The Catholic Peace Weekly column on Trees and Forests by a professor in the department of Forestry introduces the readers to some health benefits that come from forests.
Thomas Jefferson of the United States insisted that "every human being has the right to pursue happiness" and that this should be specified in the Constitution. Even though ‘happiness’ is an abstract concept, the state must create the conditions to pursue it. Thomas Jefferson specifically declared: "I will make this country a better and safer place for our children to live in."
Korea is a country that achieved economic development in a short period of time and is praised as the ‘Miracle on the Han River’. However, ‘in the end, did this kind of economic development bring us happiness?’ Rather, the gap between the rich and the poor and the resulting social conflict are increasing, and people suffer from a sense of relative deprivation. The suicide rate fluctuates between 1st and 2nd in the world, and the happiness index stays at the bottom among OECD countries.
The professor thinks the forests are an alternative solution to many of our country's problems. Korea's forests are a source of pride to the world. Over the past half century, Korea has become a country that has succeeded in restoring forests that the world envies thanks to the people who have planted and cared for trees on bare mountains. Currently, the lushness of forests in Korea exceeds the average of OECD countries, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognizes and praises our efforts as 'the only country that has succeeded in land reclamation since World War II'.
He has been studying for the past 40 years with an interest in how to use forests so that we can live happily. "Why are forests related to happiness?" "How are other countries industrializing their forests?" Forests produce material forest products such as timber to make us live the good life in abundance, but also provide a pleasant environment. And that's not all. The forest is not only a place of leisure and rest for us, but also a welfare resource that protects our health. Recent studies have revealed that the quality and quantity of forests have a close correlation with the longevity and health of residents. In addition, it is revealed that it is related to the birth of healthy children. It is said that the more you come into contact with the forest, the higher your immunity, and efficacy in solving mental and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety.
Now, we need to make good use of the health and happiness functions of forests and use them as resources to fundamentally solve our social problems. Korea has prepared a ‘healing forest’ for public health and created a ‘forest healing instructor’ system to carry out national happiness projects for each life cycle. (The Korea Forest Service has been creating and operating therapeutic
forests in Korea since opening the first therapeutic forest in 2009)
It is a desirable forest use policy, and he thinks it is truly a forest policy for the people. If forests have contributed as a resource for national happiness and welfare, it is now necessary to develop these new values of forests so that they can be linked to new jobs and income for mountain owners and people who have contributed to creating dense forests. Only then will the welfare value of forests be widely spread among the people and people will be able to live a lively and happy life.
If we make good use of the health and happiness functions of the forest and prepare an efficient delivery system so that the whole people can use it well, it will be a fundamental solution to the problem of high suicide and low birth rate and medical financial burdens that inevitably arises in an aging society. Looking at various indicators, he thinks that forests are now positioned as a hope of the people. For example, more and more people want to work and live in the mountains. Apartments close to the forest are popular, and unlike before, young and competent workers use the forest as their workplace. Now, they want to develop the forest into an industry and a driving force that brings happiness to the people
