he Forest Policy that people are most satisfied with is National Reforestation.- NIFoS was hosting an International Symposium to Share the Achievements of National Reforestation and Seek Future Visions in the Forest Sector-On the 13th, the National Institute of Forest Science (President Dr. Bae, Jae Soo) hosted the “International Symposium of 50th Years of Anniversary on National Reforestation" at COEX to share the achievements of national reforestation in the Republic of Korea (Korea) and present a vision to contribute to the future international community.This year marks the 50th anniversary of the complete restoration of barren lands into forests, achieved through strong national leadership and the sense of ownership by the citizens in 1973. In a survey conducted by the Korea Forest Service in May on public awareness of forests, the satisfaction rate regarding National Reforestation reached 85.4%. Despite this remarkable global success in forest greening, Korea still faces challenges such as climate change, forest disasters, improving ratio of wood self-supply, and competitiveness in forestry.Therefore, during this symposium, under the main theme " Achievements and Challenges in National Reforestation and Seeking Global Forest Policy," keynote speeches, thematic presentations, and designated discussions took place. In the keynote speech, Minister of the Korea Forest Service Nam, Sung-Hyun presented "50th Years of National Reforestation, A Prosperous Forestry Renaissance," while Dr John Parrotta, President of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), delivered a presentation on "Global Perspective on Forest Landscape Restoration."Subsequently, thematic presentations and designated discussions were held on topics such as ▲ the utilization and management of forests and forestry ▲ sharing of forest ecosystem services ▲ contributions to carbon neutrality ▲ international cooperation and dissemination in the global community.President Dr. Bae, Jae Soo of the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS) stated, "Based on the successful experience of National Reforestation, we have to find the solution for various challenges ahead of us." He further added, "In particular, the National Institute of Forest Science will focus its research capabilities on transitioning from manpower-based forest management and forestry to a digital forest management system using advanced technology."

Forecasting forest fires and landslides with artificial intelligence (AI) and establishing digital forest management with CAS500-4 satellites.- National Institute of Forest Science announces R&D Technology Roadmap (TRM) over the next five years ('23~'27)The National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS, President Bae, Jae Soo) announced a mid-term implementation plan (Technology Roadmap, TRM) for forest science research over the next five years at the Daejeon Government Complex on July 5 in response to public demand for forests and scientifically solve national issues such as climate crisis, major disasters, digital transformation, and global level orientation. In order to achieve the plan, 19 strategic tasks were systematically organized under six major themes, and the key research topics are as follows. First, it plans to strengthen research in response to forest disasters. It is planning to install an intelligent fire extinguishing helicopter operation algorithm that can respond to large forest fires at the same time as faster and more accurate forest fire risk prediction system than before. In addition, it is intended to integrate the slope management system between ministries and provide sophisticated risk prediction information to resolve the blind spot of landslide disasters. Moreover, it will present guidelines for the comprehensive management of four major forest pests, including pine wilt disease, and select pine trees that are resistant to pine wilt disease. Second, it plans to strengthen the construction of digital forest information. The National Forest Satellite Information Utilization Center (tentatively named) will be established to receive forest observation data from CAS500-4 satellites to be launched in 2025, closely monitor forests on the Korean Peninsula, and establish a quasi-real-time forest information sharing platform to provide it to the public. In addition, we intend to lead international forest cooperation by sharing observation images with countries around the world. Third, it plans to increase the added value of wood and expand its carbon-neutral contribution. In order to build public buildings and apartment facilities into wooden buildings, we intend to develop technologies that will enhance the value of wooden architecture, such as fire resistance and noise blocking, to use life space in the city as carbon storage and contribute to national greenhouse gas reduction. Fourth, it plans to develop a forest circulation management model and strengthen research to increase the income of forestry workers. It aims to contribute to making forests a happy workplace and source of income by developing a management model that can increase profitability while considering the forest ecosystem and developing new varieties and cultivation technologies of forest products. Fifth, it plans to develop an international forest cooperation model that contributes to the national interest and fits the national prestige. It aims to contribute to expanding international forest cooperation and strengthening cooperative relations by developing measures to transfer international reduction performance in the forest sector to achieve Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of ROK.In addition, △ solving social disasters such as fine dust and heat waves in urban forests △ replacing petrochemical-based materials with eco-friendly wood, strengthening the role of forests △ preserving and restoring science-based forest biodiversity △ discovering and distributing honey plants that both bees and forestry workers like. The NIFoS plans to reorganize its organization by establishing a National Forest Satellite Information Utilization Center (tentatively named) and separating and strengthening forest fire research and landslide research to fulfill its new mid-term research goals. In addition, the research project management regulations will be completely revised this year to expand budgets and facilities for smooth research progress and to carry out research projects more goal-oriented and performance-oriented. Bae, Jae Soo, President of the NIFoS, said, "As the only national forest research institute in Korea, we envision improving the world with forests, science and technology".

