for reporting purposes only *most of the information was obtained from separate reports

1. Successful
Reforestation in
South Korealessons learned from the Republic of Korea’s
National Reforestation Programme

2. “Korea is the only
developing country in the
world that has succeeded
in reforestation since the
Second World War”
Mr. Lester Brown, Director of Earth Policy
Institute in his book, “Plan B 2.0” (2006)
“South Korea is in many ways a
reforestation model for the rest
of the world ”
Major topics in this lecture
History of forest devastation
in Korea
Major policies of
reforestation

3. Deforestation in Korea
• Massive land degradation caused
by supplying armament material
during the Japanese annexation and
the Korean War in the 1950’s
• Lack of management and poor
administrative structure during the
post-war period
• Continued land degradation
caused by use of fuelwood for
cooking and heating

4. Forest Rehabilitation Policy
4
Reorganization of the Administrative Structure
Establishment of the Forest Service
- Forest Bureau as the Forest Service
Establishment and Execution of the
Comprehensive Forest Reclamation Policy
Transfer of the Forest Service to the Ministry of Home
Affairs
Establishment of the Forest Bureau and the Forest
Department

5. Forest Rehabilitation
5

6. 6
Extent of Forest Planted

7. 7
Transition in Forest Policies

8. Factors of Successful Forest Rehabilitation
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Strong Leadership and Vision
ㅇ Strong leadership and momentum under President Park Chunghee’s
administration
ㅇ Leader’s awareness and vision on forest environment and landscape

9. Factors of Successful Forest Rehabilitation
9
Synergy with Economic Growth
o Introduction of coal briquettes to substitute fuelwood
o Decrease of slash-and-burn farmers and illegal logging caused by
continued economic growth and increase of income of rural
households

10. New settlement process:
Successful Forest Rehabilitation
10

11. Factors of Successful Forest Rehabilitation
11
Saemaeul Undong and Public Participation
ㅇ Fostering active participation in tree planting through linking Saemaeul
Undong (New Village Movement, 1971) under the slogan “Let’s Live Well”
ㅇ Encouraging to abide by regulations and promote participation by
linking with poverty and livelihood

12. Forest Rehabilitation with Public Participation

13. Factors of Successful Forest Rehabilitation
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International Assistance
o United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) (1950~58) & International
Cooperation Agency (ICA) - provided food as wages for both reforestation and erosion
control projects - in the mid 1960s, food aid was changed to technical assistance
o United Nations Development Program (UNDP) (1964~1969) − provided techniques
for forest survey and funding for forest resources survey : contributed in developing
national forest plan
o Bilateral cooperation between ROK and Germany in forestry projects (1974) −
contributed significantly to the progress in the country’s
forest management

14. Visual changes since 1980’s
14

15. Conclusion
15
Past: successful reforestation in 1970’s with
strong will of Government
Present:
1. successful conservation of forest
resources
2. Severe wood shortage due to little
harvesting and decline of domestic wood
industries
3. More emphasis on the indirect benefits of
forests than on wood production.
Future: Uncertain

16. Apply to Philippine Reforestation
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