Background of Research
Recently, the public's interest and needs for forest are rapidly increasing in diverse aspects due to various reasons. Externally, the importance of forest has been growing in the face of energy crisis and global environmental problems such as climate change, desertification and loss of biodiversity, while, internally, the practice of working five days a week has taken root alongside the increase in urbanization rate and interest in health. Although the public value of domestic forest is on the rise due to increasing interest and needs for forest at home and abroad, forestry production is still inadequate and forest income is low due to the effects of expanding market liberalization and aging of mountainous population. As a result, the economic situation of domestic forestry and mountainous regions is not improving. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce a new forest policy that can satisfy the increasing needs for forest and revitalize forestry and mountainous villages through partnerships among diverse interested parties.

Method of Research
This study was conducted to present a mid- and long-term direction for forest policy in view of recent changes in internal and external conditions and diverse needs surrounding the forest industry. In order to achieve the purpose, this study was carried out as a two-year project. In the first year, the direction for mid- and long-term forest policy was suggested and policy goals were assigned by analyzing the changes in internal and external conditions of forest and by conducting a public opinion survey of the general public and forest farmers concerning forestry and forest. Also, key policy tasks are derived from on-site investigations, meetings and expert seminars. In 2013, which is the second year of this study, the policy goals suggested in the first year were finalized through expert consultations and questionnaires, and priorities were evaluated. A detailed implementation plan for each of the policy goals was set up by making the policy goals concrete through an examination of forest policies in advanced countries, previous studies and expert meetings.

Research Results and Implications
First, in order to compensate for the multifunctionality of forest, it is necessary to carry out environmental forest services and promote forest carbon trading. The environmental benefits of private forest should be compensated through a forest protection trust and direct payments for environmental forest services. Also, a forest carbon offset scheme should be implemented to stimulate forest carbon trade.
Second, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the forest industry, forest farmers should be fostered, and industrial advancement and expansion of the scale of economy should be promoted. Specialized forest farmers and forest businesses should be fostered through a technical forestry support system, and a forest income safety net should be created by expanding disaster insurance for forest products and by implementing a direct payment scheme to compensate for the loss of forest products caused by natural disasters. Industrial advancement and expansion of the scale of economy should be secured through revitalization of the timber industry, enhancement of the distribution and export of forest products, revitalization of integrated management and procurement of resources through afforestation projects overseas.
Third, regional forestry should be promoted to revitalize local communities, and the vitality of mountain villages should be enhanced. As for revitalizing the regional forestry, it is necessary to pursue forestry cluster projects by region and foster local resource-based community businesses to revitalize mountain villages.
Fourth, in order to preserve the forest ecosystem and expand environmental forest services, the health of forest should be improved by carrying out forest disaster contingency plans and afforestation projects. Also, it is necessary to expand the multifunctional services of forest, such as recreation, recuperation, education, leisure and sports, and actively manage urban forest.
Finally, it is necessary to create a forest management governance system to lay down a foundation for carrying out the above key strategies. At the national level, it is necessary to create a system that can reflect the forest issues discussed at various meetings among local residents, forest farmers, NGOs, corporations, and the general public. As for the implementation of forest policies at the local level, it is necessary to create a local community-based forest management system through which local community organizations can directly manage local forest through the partnership between the central government and local community.


Researchers: Hyun-Deok Seok, Cheol-Su Chang, Kyung-Taek Min, Ho-Gun Chong, Yo-Han Lee, Sun-Jin Ahn, So-Hee Park, Myeong-Eun, Kim
E-mail address: hdseok@krei.re.kr