Over 200 Trees Planted to Celebrate Korea’s 80th Arbor Day and Promote Tree-Planting Culture

The Korea Forest Service (KFS), led by Minister LIM Sang-seop, held a “Tree Planting Day” event in Dushanbe, the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan, on April 5 (local time) to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Arbor Day. The event aimed to support forest restoration efforts in Tajikistan and promote the future establishment of an official Arbor Day in the country.

Around 100 people participated in the event, including Yusufzoda Abdujabbor, Director of the Forestry Agency of the Republic of Tajikistan; Jeon Sung Sik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Tajikistan; representatives from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) regional office; the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ); students from the Tajik Agricultural University; and local residents. Participants planted over 200 pine, Oriental arborvitae, and walnut trees at an agroforestry unit established as part of a Korea?Tajikistan forest cooperation project.

From 2019 to 2023, the KFS successfully carried out a pilot afforestation project in Tajikistan as part of an ODA initiative to combat desertification. Since 2024, the second phase of the project has begun, which includes large-scale planting of saxaul trees and the expansion of agroforestry incorporating pistachio cultivation.

Saxaul trees are particularly effective in combating desertification, as they grow well in arid desert regions, help stabilize land, and prevent soil erosion. Pistachios, as high-value crops, significantly contribute to increasing local incomes and improving livelihoods.

NAM Song Hee, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the Korea Forest Service, stated, “This tree-planting event is a meaningful occasion that highlights the importance of responding to climate change and promoting sustainable forest management in desertified regions,” and added, “We hope this event helps establish a tree-planting culture in Tajikistan and, in the long term, leads to the designation of an official Arbor Day and positive changes in forest policy.”