Continuing the Legacy of Reforestation, One Tree at a Time

Commemorative Events to Celebrate the Inscription of the Korea Reforestation Archives on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register

On Thursday, April 17, the Korea Forest Service (KFS), under the leadership of Minister LIM Sang-seop, will host a series of commemorative events at the Korea Press Center in Seoul to celebrate the inscription of the Korea Reforestation Archives on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and to raise public awareness of the multifaceted value of forests.

* Korea Reforestation Archives: A reforestation model achieved through public-private governanceA comprehensive collection of 9,619 items including legislation, official documents, photographs, films, and postage stamps documenting Korea’s national forest plans which restored land devastated by the Korean War through the joint efforts of the government and its people.

Beginning at 2:00 p.m., a tree giveaway event will take place in front of the Korea Press Center. Approximately 1,200 seedlings of popular indoor-friendly species?such as camellia, rowan, and Korean dendropanax?will be distributed free of charge to the public. A forest fire prevention campaign will run alongside the giveaway to emphasize the importance of collective vigilance in protecting forests that have taken decades to grow.

At 2:30 p.m., the International Symposium Celebrating the Inscription of the Korea Reforestation Archives on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register will be held in the International Conference Hall of the Korea Press Center. The symposium will explore the significance of the Archives and promote their global value and potential applications. Over 100 domestic and international experts are expected to attend, including representatives from Gangwon Province and North Gyeongsang Province, which are home to many related heritage sites.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Kim Joon-Kyung, Dean of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, under the theme Green Miracle: Globalizing Korea’s Reforestation Model. A panel discussion will follow, featuring:

Dr. Cho Yoonmyoung, Secretary-General of the UNESCO International Centre for Documentary Heritage (ICDH)
Dr. Park Chongho, Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO)
H.E. Georg Schmidt, Ambassador of Germany to Korea
Prof. Kang Kyu-seok, Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University

The event will be held as a carbon-neutral gathering by offsetting its carbon footprint through forest-based carbon absorption credits?emphasizing the role of healthy forests as a nature-based solution to the climate crisis.

* Carbon-Neutral Event GuideForest carbon absorption credits can be purchased to offset carbon emissions from forums, seminars, and conferences. For inquiries, please contact the Global Forest Carbon Center, Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (Kofpi).

Minister LIM Sang-seop stated, “Planting, nurturing, and utilizing trees is a path toward a sustainable future. While the reforestation efforts of half a century ago brought back our green forests, now is the time to build a virtuous cycle of forest use that creates Valuable and Healthy Forests for All.”