The Royal Asiatic Society Korea branch will host a talk on Korea’s successes and challenges in forestation on Tuesday.

Victor Teplyakov, a professor of forest governance and nature conservation at Seoul National University, will discuss South Korea’s massive reforestation campaign under Park Chung-hee, seen as one of the most successful such efforts in the world, and the challenges facing South Korea’s forests today.

Drawing on a recent visit to North Korea, he will also assess the state of deforestation there and what Pyongyang is doing to address it.

As well as his work in academia, Teplyakov has also held key positions at the Russian Federal Forest Service and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

He has written several books on the subject, including “North Korea Reforestation: International regime and domestic opportunities.”

The talk will run from 7:30 p.m. at the Residents Lounge of Somerset Palace near Anguk Station in Seoul. Admission is free for RASKB members and 7,000 won for nonmembers.

(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)