The Peace Forest Association (Chairman Ryu Young-jae) announced that it conducted a tree-planting volunteer activity in the Mongol Yuhan-Kimberly Forest with over 50 participants, including Korean volunteers and Mongolian youth.
On the 25th, around the Yuhan-Kimberly Forest in the Tojin Nars Protected Area of Selenge Province, Mongolia, Kim Jae-hyun, co-representative of Peace Forest, Jeon Yang-sook, head of Yuhan-Kimberly headquarters, along with 20 Korean volunteers, 20 students from 'School No. 1' located in Sukhbaatar, Selenge Province, and 10 Mongolian forestry officials participated in the tree-planting activity.
During the event, Mongolian youth planted 100 European red pines, the main tree species of Tojin Nars, experiencing the history and present of the Tojin Nars land, feeling the importance of forest protection, and sharing the values conveyed by the forest.
Tojin Nars in Mongolia means "Endless Pine Forest," reflecting its past when pine trees were abundant. However, it became barren and desertification accelerated due to two major fires in the 1990s. Since 2003, Yuhan-Kimberly has collaborated with key stakeholders from Korea and Mongolia to plant and nurture over 10 million trees, and through continuous efforts, has cultivated the Yuhan-Kimberly Forest spanning 3,250 hectares?11 times the size of Yeouido. The 'Mongol Yuhan-Kimberly Forest' is recognized as a successful overseas cooperation case, expanding its value not only in restoring ecosystems devastated by wildfires but also as a research forest, with Peace Forest and Yuhan-Kimberly working together.
An ecological tower is installed at the site, allowing visitors to appreciate the beautiful scenery of desertification prevention and forest restoration, and offering a unique pleasure of observing wildlife and plants that have returned with renewed vitality. Locally in Mongolia, it has gained fame as a new ecotourism course and plays a significant role as a learning site where students and citizens can study tree planting and forest restoration cases.
Kim Jae-hyun, representative of Peace Forest, said, "It is very meaningful to share the value of the forest with Mongolian youth," adding, "We will continue to cooperate with Yuhan-Kimberly and local Mongolian stakeholders to create green forests to prevent desertification and expand projects so that local residents can enjoy the benefits of the forest."
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