Mangrove forest in Guyana (Korea Forest Service)
By Koh Hyunjeong
The Korea Forest Service (KFS) will restore mangrove forests in Guyana.
Such forests play a crucial role in boosting biodiversity by reducing the size of tsunamis.
Along with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the KFS on Sept. 19 said a launching ceremony was held the day before for the project in the Guyanese capital of Georgetown.
The South American country has an extremely long coastline of 459 km, with forests occupying 85% of its territory. Ninety percent of its residential area and 75% of its farmland are located in coastal lowlands, making it vulnerable to rising sea levels and natural disasters.
The size of Guyana’s mangrove forests plunged from 80,000 hectares in 2001 to 23,000 in 2011 due to economic development.
In May, the KFS concluded a business agreement with the Guyanese government and GGGI on mangrove reforestation and response to the climate crisis.
With the GGGI, the KFS by 2027 will restore mangrove forests measuring 6 km and 120 hectares along Guyana’s Mahaica Beach.
“We will boost our capacity to respond to the climate crisis by restoring mangrove forests in South America following those in Central America,” said Nam Song Hee, director general of the KFS’ International Affairs Bureau. “We hope that this reforestation becomes a benchmark for enhancing biodiversity, creating eco-friendly jobs and solidifying the economic autonomy of coastal regions.”
hjkoh@korea.kr
