Reforestation of South Korea: The history and analysis of a unique case in forest tree improvement and forestry

Forests of South Korea were severely depleted during the wars and because of poor management in the intervening periods. By 1953, at the end of the Korean war, a significant portion of the forests was completely destroyed. Exposed land was denuded and urgent action was needed to re-establish tree cover in order to reduce erosion.This paper describes the special situation and task faced by the Korean Forest Service in reforestation of the country and securing of planting stock, to a large degree by introducing exotic species and hybrid varieties through the efforts of the Institute of Forest Genetics of Korea. Tree improvement strategies used, results, and environmental consequences of this unique effort as seen thirty years later also are discussed. Key words: South Korea, reforestation, monocultures, tree-breeding, Populus, Pinus rigida, Pinus rigida × P. taeda, P. densiflora, exotics, environmental consequences