Not just climate, but local factors contribute to Korea's wildfire crisis
Korean forests' high concentration of pine trees cited as one factor behind ongoing wildfire crisis
Following a wave of megafires worldwide, South Korea's ongoing battle against massive forest fires seems to serve as another evidence of wildfire risks linked to climate change.
But local experts say that there are Korea-specific issues in addition to global climate factors: the very dry spring weather and high concentration of pine trees in Korean forests.
According to the Korea Forest Service, nearly 30 wildfires broke out mostly in southeastern regions of South Korea in the past few days, with a major blaze starting in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday, followed by additional fires in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province and Ulju, Yeongnam. Despite firefighting efforts, the flames area continuing to spread across the mountainous terrain.
The government said the fires are being prolonged by unusually dry spring weather, lower-than-average precipitation, high temperatures and strong winds.
In Uiseong, average rainfall in January is typically 15.5 millimeters, but this year it received just 7.4 millimeters. February saw an even more drastic decline, with just 4.8 millimeters of precipitation, compared to a historical average of 22.6 millimeters.
A dry weather advisory has been in effect for days across both North and South Gyeongsang Provinces.
Uiseong recorded unseasonably high temperatures — 25.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday and 26.4 degrees the following day — more typical of early summer than spring. Gusts reaching up to 17.9 meters per second further intensified the spread of the fires.
Another contributing factor is the aging and overgrown state of the nation's forests. While past reforestation projects have made mountains lush again, experts say the lack of thinning has left them vulnerable, essentially turning them into tinderboxes.
Korean forests are predominantly made up of pine trees, which burn more easily than hardwood. These coniferous trees tend to ignite easily and facilitate crown fires, where flames jump from treetop to treetop. Firebrands — burning embers carried by the wind — also spread more easily in such conditions.
Won Myung-soo, head of the state-run National Forest Satellite Information Utilization Center, explained that the resin contained in pine needles can intensify the flames.
'When it comes into contact with flames, it makes the fire more aggressive and stronger,' he told YTN, adding that the forest agency has been working to convert pine tree forests into mixed forests, which are more resistant to wildfires.
Experts have called for more aggressive efforts to make Korea's forests, which cover nearly 70 percent of the country's territory, more fire-resistant by planting more broad-leaved trees.
Choi Byung-sung, executive director of the Climate Disaster Research Institute, told Kukinews that Japan and China — which share similar climates with Korea — have seen a decline in large-scale wildfires due to long-standing efforts to plant hardwood forests.
'In contrast, Korea's forests are still dominated by highly flammable conifers like pine, which is a key reason for these destructive fires,' Choi said.
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