Forest Management Crucial for Mitigating Climate Change Impacts and Ensuring Water Sustainability

Strategic Insights -

According to a recent study published in the journal Forests, researchers from Korea University have found that forest management is critical for mitigating climate change impacts and ensuring long-term water sustainability. The study, titled "Can Forest Management Improve Water Retention Conservation Under Climate Change? a Case Study of the Republic of Korea," utilized the KO-G-Dynamic model to evaluate changes in water retention conservation under various climate change scenarios and forest management strategies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The analysis revealed that under climate change and current forest management levels, water retention conservation was projected to reach 37.553 billion tons per year in the 2030s, 38.274 billion tons per year in the 2050s, and 40.306 billion tons per year in the 2080s.
  • Under optimal forest management policies, the water yield and storage were expected to increase to 37.863 billion tons per year in the 2030s, 38.877 billion tons per year in the 2050s, and 41.495 billion tons per year in the 2080s.
  • Watershed-based forest management offers a more practical management unit than conventional legal boundaries, reflecting hydrological flow and the ecological characteristics of forest environments.
  • This study provides foundational data for climate change adaptation and sustainable forest management, aiding national and local forest planning.
  • The research concluded that the findings underscore the critical role of forest management in mitigating climate change impacts and ensuring long-term water sustainability.
  • The study's authors include Woo-Kyun Lee, Mina Hong, Minkyung Song, Youngjin Ko, and Sujong Lee from Korea University.
  • The research was supported by the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through the Climate Change R&D Project for the New Climate Regime, the Korea Ministry of Environment, and the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS).

Statistics:

  • Water retention conservation was projected to reach 37.553 billion tons per year in the 2030s under climate change and current forest management levels.
  • Under optimal forest management policies, water yield and storage were expected to increase to 38.877 billion tons per year in the 2050s.
  • Watershed-based forest management demonstrated greater feasibility in securing water resources compared to conventional legal boundaries.
  • The study's findings provide critical insights for climate change adaptation and sustainable forest management, with implications for national and local forest planning.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Studies from Korea University Have Provided New Data on Climate Change (Can Forest Management Improve Water Retention Conservation Under Climate Change? a Case Study of the Republic of Korea). Global Warming Focus. June 16, 2025; p 1073.
  • Forests. Can Forest Management Improve Water Retention Conservation Under Climate Change? a Case Study of the Republic of Korea. Forests, 2025;16(5):862.