[2024 National Audit] Forest Management and Logging 'Misused', Openly Leading to Forest Overdevelopment

There are concerns that the Korea Forest Service and local governments are effectively turning a blind eye to the destruction of forests and indiscriminate development under the pretext of forest management and logging.

According to data submitted by the National Institute of Ecology and 17 cities and provinces nationwide to Lim Ho-seon, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee (Democratic Party, Chungbuk Jeungpyeong·Jincheon·Eumseong), a total of 429 areas have filed objections to the ecological and natural grade adjustments over the past five years, of which 300 were accepted, resulting in actual downgrades of ecological and natural grades.

Data on the downgrade status of Grade 1 ecological natural areas over the past 5 years. Provided by the office of Assemblyman Im Hoseon.

The ecological and natural grade map is created by the National Institute of Ecology under the Ministry of Environment, categorizing mountains, rivers, inland areas, wetlands, etc., into grades (1 to 3) based on ecological value and naturalness.

Among the downgraded areas, a total of 276 were originally ecological and natural grade 1 areas (216 areas downgraded entirely, 60 areas partially).

Grade 1 areas include habitats and stopover sites for endangered wild species, major ecological corridors or axes, ecosystems located at the geographical distribution limits of species, representative types of major vegetation, and areas where biologically valuable resources exist and are distributed, making development practically impossible. This is because the basic principle for these areas is the conservation and restoration of the natural environment.

Development Status Data of Major Downgraded Sites. Provided by the Office of Assemblyman Im Hoseon

However, Representative Lim claimed that in some areas, forest management and logging projects were used as a pretext to damage forests and then lower the grade through objections, thereby enabling development through a loophole.

They exploited the fact that the lower the grade, the easier it is to pass environmental impact assessments, conducting forest management and logging projects to convert the land into areas more suitable for development.

For example, in the area around Socheon-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongbuk, where a grade adjustment was requested three months after logging, a wind power plant construction is currently planned. In Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongbuk, a cable car upper station is being constructed, and in Okgyeri, Seowon-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do, golf course expansion work is underway.

The formula of ‘forest management/logging → grade downgrade → forest development’ is actually being implemented on the ground. Cases of reckless development following this formula are most frequent in Gangwon-do with 11 cases, followed by Chungnam with 9, Gyeongbuk with 8, Gyeonggi with 4, Jeonnam with 2, and Gyeongnam, Busan, Ulsan, and Incheon each with 1 case.

Representative Lim urged, “The abuse of forest management and logging to downgrade ecological and natural grade 1 areas must be eradicated,” and requested, “The Korea Forest Service and local governments should pay special attention to ensure that such acts do not continue.”