• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2013

This study aims to analyze factors affecting villagers' participation in conservation of village woodlands. We postulated that socio-economic characteristics such as gender, age, place of birth, wealth level, frequency of use and leader experience could contribute to decision-making of participation in the village woodland conservation. Data were collected by interviewing 52 villagers in village A and 41 villagers in village B and were used to estimate the probability function of villager's participation in village woodland conservation using ordered logit model. The results indicate that frequent use of village woodlands increases the probability of villagers' participation in conservation of village woodlands in the case of village A. In the case of village B, people who were born in the village and have experiences of serving the village as a village leader are more likely to participate in the village woodland conservation activities. Considering the fact that the village woodland of village A is owned by the community as a village common, and that cultural activities remain in the village woodland of village A, the utility of village woodlands to the residents and their common understanding of village woodlands seem to influence the likelihood of villagers' participation in conservation of village woodlands. In order to induce villagers' participation in the village woodland conservation, it is necessary to recognize the right of villager's access and provide villagers with common understanding of village woodlands through cultural activities and education programs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.29-41
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• 2012

This study's objective is to inform people of the value and identity and to understand the cultural landscape characteristics of coastal village forest, which have not been studied in-depth in previous studies. This study was conducted by selecting 10 village forest sites in the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea and the present state of forests were investigated through bibliographical and on-the-spot survey, as well as interviews with local villagers. The following points(characteristics of traditional culture, practical characteristics, scenic characteristics) are the important factors for analyzing cultural landscape characteristics of coastal village forest verified through the study. First, The coastal village forest in the village commons is mental space for the local community affected by folk belief rather than confucian backgrounds. Second, The coastal village forest is a reasonable space contriving economic efficiency and solving the real problems facing the coastal village. Third, The coastal village forest identities should be understood the land use around village and behind mountain from the sea of wide range rather than confined to just a forest consisting of trees. This study's significance is to make the basic data and to enhance the value of the coastal village forest unnoticed. In addition, the subjects of the study should be extended to the east and west coastal village forests and subsequent research should be conducted to notification the characteristics and differences of each coastal village forest.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.188-209
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• 2009

Dangsan forests had been established by local residents several hundred years ago. They were disturbed in various ways, but still remain in many villages where dangsan festivals are held every year. Although the remaining Dangsan forests represent korean rural cultural landscapes, their characteristics still remain to be uncovered. The objectives of this study were to understand the three elements, Dangsan tree (Divine tree), shrine and stone tower, and to investigate the culture at inland areas and seashore areas relation to Dangsan forests. Twenty cases of Dangsan forests at inland areas and twenty at seashore areas were investigated. There were nine shrines and six stone towers found out of twenty inland Dangsan forests. Fifteen shrines were found out of twenty seashore Dangsan forests. Stone tower was not found at seashore areas. Fifteen events of dangsan festival were investigated. Dangsan festival appeared to have played an important role to preserve Dangsan forests. Based on the findings of this study, Dangsan forests are, as landscape elements at inland and seashore areas, proved to have a potential for the improvement of cultural and natural landscapes in the country.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.99-111
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate the location, shape, environment, and vegetation of the Village Forest in Gyeonggi-do and to evaluate the ecological integration and changes of the Village Forests to figure out the measures for conservation and management. There were 23 Village Forests remain in Gyeonggi-do. Ten Village Forests were established based on Feng-shui background. Many of them were found in Yongin area and southeast of Icheon. The Village Forests were owned by local community at 9 village and privately owned at 8 villages. Most Village Forests were managed by local communities except for the two managed by private person. Fifty-two percent of the Village Forests were in strip shape, and most of them were established by Feng-shui background or for the prevention of disasters. The average size of the Village Forests was relatively small at 3,046m2. The most frequent tree species found at the Village Forest were Zelkova serrata and Pinus densiflora. Over half of the number of Village Forests showed vertical structure of overstory trees only or overstory-sub overstory combination, which seemed to be resulted from the loss of understory plants by the activities of local residents. The Village Forests that had over 30% of damaged trees were found at 7 villages. The damages were caused by the road construction close to the groves, soil compaction, and tree death by covering lower stem with soil. The vitality of the damaged trees seemed to be significantly low compared to that of the undamaged. There were factors that determined the changes in the Village Forests: community ritual, institutional protection, designation as a water resource protection district, road construction, land use change, windstorm hazards, and development of forest areas. In order to conserve and manage the Village Forests appropriately, it is necessary to limit excessive use of the grove areas and maintain proper tree growing conditions by improving the soil environment. The development of neighborhood areas need to be controlled and community activities should be encouraged to maintain or restore the original landscape of the groves. Protection measures and supporting policies need to be enforced to keep the Village Forests from disappearing in near future.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.31-55
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• 2005

