On October 30, 2024, the Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Center in Paju, South Korea, welcomed distinguished guests for a courtesy visit. The attendees included Mr. Kerimaliev Zhanybek, Vice Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; Mr. Zhumaev Nurlan, Director General, Department of Implementation of Ministry Decisions, Kyrgyz Republic; Dr. Juliette Biao, Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) Secretariat; and Dr. Shyam Paudel, Inter-regional Adviser on Ecosystem Restoration of the UNFF Secretariat.
The event began with an introductory presentation by Mr. Minsoo Lee, who provided an overview of the center’s mission, objectives, and recent initiatives. Mr. Lee highlighted the center’s strategic role in fostering ecological cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, as well as its contributions to forest restoration and sustainable management.
A Vision for Peace and Forest Restoration
Located in Paju, a city recognized as the “Peace Capital of the Korean Peninsula,” the Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Center was established to support the restoration of the Korean Peninsula’s forest ecosystem. Its location is strategically close to Kaesong and Pyongyang in North Korea, benefiting from similar climate conditions and accessibility. Officially completed in June 2020, the center operates under the slogan “Connecting the Korean Peninsula Through Forests,” embodying its mission to facilitate cross-border ecological cooperation.
The center plays a pivotal role as a secure hub for producing and storing seedlings essential for ecosystem restoration across the peninsula. It ensures the safe pre-purchase and storage of materials required for forest restoration, serving as a bridge for knowledge and resource exchange between North and South Korea. The facility has been designed to promote collaboration, with secure zones for storing materials, seedling production capabilities, and provisions for knowledge-sharing initiatives
Interactive Tour and Exhibitions
Following the presentation, Mr. Lee led the delegation on a tour of the center. The guests explored various sections, including an exhibition area featuring the “Tree of Hope,” a wall adorned with messages of unity and peace for the Korean Peninsula’s forest ecosystem. Dr. Juliette Biao and Mr. Kerimaliev Zhanybek gave congratulatory messages on the wall, underscoring their commitment to regional ecological collaboration and peace-building.
The tour continued to the high-tech tree nursery, where the center cultivates seedlings essential for reforestation efforts. The nursery is equipped with advanced climate control and monitoring systems, ensuring optimal growing conditions for young trees. This state-of-the-art technology enables the center to produce resilient seedlings adapted to the climate of the Korean Peninsula, which are crucial for forest restoration projects.
A Step Toward Lasting Peace and Sustainability
The Inter-Korean Forest Cooperation Center stands as a testament to the potential for peace-building through shared environmental objectives. By connecting resources, expertise, and aspirations, the center aims to restore the forests of the Korean Peninsula, providing a foundation for ecological resilience and sustainable peace.
The courtesy visit by high-level representatives from the Kyrgyz Republic and UNFF Secretariat underscored the center’s international significance and the value of cross-border collaboration in addressing global environmental challenges.
