• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.201-214
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• 2015

This study was conducted to identify forest topsoil's usefulness from July 2013 to Oct 2014. Generally, there are abundant seeds in topsoils and it can be used at restoration works. Mt. GARIWANG is famous for biodiversity in Korea. This study was aimed to find out the suitable utilization methods of natural topsoils for restoration works at sky-slopes construction sites. Test beds was made to identify suitable collecting times and suitable topsoil thickness. The main results are summarized as follows. First, Mt. GARIWANG have diverse species and in topsoils we can find lots of burried seeds which can be used at restoration works. Second, according to indoor experiment, as the depth of topsoil used thicker, the number of plants and coverage rates were increased. Also, there were no distinct differences in coverage rates between 5cm and 8cm thick topsoil plots and it can be possible to use at least 3cm thick topsoils even thou lower coverage rates. Third, as the results of research about indoor and outdoor experimental plots, there were difference in plant emergency. If we use the stabilizer to protect soil erosion, then we can get more increased results at sloped outdoor experimental plots. Fourth, based on environmental impact assessment, there was 389 species in whole region of Mt. GARIWANG. Through this seed bank experiments, we can find 23 varieties, including 4 tree varieties and 19 herbaceous varieties. We can find lots of native herbaceous species from topsoils. Fifth, this research was done at the specific area of Mt. GARIWANG and used limited topsoils. But we monitoring more longer periods, then there will be more useful outcomes. Finally by researching topsoils of Mt. GARIWANG, we can find diverse native plants. Thus, we must reuse natural topsoils of Mt. Gariwang for restoration of original vegetation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.61-71
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• 2015

The objectives of this study are to construct an ecoregion map and to extract ecological factors from each ecoregion to adapt FLR (Forest Landscape Restoration) of North Korea. An ecological map was constructed by PCA(Principal Component Analysis) and MGC(Multivatiate Geographical Clustering). An ANOVA test verified the differences among ecoregions, and post-hoc pair wise comparisons were performed to determine similarities between them. Factor analysis was conducted to extract ecoregional characteristics. Ecoregions were distributed into clusters reflecting differences of south and north and of east and west of their ecological factors. About 12% of land area in North Korea shared similar ecological factors with South Korea, but the remaining 88% was found to be ecologically different. The ANOVA test showed a p-value of 0.000, indicating significant differences between the regions. Post-hoc pair wise comparisons indicated statistically significant similarities in annual mean temperature between ecoregion D and G, precipitation seasonality between ecoregion H and O, and precipitation of the warmest quarter between ecoregion K and O. Because ecoregion A and N showed same in their soil water contents, they were assumed that the dense of forest cover in the Southern ecoregion A is similar to that in the Northern ecoregion N of Korean peninsular. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to accommodate quantitative and spatial based planning, when South Korea aids forest restoration projects in North Korea. In addition, it is recommended for both South and North Korea to share on Forest Landscape Restoration methodologies with each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.19-28
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to establish the slope criteria and analyze the forest land restoration plan in North Korea. Reviewing the literature of the countries, the relationships among the climate, erosion controls, and slope criteria with forest restoration programmes, implemented were analyzed. Comparison of forest land management policies was conducted between South and North Korea. The soil erosion controls using biological barriers were at $15{\sim}20^{\circ}$slopes in arid climate regions and $25{\sim}30^{\circ}$ in humid climate regions. In the case of South Korea, an afforestation policy from the "Act on Clearance Project of Slash-and Burn Agriculture" of 1966 was enforced on mountains with slope greater than $20^{\circ}$, however, at present, the "Marginal Cropping Land Policy" recommends cropping lands with slope bigger than $8.5^{\circ}$ to forest land. In 1961, in "Land Reclamation of One Million Hectare", North Korea reclaimed additional cropping lands with slope bigger than $8.5^{\circ}$, and currently, the "Act on Forestry" states to enforce reforestation with slope bigger than $20^{\circ}$. This study recommends that South Korea aids for forest land restoration in North Korea based on the different stages of their development on reconciliation and cooperation between South and North Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.83-93
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• 2018

