During the colonial period in the early 20th Century, around three years of the Korean War that broke out in 1950 after the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948 and the postwar period of political and social turmoil, the forests on the Korean Peninsula faced severe devastation. As a result, the forest devastation rate exceeded 80 percent, and the growing stock was less than 10m³/ha in the early 1960s. Even when forest rehabilitation began in 1978, growing stock reached only 17m³/ha (in 2010, 125.6m³/ha). The soil productivity of forests that occupied 65% of the country remained extremely low, and forest resource development and the production base had been almost destroyed.

Therefore, forest resources were limited to collectable forest products such as fuel-wood, and the economic benefits to residents in rural and mountain villages were quite insignificant. At that time, it was urgent to restore forests to prevent forest disasters. Otherwise, forest deterioration would result in more harm than the good generated by the economic benefits to forest owners and residents in mountain villages. The government promoted both forest rehabilitation and income-boosting projects to reduce poverty in rural and mountain villages through forest resource development.

Summary


Chapter 1

Introduction

1. Background

2. Purpose

3. Methods


Chapter 2

Main Policies for Forest Resource Development

1. Before the First National Forest 10-Year Plan (~1972)

　1.1. Before the Establishment of the Korea Forest Service

　1.2. After the Establishment of the Korea Forest Service

　1.3. Characteristics of Forest Resource Development

2. The First National Forest 10-Year Plan (1973~1978)

　2.1. Forest Resource Development

　2.2. Efficient Use of Forest Resources

　2.3. Production, Marketing and Exports of Forest Resources

　2.4. Characteristics of Forest Resource Development

3. The Second National Forest 10-Year Plan (1979~1987)

　3.1. Establishment of Forest Resources

　3.2. Production, Marketing and Export of Forest Resources

　3.3. Characteristics of Forest Resource Development

4. The Third National Forest 10-Year Plan (1988~1997)

　4.1. Establishment of Forest Resources

　4.2. Use of Recreational Sources of Forest

　4.3. Production and Marketing of Forest Products

　4.4. Characteristics of Forest Resource Development

5. The Fourth National Forest 10-Year Plan (1998~2007)

　5.1. Establishment of Forest Resources

　5.2. Legalization of Forest Resources as Recreational Resources

　5.3. Marketing and Processing of Forest Resources

　5.4. Characteristics of Forest Resource Development

6. The Fifth National Forest 10-Year Plan (2008~2017)

　6.1. Utilization of Forest Resources

　6.2. New Concept in Forest Resource Development

　6.3. Characteristics of Forest Resource Development


Chapter 3

Major Forest Resource Development Systems by Product Item

1. Timber Resources

　1.1. Forest Resources

　1.2. Timber Resource Promotion Projects

2. Forest Mushroom Resources

　2.1. Background and Need for the Oak Mushroom Income-generating Projects

　2.2. Strategy and System for the Project

　2.3. Details and Implementation Progress of the Project

　2.4. Success and Limiting Factors

　2.5. Implications for Developing Countries

3. Collectable Forest Resources

　3.1. Background and Need for the Project

　3.2. Strategy and System for the Project

　3.3. Details and Implementation Progress of the Project

　3.4. Case Study of Best Practices

　3.5. Implications for Developing Countries

4. Forest Nuts & Fruit Resources

　4.1. Objectives and Achievements of the Chestnut Income-generating Projects

　4.2. Background and Need for the Project

　4.3. Strategy and System for the Project

　4.4. Details and Implementation Progress of the Project

　4.5. Success and Limiting Factors

　4.6. Implications for Developing Countries


Chapter 4

Conclusion

References

Appendiax