Chungnam Province to Invest 22.7 Billion Won in Afforestation Projects This Year

Chungnam Province Launches Large-Scale Reforestation Project
Aims to Expand Carbon Sinks and Restore Forests Damaged by Wildfires

Chungnam Province announced on the 3rd that it will invest 22.7 billion KRW this year to launch a large-scale reforestation project aimed at responding to the climate crisis and expanding carbon sinks.

This year's reforestation project aims to enhance the economic and public value of forests through initiatives such as creating economic forests and restoring areas damaged by wildfires, covering a total of 2,152 hectares across five sectors.

The projects include: ▲ Creation of economic forests (1,341 ha, 10.3 billion KRW) ▲ Large tree planting (279 ha, 3.4 billion KRW) ▲ Regional specialized reforestation (190 ha, 3.9 billion KRW) ▲ Establishment of fire-resistant forest belts (65 ha, 1 billion KRW) ▲ Restoration of wildfire-damaged areas (277 ha, 4.1 billion KRW).

The economic forest creation project involves planting trees such as sawtooth oak and Aralia elata tailored to the characteristics of each city and county, providing income opportunities for forest owners and ensuring a steady supply of high-quality timber.

The large tree planting project plans to plant beautiful landscape species such as cherry trees and Chionanthus retusus, and to quickly restore forest disaster areas affected by landslides or pests, thereby enhancing the public value of forests by improving landscapes and living environments.

The regional specialized reforestation project aims to support the beekeeping industry, which is struggling due to the mass disappearance of bees caused by complex factors such as climate change, by planting species such as Hovenia dulcis and Robinia pseudoacacia in public forests and idle lands to create nectar-rich forests.

The establishment of fire-resistant forest belts is intended to prevent the spread of large wildfires in advance by planting fire-resistant species in coniferous monoculture forests, around cultural assets, residential areas, and wildfire-damaged regions.

Restoration of wildfire-damaged areas will focus on regions affected by major wildfires in 2023, with plans to plant economic and nectar-producing tree species in each zone based on feedback from local residents, forest owners, and advisory committee members.

Ko Daeyeol, head of the Provincial Forest Resources Division, stated, "We are implementing reforestation policies not only to produce timber but also to help increase the income of forest owners and beekeeping farms," and added, "We will do our utmost to nurture our precious forests into healthy and beautiful woodlands so that future generations can enjoy the abundant benefits of forests."