Press Release

Board View

The Ministry of Environment will Manage Green Spaces Considering Biodiversity

▷ ME will develop guidelines for roadside tree management referring to related regulations such as the Natural Environment Conservation Act by the end of the year


Sejong, May 09 - The Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Han Jeoung Ae) and the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR, President Suh Min-hwan) will develop guidelines for green space management1. Under the new guidelines, the local governments and concerned authorities will manage green spaces such as tree-lined streets and walking trails considering biodiversity. The Ministry of Environment developed the new guidelines (tentatively called the "Guidelines to Better Manage Street Trees Considering Biodiversity") because numerous reports claim that excessive pruning of street trees, leaving only the trunk, severely ruins their beauty. Another reason for developing new guidelines is that street trees play an important role in improving biodiversity. 


Green spaces (such as small parks) planted with trees provide homes for birds and insects and are a principal part of the urban ecosystem. Moreover, street trees offer a wide range of functions: purifying the air, absorbing greenhouse gases, alleviating the urban heat island effect, and providing pleasant scenery.


ME and NIBR plan to draft the guidelines referring to the provisions of the Natural Environment Conservation Act and the Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity. The guidelines were referred to the case studies of other countries on street tree management in urban areas. It includes ways to avoid cutting more than a certain percentage of the trees with leaves when pruning and selecting a type of tree considering biodiversity. It will also cover how and where to plant street trees to prevent overgrown trees from colliding with power cables and obstructing traffic sign visibility. The two organizations will review how to preserve, manage, plant, and expand usage of wild native plants considering biodiversity.  


ME and NIBR will compile extensive opinions from experts and various stakeholders and hold discussions with them to result in complete guidelines for working with local governments and concerned authorities. 


Kang Seong-goo, Director of Nature and Ecology Policy Division, said, "A healthy ecosystem depends on enhancing biodiversity. The Ministry of Environment will extend educational programs and update related regulations to improve biodiversity in a small-scale ecosystem like tree-lined streets."


1 Currently, local governments manage street trees following guidelines and ordinance of the Creation and Management of Urban Forest Act


Contact: KIM Do-hoon, Deputy Director

Climate Change International Cooperation Team/ +82-(0)44-201-6606 


Foreign Media Contact: CHUN Minjo

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr