[Press Release]KFEM held a press conference to condemn the South Korea Forest Service’s “carbon-neutral” logging policy on Earth Day.
Korea Federation for Environmental Movements held a press conference to condemn the South Korea Forest Service's “carbon-neutral” logging policy on Earth Day.
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The Forest Service plans to allow 72% of forests across the country to be logged as part of a “2050 Carbon-Neutral Forestry Sector” plan.
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Despite Forest Service’s claims, older trees retain higher carbon absorption capacity.
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Trees have ecological value beyond carbon absorption
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KFEM urges the Forest Service to completely cancel the plan
In the name of carbon neutrality, the Korea Forest Service has drawn up plans to cut down forests that are more than 30 years old and plant new trees. Such forests represent 72% of total forest area. On Earth Day on April 22, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements(KFEM) criticized the Forest Service's large-scale logging policy at a press conference in front of the Yeouido Forest Vision Center. They called for the “2050 Carbon-Neutral Forestry Sector” plan to be withdrawn.
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©KFEM[/caption]
The Korea Forest Service based its plan on research from the National Institute of Forest Science. The institute divided trees into 10-year age groups, and calculated that “old” trees with a level of 4 or higher have a sharp decline in carbon absorption of domestic greenhouse gases. The Forest Service argued that such trees should be felled because they will interfere with national carbon emissions reduction targets. In 2018, forests absorbed 46 million tons of carbon dioxide, and the above calculation estimates that the absorption will drop to 14 million tons by 2050 if the trees are not replaced.
However, it is not difficult to find research showing that older trees have higher carbon absorption capacity. According to a paper published in Nature in 2008, biomass stocks increase rapidly in forests over 100 years old, and the steepest increase is in forests over 300 years old. Professor Hong Seok-hwan, a member of the Natural Ecology Committee of KFEM, stated that “The Korea Forest Service's logic is limited to data for the first 20 to 50 years of growth. At this time, the amount of biomass stock increased for a short period of time and then plateaued for some time. This coincides with the period when trees that were densely growing in a natural state compete with each other and are rapidly culled through competition.” He concludes that the Forest Service’s justification for replacing existing forests with 3 billion new trees, is based on the unfounded assumption that this plateau in carbon absorption would continue long term.
The high carbon absorption capacity of large, old trees was even acknowledged by the Forest Service in a 2018 article in the Korea Forest Service National Arboretum, entitled "Living Fossils of Ecological History." Here researchers found that the difference in annual average carbon absorption capacity between large and normal-sized trees has widened recently (27.5 kg in the 1990s, 29.4 kg in the 2000s, and 35.8 kg in the 2010s). This means a continuous increase in carbon absorption capacity for large tree. In addition, the article stated that "The big trees are valuable forest assets that guarantee the uniqueness, naturalness, and historicity of the forest ecosystem and have a very high conservation value."
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©Eco-Activist Researcher Choi Jinwoo[/caption]
At the press conference Jung Myung-hee, head of the Ecological Conservation Bureau of KFEM stated that, “now is not the time to cut down trees, but the time for the government to take the lead in conserving biodiversity,” She added, “tidal flats, which are the largest source of carbon trapping, should be restored; rivers effected by the Four Rivers Project should be re-naturalized; and areas with high biodiversity should be designated as protected areas so that they are no longer damaged by humans.” She concluded that, “if the goal of carbon neutrality is to be achieved this kind of policy of plundering trees should be abolished.”
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©Eco-Activist Researcher Choi Jinwoo[/caption]
KFEM International Solidarity Director, Kim Hye-lyn, addressed the global dimensions of this issue, stating that “the Korea Forest Service has been criticized by the international community for providing billions in loans to Korean companies involved in the destruction of Indonesia's natural tropical forests and related human rights violations,” However, in the name of carbon neutrality, the service is planning to expand overseas greenhouse gas reduction projects (REDD+) to secure carbon credits by cutting down trees in other countries and planting production forests. She concluded, “I will never stand by and watch the use of other countries’ forests as a mere carbon business, I will respond with support from global civil society.”
At a press conference KFEM criticized the Forest Service's plan to achieve carbon neutrality by cutting down healthy forests, while ignoring the major changes that need to be made in industry, the economy, and consumption patterns if we are to tackle the climate emergency. KFEM called on the Korea Forest Service to:
- Completely withdraw the current "2050 Carbon-Neutral Forestry Sector” plan, and ensure civil society's participation in the revision process.
- Halt plans to log forests.
- Publicly disclose all details of the current plan, including planned deforestation, local ecological survey plans, new planting sites, planted tree species, and information on private companies involved and to whom the wood is intended to be sold.
▽Press Conference Statements
South Korea Forest Service Opens up 72% of Forests to Logging
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We oppose decision to reduce minimum age for felling
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We oppose the use of the term carbon absorption to justify new policy, when economics and biomass production are at the forefront of this decision.
In last years updated NDCs, South Korea identified forestry as an important tool in its greenhouse gas reduction plans. In response the Korea Forest Service changed its definition of “old” trees from 50 to 30 years, opening up 72% of total forest area to be cut down and replaced with “young” trees. This includes forests in national parks and protected areas.
The National Institute of Forest Science justified the nationwide deforestation plan, by labelling it carbon-neutral, ignoring international research on the carbon absorption potential of old forests and the carbon emissions from logging. The designation of a 30-year tree as old, is also highly dubious, and not at all in sync with standards in other countries. A 30-year rotation age only makes sense in light of the country’s push for biomass energy production.
Fundamentally this decision, is yet another attempt by the Korean state to "solve” the climate crisis, without having to touch industry, the economy, or consumption patterns. The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements calls on the Korea Forest Service to:
✔︎ Completely withdraw the current "2050 Carbon-Neutral Forestry Sector” plan, and ensure civil society's participation in the revision process.
✔︎ Halt plans to log forests.
✔︎ Publicly disclose all details of the current plan, including planned deforestation, local ecological survey plans, new planting sites, planted tree species, and information on private companies involved and to whom the wood is intended to be sold.
April 22, 2021
Korea Federation for Environmental Movements
Translated and Edited by Sam Macdonald
전 세계에서 가장 많이 사용되는 식용유지인 '팜유'. 팜유는 팜 나무에서 나는 열매로 만든 식물성 기름으로 빵, 라면, 과자, 초콜릿과 같은 수많은 가공식품에 들어갑니다. 한국은 1966년에 팜유를 수입하기 시작한 이래 연간 수입량이 꾸준히 증가해 2016년에 총 475,936 톤의 팜유를 수입한 것으로 나타났습니다.
국내 수입된 팜유류 중 많은 양이 식용유로 활용 되고 있는데, 농림축산식품부 한국농수산식품유통공사에서 발행한 식품산업원료실태조사에 따르면 2016년도에 204,409 톤의 팜유류가 식품의 원료로 사용이 되었습니다. 이 중 67%가 면류 가공에, 12.9%가 과자류 제조에 활용되었습니다.
이렇듯 우리 식탁에서 흔히 찾을 수 있는 라면과 과자에 들어가는 팜유를 만들기 위해 동남아시아 국가의 열대림을 파괴되고, 오랑우탄 등 멸종위기종이 서식처를 잃으며, 원주민들 역시 선조 때부터 살던 땅을 빼앗겨 강제 이주를 할 수 밖에 없는 슬픈 상황에 처해있습니다.
이에 환경운동연합은 전 세계 팜유 생산량의 절반을 차지하는 인도네시아에서 오랜 기간 활동해온 현지 활동가를 초청해 팜유 산업이 초래하는 환경파괴와 기업의 토지독점 이슈에 대해 살펴 보고자 합니다. 관심 있는 분들의 많은 참여 부탁드립니다.
