The Korea Forest Service noted that the 'Korean Republic forest restoration records' were registered as a UNESCO Memory of the World during the 221st UNESCO Executive Board meeting held in Paris, France, at 11 p.m. on Oct. 10 (local time).
The Korean Republic forest restoration records are materials that document the entire process of the forest restoration project successfully reconstructed by the government and the citizens to restore the devastated land due to the Korean War and other factors.
At that time, various official documents, work logs, photos, films, videos, posters, stamps, and a total of 9,619 items were produced with the determination to beautify the barren mountains and fields by planting trees and flowers.
The forest restoration project was actively promoted starting in 1973 when the Korea Forest Service established the first 10-year forest restoration plan (1973-1978). Various projects, including reforestation, harvesting of slash-and-burn fields, and afforestation, were implemented to prevent disasters such as landslides and droughts, restoring the devastated land and laying the foundation for the economic development of South Korea.
Rehabilitation projects involve installing artificial structures or planting vegetation to restore wastelands or to prevent the collapse of mountainous regions and the runoff of soil and timber.
During the promotion process, the government provided various incentives to local communities, encouraging citizens' voluntary participation. As a result, the rural environment improved, and local communities developed, leading to the success of the forest restoration project. Consequently, in half a century, the amount of timber, which was only 5.6㎥/ha in the 1960s, increased to 165㎥/ha by 2020, creating the current lush forests.
This success story is gaining attention as a 'Korean model' that can be applied to developing countries facing issues of land degradation. The governance model, which involves both government and private sectors, is evaluated as being applicable to various official development assistance (ODA) projects, international education and training programs, as well as responding to climate change, preventing desertification, and restoring forest ecosystems.
Korea Forest Service Chief Lim Sang-seob said, 'With the registration of the Korean Republic forest restoration records as UNESCO Memory of the World, we can widely promote the value and excellence of our forest restoration efforts around the world.' He added, 'As demonstrated in the forest restoration records, we will preserve our forests in a greener, more beautiful, and more systematic manner.'