Voluntarily Designating Private Forest as Protected Area: Why?

[Anchor]

Forest genetic resource protection areas are strictly managed zones designated by the government to preserve forest ecosystems. Because development is restricted, exercising property rights can be difficult. However, one forest owner has stepped forward to voluntarily have their private forest designated as a protected area.

Reporter Jo Jaegeun has the story.

[Reporter]

A marten, a Category II endangered wild animal, marks its territory on a rock and disappears.

As evening falls, another endangered animal, the leopard cat, begins its activity.

After the marten finishes playing and night falls, the natural monument flying squirrel appears.

This is near Unduryeong in Pyeongchang, where 198 hectares of this area have been designated as a forest genetic resource protection area in three phases starting last December.

There are over 300 species of native plants.

Among them, 51.5 hectares are private forests, marking the first time a private forest owned by an individual has been designated as a forest genetic resource protection area, excluding religious corporations.

Although exercising property rights has become practically difficult due to restrictions on development and the gathering of forest products, the forest owner voluntarily requested the designation.

[Shim Jung-jin / Representative, Chorokwon Agricultural Corporation: We intended to work for ecological preservation and such, and since that stance remains unchanged, having it designated like this (as a protected area) will allow us to do our work a bit more systematically and effectively if managed well.]

In particular, by connecting with nearby protected areas, a large ecological axis has been completed.

[Jung Sooyoung / Researcher, Korea National Arboretum, Korea Forest Service: It holds great significance in that it connected protected areas that previously existed in dot-like forms into a single protected area, and we have provided a space where plants and animals can interact and communicate with each other with connectivity.]

[Dasom / Natural Ecosystem Team Member, Green Korea United: South Korea's national forest area is around 26%. In a situation where national forests are scarce and private forests are abundant, this designation can serve as a positive starting point.]

In an era of climate change and biodiversity crises, an ordinary individual's practical choice is creating a meaningful precedent for the future.

(Video by: Kim Dae-cheol)

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