Korea Forest Service and UNCCD Hold Panel Discussion on “Success Stories of the Changwon Initiative”
- UNCCD publishes the Compendium of Success Stories of the Changwon Initiative -

The Korea Forest Service, led by Minister KIM In-ho, participated in the 23rd Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC23)* of the UNCCD, held in Panama City, Panama, from December 1 to 5. During the CRIC23, the KFS shared Korea’s international cooperation efforts to prevent sand and dust storms and combat land degradation.
* The Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention reviews progress in implementing the UNCCD and discusses ways to enhance it.

On December 2, the KFS and the UNCCD jointly organized a panel discussion on the theme “Success Stories of the Changwon Initiative.” In his video address, Deputy Minister PARK Eunsik highlighted that the Changwon Initiative, which has been carried out by Korea in partnership with the international community has become a leading model for land restoration and a major driving force to support countries in achieving their Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)** targets. He also reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to closer cooperation with the UNCCD in building a more sustainable future.
** LDN refers to the goal of restoring degraded forests and land and preventing further degradation so that overall net land degradation becomes zero (SDG 15.3).

Launched by Korea during the UNCCD COP10 in Changwon in 2011, the Changwon Initiative has supported more than 130 countries in setting their voluntary LDN targets and contributed to dryland restoration efforts in 18 countries, establishing its role as one of UNCCD’s flagship initiatives. This October, the UNCCD compiled 14 years of achievements into the newly published “Success Stories of the Changwon Initiative.” The panel discussion was convened to mark its publication.

The discussion brought together stakeholders from project-implementing countries, international organizations, and civil society to share experiences and policy directions on linking science and policies for LDN, enhancing resilience to sand and dust storms, and improving local livelihoods through agroforestry-based initiatives.

As 2026 will mark the 15th anniversary of the Changwon Initiative and the 20th anniversary of the Korea?Mongolia Greenbelt Project, the KFS will use UNCCD COP 17, to be held in Mongolia in August 2026, as a platform to showcase Korea’s achievements in land restoration and desertification control to representatives from 190 countries.

PARK Eunsik, Deputy Minister of Korea Forest Service, stated that while the Changwon Initiative began as a Korean-led effort, it has now evolved into a shared achievement of the international community. She added that Korea will strengthen global cooperation in the forest and land sectors and continue to enhance the country’s global standing in the environmental field.

You may refer to the link below for the Success Stories of Changwon Initiative.

https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/changwon-initiative-success-stories