Legalization of Tree Doctor System and the Role of KSPP

• Main Author: Byeongjin Cha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hanrimwon Publishing Company 2017-09-01
• Series: Research in Plant Disease
• Subjects: Forest protection act; Living space; Tree doctor; Tree doctor academy; Tree hospital
• Online Access: http://www.online-rpd.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5423/RPD.2017.23.3.207

In December of 2016, ‘The Forest Protection Act’ was amended partly in The National Assembly and the socalled ‘Tree Doctor Act’ was promulgated. Tree Doctor Act will be enforced from June 28, 2018. Under the new Act, none other than ‘Tree Hospital’ can do disease and pest management work for trees in public living space. The only exclusive qualification for tree hospital is a ‘Tree Doctor’, the government registered license which is newly established by the Act. To become a tree doctor, he/she must complete the tree doctor training courses in the designated ‘Tree Doctor Academy’ and pass the qualification test. Currently, Korea Forest Service is drafting the enforcement ordinances and regulations for the implement of Tree Doctor Act. When taking into consideration that the most fundamental and important discipline of the plant and tree health care is the plant pathology, and that the tree health care is a promising business for young plant pathology people, Korean Society of Plant Pathology is ought to be actively involved in the preparation of the enforcement ordinances and regulations, and help the early establishment of the new tree health care system in living spaces of Korea.