“Building an AI- and drone-based forest safety network”... Korea Forest Disaster Safety Technology Agency and Chungcheongbuk-do sign MOU

[Financial News] A specialized forest-disaster agency and a local government have joined forces to proactively address forest disasters, which are growing larger and more complex due to climate change.
 The Korea Forest Disaster Safety Technology Agency said its president, Lee Im-young, and Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Shin Yong-han signed an MOU on “Strengthening Forest Disaster Prevention and Response Capabilities and Enhancing Residents’ Safety” at the Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Government on the 11th.
 The agreement is intended to advance the full-cycle management system for forest disasters—including wildfires, landslides and forest pests—from prevention and preparedness through response and recovery, and to combine the two organizations’ expertise and administrative resources to establish an integrated on-site response network.
 Under the agreement, the two sides will expand the sharing of forest-disaster information and exchanges of specialized technologies, and develop an on-the-ground prevention and response system incorporating the latest information and communications technology (ICT). Key areas of cooperation include establishing a joint response system for wildfires, landslides and forest pests; training to enhance the expertise of field personnel and jointly using facilities they have; promoting forest safety among residents and undertaking social contribution activities; and pursuing joint projects using big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and drones.
 The synergy between local government’s capacity to respond to incidents on the ground and the agency’s expertise in forest-disaster technologies is expected to make a tangible contribution to protecting Chungcheongbuk-do’s forest ecosystems and safeguarding residents’ lives and property.
 Chungcheongbuk-do is mountainous, with forestland covering 67% of its total area. It includes steep slopes around Chungju Lake and Daecheong Lake, as well as the ecological corridors of national parks such as Sobaeksan, Woraksan and Songnisan, leaving it at risk of rapidly escalating damage when forest disasters occur. In particular, the risk of landslides is rising amid sudden localized downpours caused by recent abnormal weather, while the danger of large wildfires during drought season is surging. As a result, building a precise, technology-based disaster prevention system that goes beyond the existing manpower-centered monitoring has become an urgent task.
 Lee Im-young, president of the Korea Forest Disaster Safety Technology Agency, said, “Because advance prevention and rapid initial response are especially important in forest disasters, close cooperation among the relevant agencies is essential.” He added, “With this agreement as an opportunity, we will actively draw on the agency’s expertise and capabilities and do our utmost to protect the safety of local residents and our precious forest resources.”

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter