The phrase “he can’t see the forest for the trees” refers to a person who is so bogged down in the minutiae of a problem that he cannot see the big picture. It happens to all of us; sometimes we are so caught up in our own little problems that we cannot see the real existential crisis looming around the corner. Taken more literally, we congratulate ourselves for planting a tree now and then (perhaps on Arbor Day or Earth Day), while we ignore the fact that the vital forests which sustain us all are disappearing by the minute.
 
Happily, Korea has demonstrated remarkable vision and leadership in taking concrete action to save, restore and properly manage forest resources in the Asian region. Drawing on its own experiences of forest restoration and rehabilitation in the 1970s and 80s, which has been recognized as a model for global sustainability, and with a view to sharing this experience with other countries in the region, Korea proposed the establishment of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization at the ASEAN-ROK Summit in June 2009. After several working group meetings between ASEAN and Korean forestry officials, an agreement establishing cooperation between ASEAN and Korea was signed in 2011, pursuant to which a secretariat was established in Seoul to coordinate cooperation on forestry projects in ASEAN countries. Finally, AFoCO officially launched this year, after the untiring efforts of many dedicated public servants in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea Forest Service.

It is estimated that over 60 percent of the area of the ASEAN states is covered with forests, and that at least 10 percent of the population, including local indigenous groups, depends entirely on these forests for their livelihood. However, about two million hectares of forest is disappearing in this region each year due to rapid development and the unmanaged exploitation of natural resources. This is clearly not sustainable. AFoCO’s vision is to promote sustainable development in the region by undertaking cooperative projects to responsibly manage forest resources, prevent deforestation, and restore forest land where possible.

As Korea’s own experience has shown, sustainable forest management involves much more than simply saving the trees. Sustainable forest management projects cannot take place in a vacuum, but must consider the economic and political realities in which they operate. Although deforestation has direct links to poverty, hunger, unsafe drinking water and climate change, Korea has learned from its experiences that sustainable forest management can only succeed when it is integrated with socio-economic policy and has the support of local populations and governments. As Indira Gandhi once noted, poverty is the biggest polluter; we will not solve our environmental problems without addressing poverty. While keeping the big picture clearly in focus (i.e., deforestation, climate change, etc.), AFoCo also recognizes that individuals living in poverty must exploit whatever resources they can to survive. Often, this means cutting down the very forests which sustain them, even though they will ultimately be the ones who are most affected by the devastations of deforestation and climate change. That is why AFoCO has adopted a boots-on-the-ground, community-based approach, strengthening ties with local and international organizations, and addressing the real needs of local populations affected by deforestation. Think globally, act locally, as the saying goes.

Looking at Korea’s economic position today, it is hard to believe that Korea was an impoverished and largely deforested nation just a half century ago. Korea well understands the factors associated with sustainable economic development and environmental rehabilitation. As the 24th nation to become a member of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Korea has been willing and eager to share its experiences with developing economies in the region. AFoCO is a prime example of Korea’s leadership in this regard. Since its inception, it has expanded to include not only ASEAN countries but also Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and East Timor. The organization has undertaken many successful projects in local communities across the region to rehabilitate degraded forest land, prevent deforestation and implement sustainable forest management programs through local capacity building and training. Although each project is run locally in cooperation with community, government and NGO leaders, the positive impact of these projects will be felt around the region and around the world.

No one nation can solve the crisis of rapid deforestation and climate change. It sometimes seems like a problem that is simply too big to solve. However, I am optimistic that AFoCO can be a model for global international cooperation on this issue. As a member-driven organization, it can focus on saving and sustaining our vital forestry resources at the local and community level, while not losing focus on the big picture. In other words, AFoCO, learning from Korea, can see the forest and the trees. And maybe it can save them both.

By Professor Benjamin Hughes,
Seoul National University Law School