Program 7. Promote the use of wood-based on the optimized processing technologyThis program intends to increase and nurture the utilization of domestic woods and its industry following cutting-edge technologies in the BT, NT, IT convergence, advancement of the respective process by building net-neutrality society and promoting strategic researches in the wood industry□ Major outcomes7-1 Expansion of the demand for wood to revitalize the wood industry ·Research data sheets containing standardized metadata and DMP (Data Management Plan) were designed for sharing and recycling research data. The wood properties of 45 items in 10 fields were evaluated for major domestic wood species (20 species over 5 years), and the DB was established. ·The LCI DB reflecting the process characteristics of the fiberboard and Particle Board is established and registered as national approval statistics. A revision to all 15 wooden products' notices was prepared, and 284 (3 years) cases of Korean industrial standards for wood products in connection with R&D were enacted.·In order to promote the socio-cultural value of wood, the types of wood culture are classified, and three strategies (standardisation, valuation, daily life) and detailed action plans are established for the spread of wood culture. Priorities for each of the three major areas for the spread of wood culture are determined through expert advice and surveys on detailed action plans.7-2 Advanced processing technology to improve the added value of wood ·The shear resistance of the lateral force resisting wall using larch cross laminated timber(CLT) and structural particle board was evaluated. Based on this, the structural performance of walls and floors using domestic engineering wood was verified.·In order to improve dimensional stability and decay resistance of wood, novel agents for chemical modification were investigated and the feasibility of commercial technologies such as acetylation and furfurylation for domestic species was verified. In addition, the wood composite buoy containing 65% wood were developed as an alternative to plastic buoys for shellfish aquaculture.·The constructability were evaluated through on-site construction using domestic structural particleboard (SPB). The SPB satisfied the flame retardant regulation and showed outstanding anti-mould and termite resistance performance. Also, long-term outdoor exposure test of SPB is ongoing for evaluating weatherability. Basic data have been secured for pilot manufacturing of the domestic self-tapping screw (STS) for the connection of CLT and preparing structural design standards for use.7-3 Development of future materials based on wood with convergence technology·A novel technology was developed for manufacturing pulp-based eco-friendly superabsorbent materials that exhibited up to four times higher water absorption capacity (over 800 g/g) than the commercially petrochemical-based superabsorbent materials (SAPs). ·A study to optimise chemical preprocessing in the mass production of cellulose nanofibres was conducted, and a study on the application of using air filters, chemical bonding, and pH sensors was conducted.·The methodology of analysis experiments as a means of managing the standards and the quality of wood products is an important topic, and the development of standard materials as well as pretreatment techniques for determining inorganic elements in wood products is major research to promote forest policies and achieve academic findings related to the wood industry.·Since the use of oxidative complexing agents in molded charcoal has been prohibited since 2024, it is urgent to develop alternative materials that meet the needs of the public's eye level and related industries.7-4 Expansion of carbon storage and replacement effect with wood use ·Among the green building certification indicators, we propose an evaluation method using the entire process evaluation tool of wooden architecture. To extend the service life of wooden building, chemical modification techniques have been developed to improve the durability of wood. For realizing wooden multi-unit residual buildings in Korea, sound insulation performance for CLT and hybrid floor structures are carefully evaluated and analyzed in order to meets the Housing Act of Korea. Through this, a basic plan for a pilot model of urban wood-made facilities and buildings was established. ·In order to analyse the technology industry linkage analysis and carbon substitution effects of wood products replacing the non-wood market, an environmental input-output table is prepared using the interindustry relations table and greenhouse gas inventory. Improving the processing technology of wood to conduct a survey on the actual condition of drying processing with low energy production process.·The conditions for producing industrial bio-materials using a wood-based bio-compounds with a rapid hydrothermal reaction are investigated. And the graphitization conditions via carbonization of lignin-dominant reaction by-products are studied to find out the availability of biomass oriented carbons as electrode materials in energy storage device.

