SEOUL (UCAN): The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of South Korea expressed concern over the government’s decision to lift land development restrictions in Green Belt Zones across the country, saying it will impact the environment and future generations.
“These zones are the last bastion of protection for green space in urban centres, and their removal undermines the assets we will pass on to future generations,” said Father Blasio Park Hyun-dong, chairperson of the bishops’ Ecology and Environment Committee.
Father Park said lifting land development restrictions in protected zones “goes against the theme of this year’s World Environment Day.” The conference website published his message ahead of World Environment Day, June 5.
The theme “Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience” is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration [2021-2030], critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
In January this year, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration announced measures to boost new housing and development projects, including lifting green-belt restrictions around the capital area, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The move aims to reinvigorate recently dwindled housing projects across the country by utilising green-belt zones and unused land to discover new development sites within the greater Seoul area to supply an additional 20,000 housing units, Yonhap reported.
Green Belt Zones were first adopted in 1971 to restrict development in areas to prevent indiscriminate rapid urban expansion for environmental preservation, accirding to the Korea JoongAng Daily.
Once a greenbelt has been designated, gaining approval for development projects in the zone becomes difficult.
Previously, from 2001 to 2003, the restrictions on limited development zones were completely lifted in seven small—and medium-sized cities.
Yoon said a survey will be conducted to scrap “outdated regulations that do not keep up with changing times.”
Korea JoongAng Daily reported that 12 ministries and local governments imposed 336 farmland use regulations that will be reviewed.
Father Park stressed the need to “restore a healthy relationship” with creation through ecological repentance and inner transformation. He asked people to work for environmental restoration.
