• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.140-148
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the physical and psychological effects of an urban forest-walking program for office workers. For many workers, sedentary lifestyles can lead to low levels of physical activity causing various health problems despite an increased interest in health promotion. Methods: Fifty four office workers participated in this study. They were assigned to two groups (experimental group and control group) in random order and the experimental group performed 5 weeks of walking exercise based on Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills Model. The data were collected from October to November 2014. SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that the urban forest walking program had positive effects on the physical activity level (U=65.00, p <.001), health promotion behavior (t= - 2.20, p =.033), and quality of life (t= - 2.42, p =.020). However, there were no statistical differences in depression, waist size, body mass index, blood pressure, or bone density between the groups. Conclusion: The current findings of the study suggest the forest-walking program may have positive effects on improving physical activity, health promotion behavior, and quality of life. The program can be used as an effective and efficient strategy for physical and psychological health promotion for office workers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.167-185
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study is to prepare a plan for improving the bird habitat environment of Linear Park. To this end, after grasping the status of bird habitats on the Gyeongchun Line Forest Road, a representative linear park in Seoul, the habitat environment was evaluated and the correlation with the bird habitat was analyzed to derive a plan to improve the habitat environment. The results for correlation between diversity of birds and habitat environment were as follows. For the habitat environment inside the park, the order of positive correlation was in the order of park area (0.92), number of insect species (0.87), green area ratio (0.77), average width of linear park (0.74), Biotope area ratio (0.73), Immigration planted species (0.57). Also, for habitat environment outside the park, the bird diversity was influenced in the order of area outside the park (0.88), green area ratio of the park (0.76). Thus, in order to enhance the diversity of birds found in the park, the bird habitat environment inside the park needs to expand the park area, secure insect diversity, enhance green area ratio and ecological area ratio, expand the width of linear park, and lower the impermeable layer. For the bird habitat environment outside the park, wider area, green area ratio, and forest area of the park influenced on better bird habitation while lower ratio of road space and building-to-land ratio influenced on higher bird diversity. It is necessary to create an environment inhabitable for various species of birds and to make a healthy and pleasant city urban system for co-existence of human and living creatures.

• Journal of Naturopathy
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2021

Purposes: We studied whether forest bathing is effective in improving the stress of the human body. Therefore, we investigated changes in pulse rate, stress index, and autonomic nervous system after 2 hours of forest bathing on Jeju Samdasu Forest Methods : The study was conducted before and after forest bathing through heart rate variability and questionnaire. Results: After forest bathing, the average pulse rate of the experimental group was significantly increased. The stress index significantly decreased in the post-test in the experimental group. The cumulative stress, sympathetic activity (LF), parasympathetic activity (HF) change, and LF/HF ratio were slightly different from those of post-test in the experimental group, but were not statistically significant. In the survey of job stress average index and state characteristic anxiety index through questionnaire, it decreased significantly after forest bathing (p<.001). Conclusions: The Samdasu forest bathing has been proven effective in enhancing pulse and reducing stress, so it is evaluated that forest bathing is effective in promoting health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.102 no.4
• /
• pp.530-536
• /
• 2013

This study aimed to analyze and compare results from psychological relaxations by using profile of mood state (POMS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a scale of oxidative damage before and after walking in the forest and on the street. 29 participations (15 men and 14 women) walked in the forest and on the street for 30 minutes of each for two days. The participations filled a questionnaire for POMS and conducted an heart rate variability test, oxidative damage test (MDA as biological marker through a urine test) before and after walking. To compare the psychological states after walking in the two difference places, walking in the forest showed statistically more meaningful results in the section of tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confuse and total mood disturbance (p<0.01) than walking on the street. According to the MDA results, a concentration of MDA showed significant increase after walking on the street (p=0.014). On the contrary to this, a concentration of MDA tended to decrease after walking in the forest (p=0.076). The study showed that the psychological states were more stable and oxidative damages were more decreasing after walking in the forest than walking on the street. In the conclusion, MDA would be biological indicator for assessing the effect of alleviation on the oxidative stress after walking in the forest.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.109-126
• /
• 2015

This study is for constructing detailed data to secure biological diversity and maintain a healthy ecosystem in Backsasil Valley Ecological and Scenery Conservation Area, and for preparing an ecological management plan fit for the protected area. The period for this study was from April 2010 to May 2013. Recently, the increase of visitors to Baeksasil Valley, as well as the plantation and dissemination of introduced vegetable species, become factors accelerating ecological disturbance. Major research contents included the reviews of the management system of the protected areas, the necessity of ecological management at the basin level, establishing the system of a management plan, research and analysis of environment ecology, analysis of threatening factors, goal-setting, management strategies, and a plan through SWOT analysis. Survey items were the natural environment, major components of ecosystem, and human-use. The goals of ecological management were basin zone management for amphibians, conservation and restoration of forest vegetation for conservation habitat of Dryocopus martius, conservation habitat of Zelkova serrta for nature landscape, and management of users for environment protection. The conservation management plan at a basin zone level contains the management of point and non-point pollution sources in the upstream, securing growing conditions for native plants, securing safe habitats for amphibians, and securing of habitats for major wild birds. Also, restoration of natural forests, management of native plants and introduced vegetable species, and restoration of degraded forest paths are suggested for the restoration plans.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.101 no.2
• /
• pp.195-202
• /
• 2012

