First Pilot Planting Near Chukryeongsan Mountain
A Vision to Create a Signature Forest Connecting the Baegyangsa Natural Monument Grove
Planting 200,000 Trees and Expanding Afforestation
Encouraging Participation Through the Hometown Love Donation Program
Establishing a Foundation for Sustainable Forest Management
Jangseong County in Jeollanam-do, well known for its Hinoki cypress forests, is now embarking on the creation of a "Millennium Torreya Forest."
On the 27th, Jangseong County announced plans to launch a large-scale afforestation project this year, investing 800 million KRW to plant 200,000 trees?including Hinoki cypress, Mongolian oak, and tulip trees?across an area of 110 hectares. In particular, they plan to plant Torreya trees on a trial basis over a 5-hectare section near Chukryeongsan Mountain, aiming to develop it into a new signature forest for the region.
Torreya trees have a deep connection with Jangseong. The Torreya forest near Baegyangsa Temple in Bukha-myeon, Jangseong, was designated as Natural Monument No. 153 in 1962 and is said to have been planted by the renowned Goryeo-era monk Gakjin Guksa. Although Torreya trees grow slowly, their wood is of excellent quality and was historically used for the finest Go boards and boat building. Their beautiful leaves and shape also make them highly valued as landscaping trees.
The county plans to begin trial planting around the Sky Forest Trail near Chukryeongsan Mountain, with guidance from the National Institute of Forest Science, and gradually expand the project. Chukryeongsan is the largest Hinoki cypress afforestation site in Korea, cultivated over 21 years by Chunwon Lim Jongguk, and has been designated by the Korea Forest Service as a "forest to be preserved for the 22nd century."
In addition, the county is linking the Torreya forest project to the "Hometown Love Donation Program," and is also promoting the "Hometown Love Forest Trail Project." Local residents or donors can search for "Forest Trail" or "Jangseong" on the Hometown Love Eum website and directly contribute to the project.
County Governor Kim Hanjong stated, "The Millennium Torreya Forest will be a future asset that enhances both the public and economic value of Jangseong's forests," adding, "We will establish a foundation for sustainable forest management."
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