Dangsan forests and Rural Community Forests(RCF) have been historical assets for the rural communities of more than 40,000 in Korea and they have provided an identity through the cultural heritage. The Dangsan forests and the RCF are parts of a unique cultural landscape in the rural areas as components of stream landscape. In many cases, the Dangsan forests and the RCF are located close to stream corridors. The objective of this study was to understand the function of the Dangsan forests and the RCF on stream water quality and to evaluate its ecological landscape values. Through the consideration of international concensus and domestic government policy for close-to-nature stream, we could find out that Dangsan forests and RCF's have close relationship with the close-to-nature streams. The water quality of the streams close to the Dangsan forests and the RCF are maintained with local culture. It is also compared to the streams located where Dangsan forests and the RCF are absent. Eight study sites were selected. Water samples were collected at three different locations at each study site. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, total P, total N, dissolved oxygen, EC, BOD, COD and SS. Aquatic invertebrates were observed as water quality indicator species. The results showed that the number of aquatic invertebrate species, GPI, DO, EC, BOD, and SS were significantly improved in stream water due to the presence of the Dangsan forests and the RCF. The role of Dangsan forests and the RCF was evident in the conservation of stream landscape and rural culture as well as in maintaining stream water quality. The management schemes of the streams with Dangsan forests and the RCF's are also suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.57-65
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• 2016

Maeul-soop(Village forest) is a key element of Korean traditional village landscape historically and culturally. However, a number of Maeul-soops have been lost or declined due to various influences since the modern age. For this Maeul-soop that has a variety of conservation values including historical, cultural and ecological ones, attention and efforts for a systematic conservation and restoration of Maeul-soop are needed. The purpose of the present study is to provide information on ecological restoration and sustainable use and management of Maeul-soops based on component plant species, habitat and location characteristics of 499 Maeul-soops spread throughout Korea. Major six categories of threat factors to Maeul-soop ecosystem were identified and the influence of each factor was evaluated. For the evaluation of weight by threat factors for the influence on the vulnerability of Maeul-soop ecosystem, more three-dimensional analysis was conducted using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis method. In the results of evaluation using AHP analysis method, reduction of area, among six categories, was spotted as the biggest threat to existence of Maeul-soops. Next, changes in topography and soil environment were considered as a threat factor of qualitative changes in Maeul-soop ecosystem. Influence of vegetation structure and its qualitative changes on the loss or decline of Masul-soop was evaluated to be lower than that of changes in habitat. Based on weight of each factor, the figures were converted with 100 points being the highest score and the evaluation of vulnerability of Maeul-soop was conducted with the converted figures. In the result of evaluation of vulnerability of Maeul-soops, grade III showed the highest frequency and a normal distribution was formed from low grade to high grade. 38 Maeul-soops were evaluated as grade I which showed high naturality and 10 Maeul-soops were evaluated as grade V as their maintenance was threatened. Also in the results of evaluation of vulnerability of each Maeul-soop, restoration of Maeul-soop's own area was found as top priority to guarantee the sustainability of Maeul-soops. It was confirmed that there was a need to prepare a national level ecological response strategy for each vulnerability factor of Maeul-soop, which was important national ecological resources.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.577-584
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• 2009

