Ji Hyun Choi of Gwangju City Council Calls for Street Tree Management Guidelines

Preventing the Recurring "Dakbal" Street Trees Every Year
"Creating the Lungs of the City and a Healthy Urban Forest"

On the 15th, Ji Hyun Choi, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, held a policy meeting on "Sustainable Street Tree Planting and Management" in the first-floor conference room of the city council. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation, Gwangsan District Urban Regeneration Community Center, Gwangju Sustainable Development Council, as well as officials from Gwangju City and autonomous districts. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan Council

There have been calls for proper management guidelines for street trees in the Gwangju area, which have suffered every year due to indiscriminate pruning.

On May 15, Ji Hyun Choi, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Gwangsan 1), held a policy meeting on "Sustainable Street Tree Planting and Management" in the first-floor conference room of the city council.

This meeting was organized in response to the revision of the "Act on the Creation and Management of Urban Forests," with the aim of addressing the current inefficient management of street trees, such as indiscriminate pruning and felling due to urban redevelopment, and seeking region-specific street tree policies through citizen participation.

The meeting was attended by civic groups including the Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation, the Gwangsan District Urban Regeneration Community Center, and the Gwangju Sustainable Development Council, as well as officials from Gwangju City and autonomous districts, who shared on-site cases and suggestions.

The Gwangju Environmental Movement Federation shared cases of excessive pruning based on street tree surveys and citizen reports, and proposed the need to establish a growth monitoring system utilizing artificial intelligence.

The Gwangsan District Urban Regeneration Community Center introduced the "Our Neighborhood Street Tree Care Project," in which residents of Cheomdan 1 and 2-dong participated, and shared examples of street tree management such as pest and disease inspections, removal of obstacles, and replanting.

Choi emphasized, "Street trees are an important element directly related not only to urban landscapes and air quality but also to pedestrian safety," and added, "Gwangju City should work with each autonomous district to establish management guidelines suitable for the region and build a sustainable street tree management system in which citizens can participate and feel the benefits."

Choi also stated, "Citizen participation projects must be genuine participation that ensures regionality and spontaneity, not just a simple task," and added, "The city council will actively develop measures so that the various opinions discussed today can be reflected in relevant ordinances and policies, and lead to budgeting and implementation."