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The Fourth National Forest Plan (1998-2007)
: The
fourth plan represented a transitional phase of forest
policies from mainly focusing on economic functions
to enhancing overall forest benefits, including public
benefits, recreational and ecological values and urban
forests. Therefore, the concept of sustainable forest
management was reflected in forest policies and activi-
ties. The KFS put special emphasis on developing
valuable forest resources and fostering a competitive
forestry industry, thereby improving public benefits.
The Government-led forest management policies
turned into autonomic forest management in the private
forest sector, based on the capability and capacity of
forest owners. With the view of realizing objectives
for sustainable forest management, the KFS consoli-
dated legal and institutional systems by newly enacting
the Framework Act on Forest, the Act on Promotion
and Management of Forest Resources, the Act on the
National Forest Management, the Act on Forest Culture
and Recreation and the Act on Promotion of Forestry
and Mountain Villages.
The Fifth National Forest Plan (2008-2017)
: The
current plan builds on foundations and framework
established under the fourth plan and has been
designed to further expand the implementation of
sustainable timber resources for domestic demands on timber prod-
ucts. Various forest policies were forged and implemented in pursuit
of objectives like forest rehabilitation, forest protection and founda-
tion of forest development funds to support private forests. Along
with reforestation projects, erosion control was also actively under-
taken to prevent natural disasters, and advanced biotechnology was
adopted to control forest diseases and pests as well. Under the Second
National Forest Plan, 80 commercial forests were established, and
325,000 hectares were successfully reforested, with plantation of a
total of 1.06 million hectares successfully completed.
The Third National Forest Plan (1988-1997)
: The third plan
aimed at harmonizing economic functions and public benefits of
the forests. The plan focused on establishing the foundation of a
forest management infrastructure, including forest road construc-
tion, forest mechanization, and education for foresters and forestry
workers. The Korea Forest Service (KFS) carried out forestry income
enhancement projects and forest awareness-raising programmes,
and supported overseas plantation projects with the aim of secur-
ing stable and long-term timber supplies. It also developed and
implemented policies for improving public benefits of the forests,
including the creation of recreation forests, water resources conser-
vation and wildlife protection. To promote more effective forest
management practices, the Forest Law was amended and enforced,
and the Act on Promotion of Forestry and Mountain Villages was
enacted in 1997.
These pictures, of the same area, show the transition from a denuded forest to a recovered forest as a result of erosion control works and plantation
Image: Korea Forest Service