International Knowledge Exchange: South Korea passes forest emergency management techniques to Congo officials

The Congolese delegation, led by Toirambe Bamoninga Benjamin, secretary-general of Congo's Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, embarked on a knowledge-sharing journey in South Korea from August 25 to September 5. The journey was aimed at strengthening the delegation's capacity in forest management and disaster response.

The delegation visited several key institutions during their stay. These included the AFoCO Secretariat, the National Institute of Forest Science, the Korea National Arboretum, and the Central Regional Office of the Forest Service. The visits provided an opportunity for the delegation to gain insights into Korea's advanced forestry practices and disaster response systems.

One of the highlights of the visit was the briefing on Korea's reforestation success after the Korean War and its advanced forest disaster response system. The delegation was particularly impressed by the Forest Fire Situation Control System and firefighting helicopter operations they observed at the Forest Disaster Control Center.

The group was also introduced to predictive modeling, ICT-based command systems, and smart forestry technologies such as thermal imaging cameras. These technologies were found to be highly impressive, especially by Toirambe Bamoninga Benjamin, who expressed that Korea's experience would serve as an invaluable reference in strengthening the delegation's disaster response capacity.

The training program is part of the "Integrated Climate Change Response Project through Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+)" in Haut-Uele Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. This project is jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KICA).

The project aims to address the worsening forest disasters due to climate change by fostering international cooperation. KFS Deputy Minister Lee Mira emphasised the importance of such cooperation, stating that it is essential in the face of increasing forest disasters.

Lee Mira also added that the KFS will continue to deepen cooperation with the Democratic Republic of Congo and jointly address climate change. The training program is ongoing and is scheduled to end on September 5.

The "Integrated Climate Change Response Project through REDD+" is an initiative under the agreement between the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and UNDP. The project is designed to strengthen global forestry cooperation, and the training program in South Korea is a testament to this commitment.

During their visit, the delegation was also introduced to Korea's overseas REDD+ projects contributing to Nationally Determined Contribution goals. This sharing of information underscores the collaborative spirit of the project and the commitment of all parties involved to combat climate change.

As the delegation continues their training, they are undoubtedly absorbing valuable lessons that will aid in the sustainable management of their country's forests and effective response to forest disasters. The knowledge gained from this exchange is expected to contribute significantly to the strengthening of forest management and disaster response capacities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

International Knowledge Exchange: South Korea passes forest emergency management techniques to Congo officials