[Yonhap Imagine] Busan’s Gijang County rises as ‘forest leisure city'

연합뉴스 / 2024-02-15 10:22:27

Busan’s Gijang County rises as ‘forest leisure city'

Gijang County in Busan is continuously pursuing forest leisure projects to provide high-quality forest welfare services to local residents and create healing spaces within the city.

In order to address the climate change, Gijang County is actively engaged in various development projects, including urban forests, healing forests like Jangan Healing Forest, and nature-friendly walking trails and forest paths.

From the urban forests on the closed Donghae Southern Line to construction plans for forest leisure facilities, the county is transforming into a forest leisure city through phased projects across various fields.

▲ Jangan Healing Forest (Yonhap)

Creating 'Jangan Healing Forest'

Recently opened in Myeong-ri, Jangan-eup, located at 74 Mount San, Jangan Healing Forest has evolved into a forest leisure space providing meditation and shelter for residents. Healing spaces include meditation forests, forest playgrounds, forest shelters with soothing scents, yellow earth forest paths, walking trails, as well as various auxiliary facilities such as pavilions, pergolas, and benches, catering to all age groups.

In particular, the county has garnered significant participation from local kindergartens and daycare centers through various forest experience events run by forest instructors. Such programs include education on plants and ecosystems in the forest, and hands-on activities using natural materials.

To improve accessibility to Jangan Healing Forest, the county aims to complete constructing the entrance passageways to the forest by the second half of 2024.

Some other plans include ongoing enhancement projects, such as expanding facilities such as toilets and installing water and electricity facilities to better cater to users’ needs.

▲ Jangan Healing Forest (Yonhap)

Nature-friendly walking trails and forest paths

Gijang County is also undertaking projects to create nature-friendly walking trails and forest paths to enhance forest-related welfare for residents and fully utilize its forest resources.

Projects such as “Forest paths in our neighborhood” in Gochon-ri are aimed at serving nearby residents, particularly those living in apartment complexes, with opportunities to enjoy the forest.

Maintenance projects for hiking trails on six routes, including Mount. Ilkwang, Mount. Mangwol and Mount. Seokeundeom, have been completed to ensure the safety of hikers and enhance their experience.

Preparations for natural disasters, such as concentrated heavy rainfall and typhoons, were also among the county’s development projects.

In 2023, it carried out the first phase of the “Cheolma Trail Maintenance Project” in the first half, the second phase in October. In November, it also began the “Jangan (Mount. Bulgwang) Trail Improvement Project.” It is also spurring to systemize the management and forest path info in relation to the construction and management plan of a hiking trail database.

▲ Sara Riverside Park (Yonhap)

Creation of 'climate-responsive urban forests'

The county is expanding urban forest creation projects to address climate crises such as the heat island effect and mitigate heatwaves and carbon absorption. Climate-responsive urban forests are designed to block the influx of fine dust into living areas by creating large-scale forests within urban areas. These forests also help mitigate the heat island effect by creating forests around paved areas such as plazas and roads.

In 2022, with support from the Korea Forest Service, the county received 2 billion won to plant over 40,000 trees of more than 20 species including pine and cornus officinalis. The implantation came on 2 hectares of green spaces in Cheonbyeon Park and Nae-ri, demonstrating significant effects in blocking fine dust and improving the landscape.

In 2023, with another 2 billion won allocated, the county created another 2 hectares of urban forests in Osiria Dangsam Village and Yanggyeongmaeul Greenery Area.

The county also plans to invest 1 billion won to create a 1-hectare climate-responsive urban forest in Ilkwang Ichon Ecological Park.