Kurniawan Sabar는 2009년부터 인도네시아 최대 환경운동단체인 WALHI 남부 술라웨시에서 마을의 소농, 어부와 청년들을 조직하는 일들을 담당했다. 이후 그는 남부 술라웨시에 진출한 대기업의 플랜테이션과 채굴업으로 인한 문제점에 대응하기 위하여 토지에 대한 권리, 식량 주관과 환경 지속가능성에 기반한 옹호활동을 펼쳐왔다. 2014년에는 WALHI (지구의 벗 인도네시아 지부) 중앙사무처의 캠페인 매니저가 되었으며, 2015년에는 지구의 벗 아시아태평양 지역의 식량주권 프로그램의 간사로 활동하였다. 2017년부터는 INDIES(Institute for National and Democracy Studies)의 대표로 대규모 팜 플랜테이션, 벌목 플랜테이션 및 채굴산업으로 인한 농업 분쟁, 토지 권리, 산불과 기후 변화에 대한 연구 및 옹호 활동을 활발하게 펼치고 있다.
지구의벗 유럽 자원순환 관련 간담회[/caption]
지구의벗 유럽 자원순환 관련 간담회[/caption]
지구의벗 유럽 32개국 지부 지도표시[/caption]
플라스틱[/caption]
2018 플라스틱 전략[/caption]
2019 일회용 플라스틱 규제[/caption]
▲ 팜유 농장이 조성되며 파괴된 숲 ⓒMighty Earth[/caption]
▲ 포스코 인터내셔널의 팜유 농장이 들어선 뒤 오염 된 비안강 ⓒMighty Earth[/caption]
▲ 포스코 인도네시아 팜유 농장으로 영향을 받게 된 마을에 대해 설명하는 한 주민 ⓒ환경운동연합[/caption]
▲ 2017년 포스코대우의 인도네시아 열대우림 파괴 중단을 촉구하는 환경운동연합의 기자회견에서 발언하는 국제 환경단체 마이티(Mighty)의 글렌 유로윗츠 회장. 희귀 및 멸종 동식물의 서식처이자, 기후변화를 막는 방패인 우리의 파푸아 숲을 지켜야 한다고 강조했다. ⓒ솜한새[/caption]
▲ OECD 한국연락사무소에 제출한 진정서[/caption]
포스코인터내셔널의 인도네시아 파푸아 팜유 플랜테이션 PT BIA 전경 ⓒ Mighty Earth[/caption]
▲ 숲이 우거진 원래의 열대우림(좌)과 포스코 팜유농장(우)의 대비된다. 파푸아는 지구에서 세 번째로 큰 열대우림이다. ⓒMighty Earth[/caption]
▲ 포스코의 PT BIA 농장이 들어선 뒤 오염 된 비안(Bian) 강 ⓒMighty Earth[/caption]
▲ 네덜란드 공적연금이 인도네시아 열대림 파괴 기업 포스코에 투자한 것의 문제를 지적한 방송. 이후 네덜란드 공적연금은 포스코에 대한 투자를 철회했다.[/caption]
▲ 파푸아섬에 서식하는 나무타기캥거루(Tree Kangaroo). 파푸아섬의 열대우림은 생물다양성이 높으며 희귀 동식물이 다수 서식하고 있다. ⓒMighty/Richard Ashurst[/caption]
▲ 브라질 원주민 빠예 이사카 후니쿠인 ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil[/caption]
▲카시크 안토니오 호세(Cacique Antonio Jose)가 지역 산업지구에 접근할 수 있는 문을 열고 있다. ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil[/caption]
▲ 아마존에 조성되는 소 농장 ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil[/caption]
▲ 아마존 원시림을 파괴하고 있는 목축업에 대해 비판하는 원주민 안토니오 호세 ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil[/caption]
▲ 아마존 숲 속 세 곳에서 전기톱에 사용되는 휘발유와 불에 탄 기름이 담겨져 있는 병을 발견했다. ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil[/caption]
▲ 600헥타르의 숲이 파괴된 모습을 보고 있는 원주민 ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil[/caption]
▲ 화재와 땅 점유의 증가 정도를 분석하기 위해 사용하는 지도를 보여주고 있는 원주민들 ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil [/caption]
▲ 고속도로에서는 통나무로 가득 찬 트럭을 많이 발견할 수 있다. ⓒDouglas Freitas / Friends of the Earth Brazil [/caption]
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