- High Interest and Support for KFS FFMA Initiative

The Korea Forest Service (KFS) under the leadership of Minister LIM Sang-seop announced that it participated in the 12th Session of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), held from May 13 to 14 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. During the session, the KFS introduced the Forest Fire Management in Asia (FFMA) Initiative, jointly implemented with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, which garnered high interest and strong support from Member Countries.
* Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO): An intergovernmental organization established under the leadership of the Korean government in 2018 to address transboundary forest issues in Asia such as climate change and desertification. The organization typically convenes a special session in the first half of the year and a regular session in the second half.

The session brought together approximately 50 participants, including delegates from 15 Member Countries and officials from the AFoCO Secretariat.

During the session on May 13, the KFS shared the achievements of the pilot training program on forest fire management, which has been implemented since 2023 in collaboration with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It also presented the full-scale program set to begin in 2026 and encouraged participation from member countries.

In response, Member Countries acknowledged the increasing frequency and severity of forest fires around the world and emphasized the need to strengthen technical capacity in forest fire response. They requested the KFS to offer structured education and training programs.

On the second day, May 14, Member Countries showed great interest in the recent inscription of Korea’s reforestation archives on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The KFS expressed its commitment to further strengthening cooperation for sustainable forest conservation and management in Asia by sharing Korea’s experience and forest science and technology.

In addition, the session included a visit to the Korea-Mongolia Green Belt project site, where Member Country delegates took part in a commemorative tree-planting event. The KFS and Member Countries agreed to enhance cooperation in response to climate change.

Hyunju Lee, Director of International Cooperation at the KFS, stated, “We expect this 12th AFoCO Session will serve as a turning point in strengthening disaster cooperation with developing countries in Asia,” and added, “The KFS will continue its efforts to play a pivotal role in enhancing forest fire response cooperation across the region.”