In Germany has a long history of ecological restoration and restoration management. At the beginning of the 1990s, the "Erfolgskontrolle" was used as an evaluation program after the restoration project and many exchanges of views took place. It is the time, in Korea, there is a need for a comprehensive evaluation program after the restoration project, as there is no evaluation method yet. At this time it may be the "Erfolgskontrolle" in Germany as a practical model for the Korean restoration management program. The purpose of this study is to identify the concept and character of the "Erfolgskontrolle" and to demonstrate the implication and potential of application, through the analysis of the implementation example of the revaluation of river revitalization. To achieve the goal was carried out theoretical and 3 exemplary revitalization research cases. And it was endeavored to deliver the German way of acting and the basic idea to Korea. For the restoration, the "precautionary principle" should be considered first, the upper legal regulation should not be violated. In order to apply "Erfolgskontrolle" in practice, the goal formulation should be clear and systematically evaluated. And through the collection of typified cases, the comprehensive and unified theory should be established, it is possible, thus the qualitative assessment of the restoration project.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.43-57
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• 2022

This study aims to classify forest fire-affected areas, identify forest types by the intensity of forest fire damage using multi-time Landsat-satellite images before and after forest fires and to analyze the effects of artificial restoration sites and natural restoration sites. The difference in the values of the Normalized Burned Ratio(NBR) before and after forest fire damage not only maximized the identification of forest fire affected and unaffected areas, but also quantified the intensity of forest fire damage. The index was also used to confirm that the higher the intensity of forest fire damage in all forest fire-affected areas, the higher the proportion of coniferous forests, relatively. Monitoring was conducted after forest fires through Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI), an index suitable for the analysis of effects by restoration type and the NDVI values for artificial restoration sites were found to no longer be higher after recovering the average NDVI prior to the forest fire. On the other hand, the natural restoration site witnessed that the average NDVI value gradually became higher than before the forest fires. The study result confirms the natural resilience of forests and these results can serve as a basis for decision-making for future restoration plans for the forest fire affected areas. Further analysis with various conditions is required to improve accuracy and utilization for the policies, in particular, spatial analysis through forest maps as well as review through site checks before and immediately after forest fires. More precise analysis on the effects of restoration will be available based on a long term monitoring.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2022

With the implementation of the fox restoration project, the number of foxes released into nature are increasing; therefore, in the future, foxes will be dispersed to other areas and will appear in human habitats. In this study, the habitat suitability index (HSI) of foxes was developed to predict and prepare for the effects. After extracting major environmental variables through literature research and GIS analysis, 5 suitability indices (SIs) were constructed. The forest physiognomy, slope, aspect, distance from water source, and distance from road are the main variables, and the arithmetic average value by giving twice the weight to the forest physiognomy is the HSI result. As a result of comparing with the data from the Natural Environment Survey, it is found that the fox coordinates have an average HSI value of 0.64, and the probability of appearance is high when it is 0.53 or higher. Using the results of this study, it is expected to be able to predict the distribution of foxes in advance, to use them as basic data for future restoration plans, or to identify the distribution of the species and the reduction plan in future environmental impact assessments.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.224-255
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• 2022

This study was carried out to examine the changes in vascular flora in the first and second surveys targeting 32 outstanding forest wetlands in Jeonnam area including Gwangju metropolitan city, and based on this, establish a future monitoring system and effectively manage the excellent forest wetlands. The survey investigated the area seasonally every 4-5 years from 2015 to 2021. The change of flora of 32 excellent forest wetlands in Jeollanam-do increased from 103 families, 311 genera, 496 species, 16 subspecies, 38 varieties, 6 varieties, 556 taxa, to 111 families, 362 genera, 599 species, 16 subspecies, 51 varieties, 8 varieties, 674 taxa. Remarkable plants such as Red list and plants endemic to the Korean Peninsula increased also. However, Nepeta cataria and the like are exterminated locally, so an in situ and ex situ conservation strategy must be established. In the case of plants categorized according to wetland preference, the distribution ratio of such wetland plants slightly decreased and the distribution ratio of such terrestrial plants lightly increased for absolute wetland plants. It is necessary to prepare countermeasures for the terrestrialization of forest wetlands and to develop research techniques that can distinguish boundaries. In addition, the forest wetland should be systematically managed and supervised by designating it as a Forest Genetic Resources Reserve that can effectively conserve it.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.94-106
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• 2022

