Ulsan Completes Urban Forest Project in New General Industrial Complex

The Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday that it has completed the "2025 Climate Response Urban Forest Development Project" aimed at improving working conditions for companies in the New General Industrial Complex and providing a pleasant living environment for citizens.

A total of 1 billion won was invested in the project. The city planted 16,487 trees of species recommended by the Korea Forest Service for their excellent fine dust reduction effects, including fringe trees, across 13,000 square meters within the New General Industrial Complex to create green spaces. Around factories in the industrial complex, large trees such as fringe trees, zelkova trees, and crape myrtles, along with spirea and abelia shrubs, were planted in multi-row, multi-layer structures to enhance fine dust blocking and green landscape effects.

Previously, in 2022, Ulsan invested 1 billion won to plant 18,244 trees including zelkova trees across 11,000 square meters in the Jungsan 1st and 2nd General Industrial Complex area in Jungsan-dong, Buk-gu. In 2023, the city invested 500 million won to plant 17,339 trees including hinoki cypress across 5,000 square meters in the Maegok 2nd and 3rd Industrial Complex area in Maegok-dong, Buk-gu. Last year, 1 billion won was invested to plant 10,384 trees including fringe trees across 11,000 square meters in the Modular General Industrial Complex area in Hyomun-dong, Buk-gu.

This year, the planting area expanded by 2,000 square meters (approximately 18%) compared to the previous year, and the number of trees planted increased by 6,103 trees (approximately 59%), achieving enhanced green space development results.

The project is being implemented over five years from 2022 to 2026. Next year, 700 million won will be invested to develop 7,000 square meters of urban forest in the Gilcheon General Industrial Complex in Yangdeung-ri, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun.

According to research by the National Institute of Forest Science, urban forests reduce fine dust (PM10) concentrations by an average of 25.6% and ultrafine dust (PM2.5) by 40.9% compared to general urban areas. A forest of 10,000 square meters can reduce airborne pollutants including fine dust by 168 kilograms annually. In areas with urban forests, average summer temperatures drop by 3 to 7 degrees Celsius and humidity increases by 9 to 23%, mitigating urban heat island effects.