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Forest Transition in Korea:Trends, Characteristics and Implications  

Bae, Jae Soo (Division of Forest Economics, Korea Forest Research Institute)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science / v.98, no.6, 2009 , pp. 659-668 More about this Journal
Abstract
Time series data on forest resources and population over the period from 1927 to 2007 were constructed 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 $5.6m^3$ in 1952 to $97.8m^3$ 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 $1.7m^3$ in 1952 to $12.9m^3$ 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 modern 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 but low deforestation rate. Also, Korea is the only developing country which has 50% or more of forest cover and shows a below average deforestation rate.
Keywords
forest transition; environmental kuznets curve; modern forest growth;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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