This study was conducted to verify the types of village forest in Gyeongsan City, North Gyeongsang Province, and a total of 32 village forests were investigated. The result indicated that village forests in Gyeongsan City can be classified as 8 village enterance forests(25.0%), 6 hillside forests(18.8%), 7 streamside forests(21.9%), and 11 village peripheral forests(34.4%). The major tree species in the village enterance forests are as follows: Zelkova serrata(34.3%), Ginkgo biloba(11.2%) and Robinia pseudoacacia(10.5%). The major tree species in hillside forests are: Pinus densiflora(56.8%), Quercus acutissima(26.4%) and Zelkova serrata(4.3%). The major tree species in the streamside forests are: Zelkova serrata(40.4%), Salix chaenomeloides var. chaenomeloides(27.1%) and Cornus wateri(5.5%). The major tree species in the village peripheral forests are: Zelkova serrata(21.7%), Quercus acutissima(10.8%) and Cornus walteri(8.9%). The habitat fragmentation due to transportation infrastructure, the function of habitats for village forests has deteriorated. In order to improve it, the management plan should be implemented and the seedlings of village forest trees should be carefully selected and propagated. Furthermore, the public should be educated about the importance of preserving and developing those village forests.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.85-93
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• 2008

The MAEULSOOP, Korean traditional village groves have been installed and survived since 7th Century to serve local village dwellers as a community forest. The common sense of their reasons for being is related to the surroundings such as hills, waterways and wind-ways. To understand the roles in a local community, spatial characteristics of distribution, locations and shapes were tested at the two-characterized regions, the Southwestern Flat Region and the Eastern Hilly Region. Approximately more than 500 written evidences related to trees and forests were surveyed, for example village names, folk tales and lists of designated trees for protection. Twenty sites in each region were selected and tested for the spatial analysis. Aerial photographs, DEM and the ArcGIS with a modified AML for slope analysis are applied based on the criteria of the KLCIS(Kwon, 2002; 권진오, 2008). The major factors in the role of the MAEULSOOP based on the spatial character of two regions are; the array and locations of hills for encircling or exposure, locations against corridors and waterway or not, locations of the community to serve, the conservation of energy. Although locations and shapes of the MAEULSOOP are slightly different, it seems that one of the prime roles is what makes their everyday life difficult the most in the community.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.535-554
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• 2013

This study was to investigate the characteristics and management condition of the Singeum village's Dangsan forest, and to seek the revitalization of rural village by improving management scheme. The Dangsan forest in Singeum-ri, Goheung-gun was composed of a Dangsan forest and a Bibo forest. The Dangsan forest was designated as natural monument # 362, and named 'Evergreen forest of Bongnae-myeon, Goheung'. The Dangsan forest area has been disturbed by the building of student training center. Even the local resident couldn't enter the forest due to the fence at the forest boundary except for Dangsan ritual which used to be serviced once a year. The Bibo forest was included in a beach area, and disturbed by lack of management. The Dangsan forest did not stay in good condition with various problems, such as wrong naming as a natural monument and misuse. The driving force of the Dangsan forest maintaining the beauty for several hundred years originated from the conservation of the forest with Dangsan ritual by local residents. Today, the Dangsan forest is in danger of being vanished and not regarded any more as a holy place due to inaccessibility for Dangsan ritual. The Dangsan forest in Singeum village needs to enhance its value as a traditional and cultural landscape, and improving the management scheme will contribute to revitalization of the village.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.444-457
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• 2014

Dangsan forests are traditional village forests which have been established by local residents. They represent unique cultural landscape of Korea with a history of more than several hundred years. It is necessary for a cultural contents to have locality and globality so as to represent Korea. Cultural heritage can retain their value when they are fully sustained their authenticity and management scheme. Although many Dangsan forests have been on the verge of disappearance, the four villages in Sinwon-ri have retained Dangsan forests with Dangsan ritual. In this study, a designation of 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology' including Dangsan forests, Bibo forests, rice paddy field, and stream in Sinwon-ri was suggested. This 'Conservation area of agricultural landscape ecology' can be developed to unique glocal cultural content of rural Korea, and will contribute to enhance the value of the Dangsan forest's, and revitalization of rural villages.