• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.381-395
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• 1996

This study examines the nature of policies of the national forest in the colonial Korea during the period 1926-36. The contents of Choson Forestry Policy Plan announced in 1926 by the colonial government were compared with the actual accomplishments appearing in the historical records. The Plan is believed to have two-fold objectives : that is, the attainment of sustainable profits from the management of national forests and the restructuring of the national forest management organizations for the minimization of administration costs of the colonial government. The objectives of the Plan was framed by the influence of the Imperial Japanese Government. The analysis reveals that the timber supply from national forests was increased by two folds during the period of 10 years resulting an enormous decrease in the growing stock of national forests. The number of national forest management stations was decreased steadily while the regeneration of forest logged relied mainly on the natural regeneration, with artificial regeneration ratio of 13% by acreage. Based on the result of analysis, it is concluded that the national forest policy during the period 1926-36 is a resource exploiting policy for the benefit of the Imperial Japan.