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Expert Roundtable in Paju
Reviving Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation

On August 7, 2025, the National Institute of Forest Science and HSF Korea brought together experts in Paju to discuss the future of inter-Korean forest cooperation. Despite political challenges, participants reaffirmed that joint environmental efforts can foster dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Discussing the Resumption of Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation On August 7, 2025, the National Institute of Forest Science, in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea, convened an expert roundtable at the Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Centre in Paju. The experts discussed the future of inter-Korean forest cooperation under RO Korea’s new administration. Dr. Bernhard Seliger opened the roundtable with a candid reflection on the difficult political climate, while reaffirming the enduring value of cooperation: “This ‘yes’ must be qualified, but it is still a clear yes. History has shown us that even in times of ideological division, cooperation is not only possible but beneficial. The German experience in the 1970s proves that peaceful coexistence can lay the groundwork for eventual unification—even if political rhetoric suggests otherwise.” The roundtable marked a renewed commitment to using forest cooperation as a channel for dialogue and environmental peacebuilding on the Korean Peninsula.