KOFPI Ramps Up Disinfection Against Pine Wilt Disease

President Choi Moo-yeol of the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (KOFPI).

The Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (KOFPI) has discussed how to reduce damage caused by pine wilt disease and protect healthy forests.

KOFPI officials toured the Chuncheon area near the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, which was severely hit by the disease, examined the damage, caused by the disease, and discussed steps to address it.

Pine wilt disease was first reported in Chuncheon City in 2007, but the city was declared to be a clean zone later. The disease, which reoccurred in 2013, is now spreading with damage on the rise.

KOFPI made an on-the-spot inspection to survey the current status of the damage areas via drones, support the establishment of disinfection strategies corresponding to damage conditions and set up more effective response steps through cooperation among related organizations.

KOFPI inspected the area damaged by the disease near the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway along with local governments and Korea Forest Service officials via drones, and they discussed ways of preventing the spread of the disease.

President Choi Moo-yeol of the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (KOFPI) tours the Chuncheon area and discusses how to reduce damage caused by pine wilt disease on March 19.

From now on, KOFPI plans to make regular inspections of the spread of the disease through continuous monitoring and offer additional disinfection support where and when necessary.

President Choi Moo-yeol of KOFPI said, “We vow to lead efforts to protect forests, people’s precious assets, and offer full support so that scientific and systematic disinfection can be made in cooperation with KFS and local governments.”

KOFPI President Choi Moo-yeol poses with Minister Armands Krauze of Latrivia’s Ministry of Agriculture in a group photo session. The two discussed ways of promoting cooperation in the forestry sector between the two countries on March 18. (Photos: KOFPI)

KOFPI to Promote Cooperation in Forestry Sector with Latrivia Ministry of Agriculture

The Korea Forestry Promotion Institute has moved in full swing to promote cooperation in the forestry industry with Latrivia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

KOFPI invited a delegation from the Latrivia Ministry of Agriculture, headed by Minister Armands Krauze and discussed ways of promoting cooperation in the forestry sector between the two countries on March 18.

KOFPI introduced details, including the building of a forest digital platform system, forest owner system services, a plan to utilize forestry satellite technologies, policies of invigorating the timber industry and the current statues of timber imports from Latrivia.

The delegation expressed a deep interest to Korea’s forest informatization system and Korea’s timber imports from Latrivia.

The Latrivia Ministry of Agriculture explained its timber industry trends, sustainable forest management examples and ways of using sustainable timbers for carbon neutrality and expressed the hope both countries would proceed cooperation in the forestry sector in an effective fashion.

KOFPI President Choi Moo-yeol said, “This meeting is expected to serve as an opportunity to ramp up a foundation for cooperation in the forestry sector between the two countries and boost forestry digital and monitoring technology exchanges.”

KOFPI Holds Meeting with Wild-Simulated Ginseng Growers

The Korea Forestry Promotion Institute held a meeting with 40 wild-simulated ginseng growers from Bonghwa-gun and local governments at the Bonghwa-gun Forestry Cooperative on March 13.

The meeting was designed to look into major issues related to the production of wild-stimulated ginseng and distribution and ways of improving by reflecting growers’ views.

In particular, topics discussed included securing wild-stimulated ginseng seeds and marketing and promotion activities as well as quality grading.

KOFPI President Choi Moo-yeol said, “We will strive to promote the wild-stipulated ginseng industry by fully reflecting wild-stipulated ginseng growers’ voices through the meeting and conducting regular on-the-spot communication.”