Development of Korea type forest resources policy and the role of government

The objective of this study is to investigate the role of government in accomplishing of the reforestation of denuded forest land through the Korea type forest resources policy that has systematically implemented to achieve the reforestation of all forest lands with abundant labor forces at low cost as well as economic growth since early 1970's in Korea. The examination of the Korea type forest resources policy was done by analyzing the factors affected the deforestation of Korea forest resources, by classifying the process of reforestation into six periods, and by characterizing these six periods of the reforestation. The classification of the six periods was based on political and economical turning points that were closely related to the forest policy. As a result, the main factors affected the deforestation of Korea forest resources were identified as the exploitations of the forest resources during the Japanese occupation, the Korean War, and over-cutting due to the traditional Korean under-floor heating system called On-dol. The six periods of the Korea forest resources policy were 1) The period of turmoil (1945-1960), 2) The period of establishing basic conditions of reforestation (1961-1972), 3) The period of the First 10-year Forest Development Plan (1973-1978), 4) The period of the Second 10-year Forest Development Plan (1979-1987), 5) The period of Forest Resources Enhancement Plan (1988-1997) and 6) Period of the Fourth National Forest Plan (1998-2007).