The Korea Forest Service plans to increase the self-sufficiency rate of timber to 27% by 2029 through the revitalization of timber utilization.
On the 13th, the Korea Forest Service announced that it will establish and implement the "3rd Comprehensive Plan for Timber Utilization (2025?2029)" containing these details.
The comprehensive plan is based on expanding the use of domestic timber and revitalizing the timber industry, and includes the implementation of five major strategies and 15 tasks.
To expand timber production, the Korea Forest Service intends to focus on spreading the "forest resource circulation management" by improving the management system of economic forest cultivation complexes and expanding production infrastructure such as forest roads and high-performance forestry machinery. To stabilize timber supply and demand and contribute to national greenhouse gas reduction goals, support for overseas forest investment will also be activated.
As a measure to increase timber utilization and create high added value, efforts will be made to expand wooden architecture. Wooden architecture is gaining global attention for its eco-friendliness and sustainability.
Considering this, the Korea Forest Service plans to establish a legal foundation by improving regulations in the wooden architecture sector through collaboration with related ministries, and to improve the distribution system of domestic logs by usage to enable a unified timber information service, making it convenient for consumers to use timber.
Additionally, by creating regionally specialized and efficient timber industrial complexes and supporting infrastructure such as production, distribution, and technical cooperation, the competitiveness of the timber industry will be strengthened, expanding economic and social values such as job creation and regional economic revitalization.
The Korea Forest Service will promote the culture of domestic timber use by replacing indoor environments in daycare centers, public facilities, and other places with domestic timber so that the public can experience the excellence of timber in daily life, and by expanding public education linked to Neulbom School and timber experience facilities.
Furthermore, to strengthen the capabilities of timber industry professionals, the comprehensive plan includes operating specialized timber education, expanding the training of wooden architecture experts and timber structure technicians, and promoting scientific research for the development of advanced timber processing technologies and the discovery of new applications.
Im Sang-seop, Administrator of the Korea Forest Service, said, "Timber is a key solution for achieving carbon neutrality and a future resource attracting international attention. We will strive to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic timber industry and establish Korea as a leading country in the timber industry through sustainable forest management."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
