Minister Kim Jae-hyun of Korea Forest Service.

Minister Kim Jae-hyun of Korea Forest Service (KFS) mentioned immediate inter-Korean cooperation tasks such as joint pest control, modernization of tree nurseries and forest science & technology exchanges. Kim made the remarks at a breakfast meeting inviting the KFS minister, sponsored by Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Corp. at Seoul National University on Oct. 5.

Minister Kim spoke about his feelings and thoughts as a member of the delegation, who accompanied President Moon Jae-in on a visit to North Korea on summit talks last September.

Approximately 100 people from organizations related to agro-fisheries and food circles participated in the event, emceed by President Kim Won-il of Slow Food Cultural Center.

Rep. Kim Hyun-gwon and Choi Jae-gwan, presidential secretary for agriculture were also present.

Here are excerpts of the remarks Minister Kim delivered at the gathering. North Korea had 2.84 million hectares devastated, accounting for 32 percent of its land, equivalent to one-fifth of South Korea’s territory.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made efforts to restore damaged forests since his seizing power, but they apparently made no progress.

According to North Korean leader Kim’s special request for supporting NK’s forest restoration during April 27 inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom, the issue was one of the major agenda items of the inter-Korean talks.

A team in charge of inter-Korean forestry cooperation was inaugurated, and a representatives’ meeting took place on July 4. An urgent pest control task is about the serious situation of the impact on pine trees.

In an early stage, the South Korean government needs to play as a platform, with the private sector playing leading roles later. In an initial phase, South Korea needs to provide support to North Korea, but it is desirable for the North to solve problems on its own. Support for installing basic facilities such as tree nurseries is necessary. Even though the direction of unification is uncertain, it is expected to take at least 20 years to restore the field.

It has to be thought as a long-term race in which it starts with the drawing of a blueprint for combining thing such as time and space. In consideration of its characteristics, the forest section will have to be dealt with along with cooperation in the agriculture sector.

A focus on transplanting trees has to be done together with grain and energy. Forest projects are to be initially implemented, with a shift into support in the agricultural sector later. Looking at immediate tasks, they can be summed up as joint pest control, modernization of tree nurseries, and forest science and technology exchanges.

Among the long-term tasks are NK’s joining the Asian Forest Cooperation and expanding its activities.

In particular, youth’s participating is necessary. North Korea pays less attention to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The two Koreas need to implement joint projects to preserve the Baekdudaeggan Mountain Range and the Demilitarized Zone.

Looking into North Korea from above, places such as Samjiyeon appears to remain intact with less human touch, and mutual cooperation is possible since the plot is owned by NK authorities.

There is a sharp contrast between the devastated parts near housing concentration areas and preserved districts. SK is ready to make preparations for the restoration of the ecosystem of the DMZ in cooperation with the Defense Ministry with the South and the North differing in levels of interest.

Areas such as Pyongyang have been afforested much with much of the trees, including yellow trees and metawequoias, but landscape management is sloppy.

Inter-Korean forest cooperation is relatively almost free from the international community’s sanctions against NK. I hope forest restoration projects will make a stepping stone in unifying the South and the North Korea.

An artist concept on a projected botanic garden on the Demilitarized Zone. (Photos: KFS)