In order to increase timber self-sufficiency, Korea's 6th Basic Forest Plan aims to increase the density of forest roads to 12.8 m ha^-1 by 2037. However, due to rapid re-forestation, current management infrastructure is insufficient, with just 4.8 m ha^-1 of forest roads in 2017. This is partly due to time and cost limitations on the process of forest road feasibility evaluation, which considers factors such as topography and forest conditions. To solve this problem, we propose an eco-friendly and efficient forest road network planning method using a geographic information system (GIS), which can evaluate a potential road site remotely based on spatial information. To facilitate such planning, this study identifies forest road construction priorities that can be evaluated using spatial information, such as topography, forest type and forest disasters. A method of predicting the optimal route to connect a forest road with existing roads is also derived. Overlapping analysis was performed using GIS-MCE (which combines GIS with multi-criteria evaluation), targeting the areas of Cheongsong-gun and Buk-gu, Pohang-si, which have a low forest-road density. Each factor affecting the suitability of a proposed new forest road site was assigned a cost, creating a cost surface that facilitates prioritization for each forest type. The forest path's optimal route was then derived using least-cost path analysis. The results of this process were 30 forestry site recommendations in Cheongsong-gun and one in Buk-gu, Pohang-si; this would increase forest road density for the managed forest sites in Cheongsong-gun from 1.58 m ha^-1 to 2.55 m ha^-1. This evaluation method can contribute to the policy of increasing timber self-sufficiency by providing clear guidelines for selecting forest road construction sites and predicting optimal connections to the existing road network.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.1
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• pp.88-96
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• 2024

This study was conducted to determine the optimal light conditions for the in situ and ex situ conservation and restoration of Osmanthus insularis, a rare plant species in South Korea. Evaluations included the growth performance, leaf morphological features, photosynthetic characteristics, and photosynthetic pigment contents of seedlings grown from April to November under different light conditions (100%, 55%, 20%, and 10% relative light intensity). The shoot lengths and root collar diameters did not differ significantly with relative light intensity. The dry weights of leaves, stems, and roots and the leaf number were highest at 55% relative light intensity. The leaf shape showed morphological acclimation to light intensity, with leaf area decreasing and thickness increasing as the relative light intensity increased. Several leaf parameters, including photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance at light saturation point, net apparent quantum yield, and dark respiration, as well as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents, were all highest at 55% relative light intensity. Under full light conditions, the leaves were the smallest and thickest, but the chlorophyll content was lower than at 55% relative light intensity, resulting in lower photosynthetic ability. Plants grown at 10% and 20% relative light intensity showed lower chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents, as well as decreased photosynthetic and dark respiration rates. In conclusion, O. insularis seedlings exhibited morphological adaptations in response to light intensity; however, no physiological responses indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency in shade were evident. The most favorable light condition for vigorous photosynthesis and maximum biomass production in O. insularis seedlings appeared to be 55% relative light intensity. Therefore, shading to approximately 55% of full light is suggested for the growth of O. insularis seedlings.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.135-153
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• 2021

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a border barrier with 248 kilometers in length and about 4 kilometers in width crossing east to west to divide the Korean Peninsula about in half. The boundary at 2 kilometers to the south is called the southern limit line. The DMZ has formed a unique ecosystem through a natural ecological succession after the Armistice Agreement and has high conservation value. However, the use of facilities for the military operation and the unchecked weeding often damage the areas in the vicinities of the southern limit line's iron-railing. This study aimed to prepare basic data for the restoration of damaged barren vegetation. As a result of classifying vegetation communities based on indicator species, 10 communities were identified as follows: Duchesnea indica Community, Hosta longipes Community, Sedum kamtschaticum-Sedum sarmentosum Community, Potentilla anemonefolia Community, Potentilla fragarioides var. major Community, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Community, Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum-Carex lanceolata Community, Dendranthema zawadskii Community, Plantago asiatica-Trifolium repens Community, and Ixeris stolonifera-Kummerowia striata Community. Highly adaptable species can characterize vegetation in barren areas to environment disturbances because artificial disturbances such as soil erosion, soil compaction, topography change, and forest fires caused by military activities frequently occur in the barren areas within the southern limit line. Most of the dominant species in the communities are composed of plants that are commonly found in the roads, roadsides, bare soil, damaged areas, and grasslands throughout South Korea. Currently, the vegetation in barren areas in the vicinities of the DMZ is in the early ecological succession form that develops from bare soil to herbaceous vegetation. Since dominant species distributed in barren land can grow naturally without special maintenance and management, the data can be useful for future restoration material development or species selection.