KFS Participates in Training Forest Fire Experts for Climate Disaster Response in Five Asian Countries

Joint Korea France Cooperation to Train Forest Fire Instructors

Korea Forest Service, led by Minister KIM In-ho, announced on February 2 that it implemented a forest fire suppression expert training program in Thailand from January 19 to 30, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea, France, and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), to strengthen forest fire response capacity in Asia.

The program targeted 23 forestry officials from five tropical forest countries?Thailand, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Bhutan?and was designed to train them as forest fire suppression trainers. A total of seven instructors, including four from Korea and three from France, delivered comprehensive forest fire suppression training with hands-on field exercises covering forest fire prevention, response, and suppression.

Through this training, forestry officials from participating countries enhanced their capacity to systematically train forest fire management personnel in their respective countries, contributing to a step forward in strengthening forest disaster response capacity across the Asian region.

In particular, the closing ceremony, held at the Royal Forest Department in Bangkok, was attended by H.E. Park Yong Min, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Thailand; Ms. Mathilde Teruya, Senior Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Thailand; and Mr. Supot Pooratanaopa, Deputy Director-General of the Royal Forest Department of Thailand. The distinguished guests encouraged the AFoCO member country trainees as well as the Korean and French instructor teams.

H.E. Ambassador Park Yong Min said that “Today, we are witnessing the tangible fruits of this Korea?France?AFoCO partnership,” adding that the program “will serve as an important foundation for further strengthening forest fire response systems across Asia.” He further stated that “the Republic of Korea will continue to work closely with France, AFoCO, and countries across Asia to advance meaningful and sustainable partnerships in addressing climate change, protecting forests, and strengthening forest fire management capacities.”

NAM Song Hee, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the Korea Forest Service, stated that, marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Korea and France look forward to further consolidating friendship and strengthening strategic cooperation in the forestry and climate sectors, building on cooperation in forest fire management across Asia.

Furthermore, the Korea Forest Service and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs plan to jointly implement this program in countries with similar forest and climate conditions, including Indonesia in April and Kazakhstan in August. The program is scheduled to be conducted three times a year through 2030.