Gwangju Gwangsan-gu, Urban Forest Status Survey Promotion

Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City is conducting a ‘Measurement and Evaluation Survey of Management Indicators for Urban Forests, etc.’ to secure basic data for managing local urban forests and to examine the forest usage environment for citizens.

This survey is conducted in accordance with the revised ‘Act on the Creation and Management of Urban Forests, etc.’ amended last year, aiming to maintain and manage healthy urban forests.

Urban forests refer to forests and trees created and managed for the purpose of promoting public health, recreation, emotional cultivation, and experiential activities, including village forests, landscape forests, school forests, and street trees.

The survey period is until November. The core objective is to secure basic data for urban forest management and to record changes in urban forests. The survey targets all urban forests in Gwangsan-gu, covering an area of 7,596,000㎡, and all 16 species of street trees.

Following the guidelines of the Korea Forest Service, Gwangsan-gu investigates four areas?ecological health and vitality, biodiversity, socio-economic benefits, and maintenance and management?along with detailed indicators and items to secure basic data on local urban forests. The survey results will be used to establish and implement customized management plans based on the growth ecology of urban forests.

In particular, since urban forests are closely related to citizens’ ‘green welfare,’ the per capita urban forest area by region will be surveyed and analyzed. This will be reflected in the ‘Urban Forest Creation and Management Plan,’ prioritizing the expansion of green spaces in areas lacking urban forests.

Park Byeong-gyu, Mayor of Gwangsan-gu, said, “This survey is a starting point to examine the current status and environment of Gwangsan-gu’s urban forests and to nurture them healthily. Based on precise and systematic surveys and analyses, we will create an urban environment where all citizens can enjoy the forest.”