Forestry Administration and Forestry Research in Korea

Korea is a small country with extremely high population density. Industrialization of the nation resulted GNP per capita of over 2,000$ in 1986 with an inevitable by-product, high level of pollution in many areas. Forest land is now acknowledged as not only a wood production site but also an origin of much more important intangible values, water and clean air, soil conservation, and recreational and scenic values. Mostly devastated forest land from Korean War has been recovered under the strong afforestation drive from the government. The first Forest Development Plan was mostly reforestation phase and the second Forest Development Plan is foundation establishment phase. The third and later Plans are to enlarge economical forest and to maintain sustatined yield phase. Forestry administration as well as forest research certainly played a great role in successful accomplishment of two Forest Development Plans. For effective planning and accomplishment of the third Forest Development Plan close cooperation among policy makers, forest managers and research workers are mostly required.