Program 6. Forestry income increase and utilizing industrialization by using forest bioresourcesThe National Institute of Forest Sciences establishes the bases for collection, evaluation, and conservation of resources, securing original technology for medicinal and daily life materials, developing technologies for cultivation and management of resources. This allows us to build an industrial materialization platform for forest bioresources, discovering its functionality and creating a new variety of resources, cultivating, distributing and processing a post-harvest.□ Major outcomes6-1 Research on the establishment for application of bio-information ·Transformation-based genome editing technology for forest trees was developed in the agenda 'Research on the bioinformatical application for forest bioresources' through the subproject 'Establishment of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in forest trees', and the hybrid poplars reduced lignin content were generated. Our results demonstrate that genome editing technology can improve production of lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock for biosaterials. To overcome regulatory restrictions for GMOs and enhance the performance, it is important to develop transgene-free genome editing protocol.·"Development of virus-free plants production technology of major forest income resources" induces cultivation of superior clone propagation, income increase, and reduces production cost by verifying virus-free plants, and Rubus coreanus (Korean rasberry) tissue culture plants require future proliferation and on-site verification. ·The 'Holobiome Information-Based Study on the Development of Functional Microbe Materials for Pine Mushrooms and Gastrodia elata Blume's Productivity' has yielded useful results on the discovery of functional microorganisms and plant-microbe interactions, and a phased study is needed to investigate the empirical effects. ·‘The Genetic information construction of Forest Bioresources and Development of Biological fingerprint analysis technology’ developed species identification analysis and applied to establish scientific forestry management stratedgy in seed harvest stand in Larix gmelinii var. olgensis. It constructed biological fingerprint information for identification of conifer timber species. This information can support for Regulation To Promote Legal Timber Trade. Henceforward, We shall construction of biological fingerprint information to identify species of broad-leaved tree in abroad.6-2 Research on identification of medicinal resources and application technologies ·Research on the exploration of anti-inflammatory substances and pharmacological mechanisms of the Korean Rhamnaceae requires study on industrial technology transfer and practical use of the original technology derived from research results.·Research on the Breeding of Korean angelica and the establishment of standard cultivation techniques for medicinal herbs needs to promote specific cultivation and breeding techniques that can directly affect an increase in income for foresters who grow medicinal herbs.·The research on the effect of improving bone metabolism in Poria cocos requires a research strategy for the practical use of industrialised raw materials through an exploratory study on the effect of improving bone metabolism on strains with excellent production. Research on plant oil refining to improve respiratory diseases needs to promote studies such as ease of supply of raw materials, extraction costs, and duration of oil refining activities in order to industrialize materials.·A research on the standardization of the pharmacological efficacy-based quality of wild-simulated ginseng requires a study on the reproducibility of the technology of root age using transcriptome and country of origin using metabolome.·Research on natural materials of forest medicinal resources needs to actively utilise forest policy support for research outcomes, and it is also necessary to focus research on herbal and medicinal products and seek ways to find out early performance.6-3 Research on discovery and application of functional lifecare materials·The Mugunghwa research project needs to be focused on improving the ornamental function in the follow-up project.·Means for development in the Hanji research field should be established by using the results on the research of Hanji and the source tree specices.·It is necessary to carry out an industrialisation-based study through this research and the development of a follow-up study for skin regeneration via evergreen oak trees. ·For the development of hair health-care materials, lead tree species should be selected in consideration of the ease of supply of raw materials. ·Research on the production of fine mulberry trees and the mechanisation process of high-quality hanji suggests the target level achieved through research and needs to be supplemented in the evaluation of hanji characteristics. ·The development of evergreen broadleaf for pet-care materials needs to be content-oriented to specify the title of it, and to set specific KPIs according to annual research performance and it also needs to be supplemented with strategies.6-4. Cultivation of forest income resources and development of management technology ·Through research on post-harvest loss reduction technology development of forest products and commercialization research, the optimal storage temperature and distribution period of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta) were identified, and the quality of storage and distribution of wild vegetables was improved through micro oil sprayed thermal air technique. We plan to publish the post-harvest manuals through field applicability evaluations in the future. ·Research on discover major sources of honey trees and use them for multiple purposes is discovering trees with high production of honey and developing various way to utilize honey resources. The empirical research on establishing a honey plant complex in response to climate change develops various complex models that can increase rental income, and establishes a supply system for excellent seedlings of honey trees. ·In order to satisfy the upcoming demand for new landscape trees as a material of urban forest and green-teriors, the tree form and flower characteristics of superior individuals in Prunus spp., dogwood and golden-rain trees were investigated and new genetic resources were collected. The effect of smart irrigation system that maintains the soil water content as 15% in the container were analyzed. It was found that sap flow, irrigation efficiency and tree growth were more excellent in smart irrigation system than the conventional semi-automatic irrigation.