The Korea Forest Service (KFS) had held a forest research competition for the first time in association with the Korea Green Promotion Agency, aiming to select best research reports for entering the 11th International Junior Forest Contest, and awarded the grand prize to Gyeongnam Science High School on August 28.

The best research reports at the competition were selected through the submission of research reports and the presentation of their research activities in English.

The grand prize went to the research by Gyeongnam Science High School on pathogenicity of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus to save pine forest resources, and Sejong Science High School received the excellence prize for its analysis of distribution and resettlement of Lichens in ancient palaces of Seoul.

KIM Myeonghwan from the grand prize-awarded team, said in their acceptance speech that his team conceived the ideas for their research subject when they witnessed pine wilt affected trees withering away near the School and started observing and researching them. He also added he was very glad their research yielded fruit by receiving the grand prize.
In fact, the pine wilt-infected trees in Gyeongnam province take up 36% of the total infection so this research conducted by local students holds a significant meaning.

Among the awarded students, KIM Myeonghwan from Geyongnam Science High School and HONG Chaeyoung from Sejong Science High School will take part in the 11th International Junior Forest Contest with the support of the KFS and present their researches as Korean representatives.

Since 2007, the Korea Forest Service has been supporting the participation of Korean students in the International Junior Forest Contest which has been an international venue for students to contest every year with foreign students from different countries.

At the awarding ceremony on August 28, Dr. LEE Chang-jae, Director General of International Affairs Bureau highlighted that the forest research competition was publicly held to raise the awareness of forest values among the youth and the KFS will continue to hold this competition every year and contribute to fostering global human resources of the next generation.