Korea Forest Service announces major policies for 2024... Establishment of digital slope integrated landslide information system
Enhancement of convenience for foresters such as improvement of taxation in the forestry sector... Expansion of forest recreation and healing welfare
The government responds to forest disasters scientifically by increasing the use of artificial intelligence surveillance cameras to expand the 24-hour forest fire surveillance system and establishing a digital slope integrated landslide information system.
The Korea Forest Service announced on the 2024th that it has prepared the '20 Korea Forest Service Key Policies' to maximize the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural functions of forests based on the vision of 'becoming a global forest powerhouse that prospers through forests.'
This year, the need to respond to extreme climate events, stabilize the people's economy, promote digitalization, and strengthen global cooperation is receiving great attention.
Accordingly, the Korea Forest Service has implemented 5 major strategies and 12 detailed tasks, including ▲strengthening forest disaster response ▲increasing foresters' income and expanding forest recreation and healing welfare services ▲realizing sustainable forest management ▲digitizing forest management ▲expanding international forest cooperation Select and implement.
Korea Forest Service major policies for 2024. (Infographic = Korea Forest Service)
◆ Protecting people’s lives and safety through scientific forest disaster response
In order to block large-scale forest fires at the source, the Korea Forest Service collaborates with local governments and related organizations to strengthen forest fire prevention activities such as collection and shredding of agricultural by-products, and provides 24-hour surveillance using artificial intelligence cameras, focusing on the Gyeongbuk and Gangwon regions, where the risk of forest fires is high. Expand the forest fire surveillance system.
In addition, seven leased helicopters with large freshwater capacity will be deployed forward to forest fire risk areas such as the East Coast, and forest fire extinguishing forest cover (7 km) will be expanded to increase forest fire extinguishing efficiency.
In particular, the forests and surrounding slopes managed by each ministry will be integrated and managed through the 'Digital Slope Integrated Landslide Information System', and a 'Forest Water System Digital Map' will be constructed to dataize the forest valley distribution and flow information, thereby improving the landslide prediction ability from 89% to 94%. plan.
By adding 'preliminary warning' to the landslide prediction information system, an additional hour of evacuation time for residents can be secured.
Considering that forest disasters such as forest fires, landslides, and pests are interconnected and spread to cause large-scale damage, we also plan to enact the Forest Disaster Prevention Act for integrated management of forest disasters.
In the event of a forest fire occurring in the Suraksan area of Seoul, we are conducting forest fire suppression training to supply firefighting water to helicopters using a portable water tank. (Photo = Korea Forest Service)
◆ Increased forestry income, enhanced forest recreation, and healing welfare services
Considering the small-scale nature and long-term nature of forestry and the public interest function of forests, we will improve the tax system in the forestry field, such as expanding the forestry tax exemption and reducing acquisition taxes, and improve the convenience of foresters by relaxing the forestry direct payment system payment standards to the level of similar industries.
While supporting national economic activities by reorganizing restricted areas for mountain conversion, full-cycle support will also be strengthened to encourage young people to enter the forestry sector.
In particular, a 49km section of the East-West Trail from Taean to Seosan is also scheduled to open, which is expected to attract great interest from the country's 3200 million hiking and trekking population.
In response to recent public demand, we are expanding the supply of companion plants, expanding forest recreation and healing welfare facilities that can be used with pets, and reorganizing related systems so that forest healing can become a key asset for improving public health and developing the local economy. We plan to promote the industrialization of forest healing.
◆ Contributing to low-carbon, green growth through sustainable forest management
We are promoting the participation of the private sector in forest management by connecting the recently rapidly increasing demand for ESG from companies to cooperative projects in the forest sector and allowing the carbon absorption secured through the forest carbon offset system to be freely traded through the carbon trading platform.
In addition, under the slogan 'Wood use = carbon neutrality', we will actively expand the creation of wood-friendly cities and eco-friendly wooden construction, and together with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, we will establish a legal basis for revitalizing wooden construction.
In order to secure biodiversity and systematically conserve and manage national plant resources, the National Arboretum will be expanded for each climate and vegetation zone, and the introduction of forest OECM will also be promoted.
We carry out customized ecological restoration in collaboration with related organizations in order to restore not only key forest ecological axes such as the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, but also damaged forests in national parks and cultural properties to a healthy state with our country's native plants.
Nam Seong-hyeon, head of the Korea Forest Service, is announcing the plan to promote the ‘Korea Forest Service Major Policies in 19’ in the press room of the Daejeon Government Complex on the 2024th. (Photo = Korea Forest Service)
◆ Digitalization of forest management and strengthening of cutting-edge research and development... Expanding international forestry cooperation
Korea Forest Service will lay the foundation for a digital forestry platform that supports smart decision-making based on digital and artificial intelligence by 2026.
To this end, resource data on forests across the country, such as forest, valley, water maps, and landscape maps, will be gradually expanded and management data on all forests scattered by owner will be integrated and managed through the forest management joint system.
In particular, this coming November, we will transition to a cutting-edge forest management and management paradigm using 3D virtual reality by demonstrating digital twin technology.
In addition, the National Forest Satellite Information Utilization Center will be established in July to secure spatial data on forests across the country every three days transmitted from an agricultural and forestry satellite scheduled to be launched in 7.
In addition, the Korea Forest Service plans to actively secure overseas carbon emissions rights by activating overseas forest investment and projects to prevent forest degradation and conversion in developing countries through the Overseas Forest Carbon Emissions Reduction Act and the establishment of the Overseas Forest Fund, which will be implemented this month.
Bilateral cooperation in the forestry field will increase from 39 countries, mainly in Asia, to 42 countries, including Pacific Island countries and Europe, and new ODA will be strengthened targeting 14 developing countries.
Nam Sung-hyeon, head of the Korea Forest Service, said, “We will quickly promote forestry policies so that the people, 220 million forest owners, and 21 foresters can enjoy various benefits from forests.”
Inquiry: Korea Forest Service Planning Coordinator Office Planning and Finance Officer Office (042-481-4051)