Forest Transition in Korea: Trends, Characteristics and Implications

摘要

Time series data on forest resources and population over the period from 1927 to 2007 were constmcted and analyzed in order to identify trends and characteristics of forest transition in Korea. Korean forest transition could be classified into three phases in terms of the average annual growing stock of forest; forest degradation period (1927-1952), forest stagnation period (1953-1972) and forest growth period (1973-2007). Over the past 80 years forest area decreased 0.05% each year. The decreasing rate was very low, especially considering rapid economic growth and increased population of Korea with over 60% of forest cover. Growing stock per hectare significantly increased from 5.6 m~3 in 1952 to 97.8 m~3 in 2007, or 17.5 times during 1952 to 2007.Despise of increasing population and rapid economic growth, in particular, growing stock per capita has increased from 1.7 m~3 in 1952 to 12.9 m~3 in 2005 and un-stocked forest area decreased from 3,315 thousand ha to 165 thousand ha during the same period. In this regard, Korea represents a case of modem forest growth. Among 56 countries with more than 10 million of population and 10% or more of forest cover over the period 1990 to 2005, Korea is classified as a country which has high forest cover butlow deforestation rate. Also, Korea is the only developing country which has 50% or more of forest cover and shows a below average deforestation rate.