and the status of forest resources.

Considering the recent rapid population decline leading to an increase in forest villages at high risk of extinction, and the gradual increase in trees entering the timber harvesting period, the survey will focus on these aspects.

In particular, the Korea Forest Service plans to strengthen efforts to establish effective forest village promotion policies reflecting the unique characteristics of forest villages by forming advisory groups of experts from specialized research institutions such as the Korea Rural Economic Institute and the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, as well as from the Korea Tourism Organization and the National Institute of Forest Science.

Jang Young-shin, head of the Forest Recreation and Healing Division at the Korea Forest Service, said, “The basic survey is an important process for gathering data to create livable forest villages,” adding, “The Korea Forest Service will strive to produce reliable survey results and establish and implement forest village policies that can be felt on the ground.”