1. International Cooperation Division
Forest Resources and Policies in Korea
January 2010
International Cooperation Division
Korea Forest Service

2. Contents
Background
Forests Resources in Korea
Key Forest Policies

3. Background

4. Forest rehabilitation in Korea

5. Forest rehabilitation in Korea
1910
1945
1960
Chosun Dynasty
Japanese Colonization
Before the 1960s
Growing stock 600~700
million m3
Stock volume/ha over 100 m3 / ha
Forest exploitation
by Japan
Wood fuel collection
& slash-burn cultivation
Korean War and turbulent period
Illegal logging
Insufficient budget for rehabilitation
The active forest rehabilitation took place after
the 1960s

6. Degraded Forests
1950s Seongbuk-dong, Seoul

7. 1st and 2nd National Forest Plans (1973~1987)
『Forest Rehabilitation Project』
Successful Rehabilitation
Successful rehabilitation in 2.1 million ha of degraded forests
Planting Campaign
Planting Campaign in March and April
Fuel Forests
Creation of fuel forests for rural and mountain villagers

8. 3rd National Forest Plan (1988~1997)
『Develop forests as commercial resources』
Plantation and Tending
Creating 0.32 million ha of commercial plantation
Tending 3.03 million ha of forests
Infrastructure
Fundamental infrastructure for forest management : forest road construction, mechanized forestry system, and education and training program for regional foresters

9. 4th National Forest Plan (1998~2007)
『Pursue Sustainable Forest Management』
Introduction SFM as principle
More focus on economic values
→ Promoting multi-valued aspects of forest : ecosystem, environment, recreation, urban forests, economy, etc.
Government-led forest management
→ Private-oriented activities
Legal and institutional regulations for the SFM system

10. Worldwide Recognition
FAO Unasylva (1981)
The Republic of Korea embarked on a four-fold programme in 1973… The programme succeeded beyond expectations.
Lester Brown (2008)
S.Korea is a reforestation model for the world. We can reforest the earth.
Achim Steiner (2008)
Korea's success in forest rehabilitation amazed the World.
FAO featured Korea's rehabilitation program and
highly evaluated as the only successful case post-second World War.
While noted environmentalist, Mr. Lester Brown mentioned that South Korea is a reforestation model for the World and that we can reforest the World.
And last year, at the 10th Ramsar Convention, Mr. Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of UNEP, expressed high regards for the success of
Korea's forest reforestation program.
Highly praised the successful rehabilitation in Korea (Executive Director of UNEP, 10th Ramsar Convention) 10

11. Factors of Successful Rehabilitation
Forestry factor
Establishment of foundation for forest rehabilitation such as enactment of Forest Law(1961), establishment of Forest Administration(1967), etc.
Sustainable establishment and implementation of forest rehabilitation plans
Non-forestry factor
Public participation and strong will power of the leaders
Wide use of coal led by economic growth

12. Forest Rehabilitation with Public Participation

13. Before & After Rehabilitation
Erosion control project site in Cheongha,
Yeong-il, North Gyeongsang prov.(1984)

14. Forests Resources in Korea

15. Stock volume per ha(m3/ha)
Forest Cover
6.4 million ha of forests cover 64% of the land
70% of the forests are privately owned
Private
National
Public
Stock volume per ha(m3/ha)

16. Change in growing stock
Year
Stock volume per ha
16㎥
103㎥

17. Forest type distribution
Coniferous forests make up a large proportion
Pine and oak species (Mongolian oak, acorn, etc.) are dominant
Oak species
(58%)
Others
(42%)
Pine(50%)
Larch(20%)
Pitch pine(15%)
Korean pine(10%)
Others(5%)
(29%)
(26%)
(42%)
(3%)
Others
Coniferous
Broadleaved
Mixed

18. Age class distribution
61% of the forests are aged less than 30 years
Generally in the stage where extensive management is necessary
(Unit: 1,000 ha)
V and older I II IV
III

19. Public values of forest
Public benefits were valued at US$ 60 billion as of 2007
Value per capita : US$ 1,240
Total forest production as of the end of : US$ 2.8 billion
Landslide prevention 3.7 (6.1%)
Wildlife protection 0.7 (1.2%)
Water quality improvement 16.0 (26.6%)
Water filtering 5.5 (9.2%)
Forest recreation 10.6 (17.6%)
Air quality improvement 12.2 (20.4%)
Erosion control 11.3 (18.9%)
1 unit = US$ 1 billion
US$ 1 = 1,100 WON, as of 2005

20. Agricultural material (2%)
Forest Products
Net growing stock
(32.2%)
USD 1,345 M
Timber (4%)
Fruit &nuts
(13%)
Agricultural material (2%)
Mushroom
(8%)
Reforestation(2%)
Wild vegetable (6%)
Landscape
materials (22.0%)
USD M
Bamboo and others (5%)
Total Production
USD 3,558 M

21. Key Forest Policies

22. Organizational Chart Minister Press Secretary Deputy Minister
Administrative Services
Bureau of Coordination and Plantation
Bureau of Forest Resources
Bureau of
Forest Use
Bureau of Forest Protection
Planning and Finance
Administration Management
Legislative affairs and Audit
Information & Statistics
Forest Policy
Forest Resources
Green Job Promotion
Timber Utilization and Product
International Cooperation
Forest Land Management
National Forest Management
Forest Recreation & Outdoor Activities
Forestry Support
Forest Environment Conservation
Urban Forest & Landscape
Forest Fire Control
Forest Engineering & Rehabilitation
Forest Disease & Pest
4 Bureaus
19 Divisions
1Team

23. Agencies under KFS Korea Forest Service
Korea Forest Research Institute
(KFRI)
National Natural Recreation Forest Office
National Arboretum
Forest Human Resources Development Institute
4 Departments
4 Research Centers
Forest Aviation Headquarters
Regional Forest Service
Korea Forest Seed and Variety Center
7 Aviation Stations
5 Regional Forest Service
27 National Forest Station

24. Transition in forest policies
Creation of fuel forests
Erosion control projects,
restoration of burned field
Forest
restoration
stage
Forest
revegetation
stage
Completion of
Beginning of forest
management
Resource
development
stage
Expansion of plantation
species
Creation of commercial
forests
Initial stage of
sustainable
management
Introduction of ecological
forestation
Intensive forest

25. The Fifth National Forest Plan
『Sustainable Green Welfare Nation』(2008~2017)
Six Strategies
Integrated management and development of forest resources
Enhancement of carbon sinks in forests
Promotion of forest industry and competitiveness
Conservation and management of forest ecosystem
Urban forests and forest recreation
International cooperation

26. Forestry Bilateral Cooperation
Russia
Mongolia
China
Myanmar
Vietnam
Cambodia
Indonesia,
( first meeting)
Australia
Paraguay
Uruguay
New Zealand

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