Since two decades North Korea suffers of economic problems and these problems have grave consequences for the environment of the country, too. Due to a lack of arable land and energy large parts of the forests that formerly covered to more than two thirds of the country disappeared. On sloping lands up to the top of mountains inefficient and ecologically disastrous agriculture exists and the level of training and equipment of foresters is poor. Flooding and karst formation are resulting of the ecological catastrophe.

Hanns-Seidel-Foundation together with the Forestry Design and Technology Institute (FDTI) of the North Korean Ministry of Land and Enviroment Planning cooperate in projects of sustainable modernization of North Korean forestry. In November and December 2009 two employees of the FDTI from Pyongyang got a training in the State office Forest Brandenburg,unit Peitz and Forestry office Lieberose, overseen by Claus Seliger, office chief. Here they got an insight into sustainable forestry. Besides a theoretical introduction to modern German forestry, the development of forestry, tasks of the forest offices and forestry laws they had the possibility to learn about practical work of foresters and woodworkers. Also, they got an introduction to research and training in forestry in the University for Applied Sciences Eberswalde, which specializes in forest economy.

Next year Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea plans to intensify its cooperation in North Korea regarding forestry modernization.