[The Hwankyung Ilbo] The Korea Forest Service announced that it plans to plant 400,000 trees in the Kubuchi Desert as part of the effort to prevent the spread of desert and reduce damage caused by yellow dust and fine dust.

The project will be carried out in collaboration with China’s local governments. In addition to tree planting, seed sowing to enhance species diversity and local community awareness surveys will also be conducted.

According to an analysis of satellite images of tree-planting areas where yellow dust storms used to occur due to sand movement, forests were found to have the effect of reducing yellow dust by acting as a barrier.

Based on bilateral cooperation with the China’s forest authorities, the Korea Forest Service plans to carry out various projects to create forests and strengthen joint monitoring and research through the Northeast Asia Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Network (DLDD-NEAN).

"We will contribute to the reduction of yellow dust and fine dust through tree planting in the desert area and plan to take the initiative in solving environmental problems," said an officer of the Korea Forest Service. "We will continue to cooperate with the Chinese government and civilian organizations to improve the air quality of our country and strive to achieve the policy outcomes that the people can feel."

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