Management of forest genetic resource protection zones will be strengthened in South Korea.
The Korea Forest Service announced Thursday that it will pursue the expansion of designated "forest genetic resource protection zones" and enhance management practices to proactively respond to ecosystem crises caused by climate change and systematically conserve forest biodiversity.
The Forest Service will first expand the designation of forest genetic resource protection zones and strengthen the institutional framework. This year, a total of 5,000 hectares will be newly designated, including national forests and public and private forests, with future designation sites to be identified based on scientific criteria such as genetic diversity.
The agency will also implement institutional improvements, including the introduction of a "forest public value conservation payment system," to ease property rights restrictions on forest owners whose private forests are designated as protection zones.
Field-centered scientific management systems will also be strengthened. Monitoring will be expanded through nine forest ecology management centers nationwide, including Jeombongsan and Sogwang-ri, and a sustainable management system will be established through research on forest genetic resource protection zones and evaluation of management effectiveness. The agency plans to restore ecosystem health by continuing to implement habitat improvement projects such as the removal of invasive plant species.
Additionally, conservation policies based on public participation will be expanded. The Forest Service plans to strengthen participatory campaigns and operate limited visitation programs that consider ecological carrying capacity in major areas such as Gombae-ryeong in Jeombongsan, minimizing ecosystem damage while expanding opportunities for public experiences.
"Forest genetic resource protection zones are the last bastion and core foundation for protecting forest biodiversity in an era of climate crisis," said Park Young-hwan, Director of the Forest Environment Protection Division at the Korea Forest Service. "We will establish a sustainable management system that harmonizes conservation and utilization through the expansion of protection zones and advancement of management systems."
Forest genetic resource protection zones are legally protected areas designated under Article 7 of the Forest Protection Act for the conservation of plant genes, species, or forest ecosystems. As of the end of 2025, 473 sites covering approximately 180,000 hectares have been designated nationwide, including primeval forests and habitats of rare plants.
