Anniversary
50 years of Forest Cooperation between Germany and Korea
The 21st of March marked the international Day of the Forest which highlights the importance of trees for climate protection and biodiversity. For South Korea and Germany, they are the most important factor to a fruitful partnership in forest cooperation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The Hanns Seidel Foundation has been conducting matching projects in the field of forestry since 2009, with the focus on supporting a Korean reconciliation process on the Korean peninsula.
The representatives of the Hanns Seidel Foundation are present at various events, such as the 15th World Forestry Congress with presentations from our representatives or the Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Symposium in June 2022 in Seoul. The events pose a valuable opportunity to engage in environmental cooperation and diplomacy which can contribute to an eco-friendly reunification of both Koreas. Last year, the Gangwon Forestry Exhibition 2023, the first forest-themed expo in the world, took place in Goseong-Gun, Gangwon-do. We were very pleased to support our partners in Goseong during the opening ceremony and learn from their activities and speeches.
Trees are very important In South Korea and the country has a day dedicated to trees. April 5th marks Sikmogil – “tree planting day”. On this day, people in South Korea engage in tree planting activities, with support from the Korean government.
The exchange in forest cooperation is a significant way to engage in fruitful dialogues with the aim of building trust and connections on the Korean Peninsula. HSF Korea will continuously cooperate with our partners in the forestry field.