The government will conduct a joint inspection of the operation status of nationwide ‘fine dust blocking forests’ and promote institutional improvements to enhance the substance of project implementation.
The Korea Forest Service announced on the 22nd that it conducted a joint inspection with the Government Joint Anti-Corruption Promotion Team of the Prime Minister’s Office and 135 local governments nationwide on the operation status of 362 fine dust blocking forests.
The joint inspection focused on the overall project, including subsidy applications, disbursements, settlements, project implementation, and management of fine dust blocking forests established from 2019 to 2022.
The Korea Forest Service plans to promptly implement the improvements raised during the joint inspection and promote institutional improvement measures to ensure substantial project implementation.
As part of institutional improvements, the Korea Forest Service will reflect standards for urban forest creation and management related to tree planting and facility installation in the ‘Urban Forest Creation and Management Practical Guide’ and revise related notifications by next year.
Additionally, to efficiently promote urban forest creation projects, prior approval will be required when changing project plans or designs, and the inspection system for projects will be strengthened through continuous communication meetings.
To improve the efficiency of subsidy project management and enhance quality, the authority and functions of local governments regarding site selection, budget allocation, and execution will be expanded. Furthermore, to strengthen cooperation with local governments and improve project outcomes, feedback systems such as management indicators, measurement and evaluation operations, post-management status surveys, and awards for contributors to urban forest development will also be reinforced.
The joint inspection analyzed that fine dust blocking forests have shown practical effects in reducing fine dust and absorbing carbon, thereby responding to the climate crisis and reducing fine dust in residential areas.
The fine dust blocking forest creation project has been promoted since 2018 as one of the ‘Top 10 Close-contact Living Social Overhead Capital (SOC) Projects.’ The Forest Science Institute confirmed last December that after creating a fine dust blocking forest between the Seoknam Industrial Complex and residential areas in Incheon, the fine dust concentration in the residential complex was 39.8% lower compared to the industrial complex.
Nam Sung-hyun, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, said, “Based on the results of the joint inspection, we will strengthen the substance of urban forest creation projects and prepare measures to enhance the value and quality of urban forests. Above all, we will strive to continuously expand urban forests to respond to the climate crisis and provide citizens with a pleasant living environment.”
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