Three-season field study was conducted to investigate the distribution of monoterpene(10) and air anion in ambient air at five forests. ${\alpha}$-Pinene, camphene, sabinene, ${\beta}$-pinene, myrcene, terpinolene, limonene, 1,8-cineol, linalool, and camphor were quantified in the samples collected. The highest 4-hour mean concentration of total monoterpene were ${\beta}$-pinene+myrcene as 958 pptv at Juknokwon dominated by bamboo and ${\alpha}$-pinene (524 pptv), limonene (445 pptv) at Wood Land and Suncheon Bay, respectively. The seasonal means were observed to peak during spring with their maximum at Wood Land and Seonam Temple and during summer at Juknokwon and Suncheon Bay. The 24 hour concentration mean of atmosphere standards were found with much lower values than those by law. The highest concentrations of air anion were measured $400{\sim}3,000ea{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ through the sites. There is no significant correlation between the concentration of monoterpene and air anion.

• The Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2018

This study aimed to improve the quality of forest healing program through analyses of the program activities given at National Healing Forest and surveys conducted by Korea Forest Service. 99 DB data of the healing forest that were surveyed by KFS (August 2015~April 2016) were collected in order to affirm the activities. We analysed DB based on the format of the survey by target, 6 healing factors, location, season, time periods, operation hours and multifaceted evaluation. The results showed that the activities in the forest healing program targeted general public and the factor that was considered the most was psychotherapy factor. Healing forest trails were used as a location, spring, summer and fall as season, morning and afternoon as time period for the majority of the activities. The running time was 60 minutes. The multifaceted evaluation revealed that dynamic activities were preferred the most in development of programs. According to the results of the forest healing programs, it seems to be critical to enhance forest healing instructors' diversified professionalism. However, this will only be achievable once further investigations regarding forest healing effects by types of illnesses are conducted and provide solid foundation for such professionalism.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.468-474
• /
• 2021

Forest healing is a natural method that utilizes various natural environmental factors of forests to enhance immunity and to heal mental and physical pathologies. The aim of this study is to suggest implications for the future development of forest healing by analyzing the characteristics of facilities and programs in 28 national and public healing forests in Korea. The concept of forest healing and programs is defined, and healing forests operating in Korea are classified by size. The facility operation and program characteristics of healing forests were analyzed according to size, and the results were used to suggest a future direction for the development of domestic forest healing. The research results are as follows. First, domestic healing forests have gradually been reduced in size since they were first opened in 2009, which is the cause of the competitive creation of local governments. Second, healing spaces, forest paths, and programs for the elderly, pregnant women and disabled should be expanded. Third, lodging programs need to be expanded, and subsidies for usage fees from local governments are required. Institutional supplementation should be provided to link program development and facilities and to clarify procedures and standards for forest healing facilities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.112 no.4
• /
• pp.530-543
• /
• 2023

Societal value of the benefits forests provide has grown significantly, given their pivotal role in mitigating climate change and fostering the shift toward a carbon-neutral society. Due to the economic and public value of forests, which extends far beyond landowners and foresters, the forestry sector mutually interacts with society as a whole. Thus, understanding public perceptions and preferences concerning forests and forest policies from the societal viewpoint is vital for shaping future forest policy decisions. This research delved into evolving perceptions over the past 32 years, using a time-series analysis of data gathered from the 'Public awareness survey on forests'. This survey, conducted seven times between 1991 and 2023 by opinion poll agents, provides insights into changing sentiments. The findings reveal a notable increase in public satisfaction with overall forest policies. Specifically, positive sentiments were observed regarding forest rehabilitation, forest trails, education initiatives, and the establishment and functioning of forest recreation facilities. Conversely, the study highlights areas where public satisfaction remained relatively low, notably in matters concerning the use and conversion of mountainous regions, forest disaster prevention, and international forest cooperation. Additionally, the respondents emphasized the need for heightened attention to forest management, the development of forest roads, and increased efforts in overseas afforestation compared to current initiatives.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.90-98
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to provide basic data. his research conducted the survey using face to face survey and board survey during about 2 months from Oct. to Nov. in 2009 for users of Bongje Mt., a small-sized mountain at downtown, and Acha Mt., a big-sized mountain at outskirt so as to compare the differences of using behavior by forms and size of urban forest in living area of Seoul. Characteristics of urban forest users, using behavior, demands and satisfaction of facilities and management and pass pattern were set as research items. The thing in common for using behavior is that both genders of main users were in more than 40s~60s. They showed the highest using rate from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and high rate for using nearly everyday or visiting two or three times per a week. In addition, it's judged that the accessibility from dwelling area to entrance of urban forest in living area is good and satisfaction for the standard of facilities and their management in forest way was relatively low. For the complement and essential facilities, 'sanitary facilities' showed the highest rate. For the differences of using behavior, most of Bongje Mt. users were residents living within a 2km radius (under the standard of walking) and they moved by average 1.3km. And, they preferred short-time activities of about 24 minutes. On the other hand, main users of Acha Mt. were residents living within a 4km radius (under the standard of walking) and people of other regions. and 60% of them preferred the passage route taking 3hours half over 6km. Through the survey on using behavior of urban forest in living area of Seoul, with different using form and forest size, introduction of using program for main users or managing method of differentiations for introduced facility's management should be properly applied. Especially, urban forest should be systematically managed like park green as expected that residents's using of urban forest will be increased with the increase of leisure time.