• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.439-454
• /
• 2013

UN-REDD (United Nations programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is currently being emerged as one of important mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide in relation to the deforestation. Although administrative boundary has already gained world-wide recognition as a typical method of monitoring unit in the process of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reduction project, this approach did not provide a realistic evidence in the carbon sequestering monitoring in terms of UN-REDD; the meaningful comparison of land use patterns among watershed boundaries, interpretation for distribution trends of carbon density, calculation of opportunity cost, leakage management, etc. This research proposes a comparative evaluation framework in a more objective and quantitative way for carbon sequestering monitoring between administrative and watershed boundary approaches. Mt. Geumgang of North Korea was selected as a survey objective and an exhaustive and realistic comparison of carbon sequestration between the two approaches was conducted, based on change detection using TM satellite images. It was possible for drainage boundary approach to identify more detailed area-wide patterns of carbon distribution than traditional administrative one, such as estimations of state and trends, including historical trends, of land use / land cover and carbon density in the Mt. Geumgang. The distinctive changing trends in terms of carbon sequestration were specifically identified over the watershed boundary from 4.0% to 34.8% while less than 1% difference was observed in the administrative boundaries, which were resulting in almost 21-22%. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference to support more scientific and objective decision-making in introducing watershed boundary as carbon sequestering monitoring unit.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2019

Carbon dioxide is one of the major driving forces causing climate changes, and many countries have been trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from various sources. Soil stores more carbon dioxide(two to three times) amounts than atmosphere indicating that soil organic carbon emission management are a pivotal issue. In this study, we developed a Soil Organic Carbon(SOC) storage estimation model to predict SOC storage amounts in soils. Also, SOC storage values were assessed based on the carbon emission price provided from Republic Of Korea(ROK). Here, the SOC model calculated the soil hydraulic properties based on the soil physical and chemical information. Base on the calculated the soil hydraulic properties and the soil physical chemical information, SOC storage amounts were estimated. In validation, the estimated SOC storage amounts were 486,696 tons($3.526kg/m^2$) in Jindo-gun and shown similarly compared to the previous literature review. These results supported the robustness of our SOC model in estimating SOC storage amounts. The total SOC storage amount in ROK was 305 Mt, and the SOC amount at Gyeongsangbuk-do were relatively higher than other regions. But the SOC storage amount(per unit) was highest in Jeju island indicating that volcanic ashes might influence on the relatively higher SOC amount. Based on these results, the SOC storage value was shown as 8.4 trillion won in ROK. Even though our SOC model was not fully validated due to lacks of measured SOC data, our approach can be useful for policy-makers in reducing soil organic carbon emission from soils against climate changes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.233-242
• /
• 2023

The objective of this study was to develop a management strategy for the recovery of carbon storage capacity of abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation area. For the purpose, the biomass and stand carbon storage over time after the forest rehabilitation by tree type for Betula platyphylla, Pinus densiflora, and Alnus hirsuta trees which are major tree species widely planted for the forest rehabilitation in the abandoned coal mine were calculated, and compared them with general forest. The carbon storage in abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation areas was lower than that in general forests, and based on tree species, Pinus densiflora stored 48.9%, Alnus hirsuta 41.1%, and Betula platyphylla 27.0%. This low carbon storage is thought to be caused by poor growth because soil chemical properties, such as low TOC and total nitrogen content, in the soil of abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation areas, were adverse to vegetation growth compared to those in general forests. DBH, stand biomass, and stand carbon storage tended to increase after forest rehabilitation over time, whereas stand density decreased. Stand' biomass and carbon storage increased as DBH and stand density increased, but there was a negative correlation between stand density and DBH. Therefore, after forest rehabilitation, growth status should be monitored, an appropriate growth space for trees should be maintained by thinning and pruning, and the soil chemical properties such as fertilization must be managed. It is expected that the carbon storage capacity the forest rehabilitation area could be restored to a level similar to that of general forests.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.61-72
• /
• 2023

Accurate estimation of forest carbon stocks is important in establishing greenhouse gas reduction plans. In this study, we estimate the spatial distribution of forest carbon stocks using machine learning techniques based on high-resolution remote sensing data and detailed field survey data. The high-resolution remote sensing data used in this study are Landsat indices (EVI, NDVI, NDII) for monitoring vegetation vitality and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data for describing topography. We also used the forest growing stock data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) for estimating forest biomass. Based on these data, we built a model based on machine learning methods and optimized for Korean forest types to calculate the forest carbon stocks per grid unit. With the newly developed estimation model, we created forest carbon stocks maps and estimated the forest carbon stocks in South Korea. As a result, forest carbon stock in South Korea was estimated to be 432,214,520 tC in 2020. Furthermore, we estimated the loss of forest carbon stocks due to the Donghae-Uljin forest fire in 2022 using the forest carbon stock map in this study. The surrounding forest destroyed around the fire area was estimated to be about 24,835 ha and the loss of forest carbon stocks was estimated to be 1,396,457 tC. Our model serves as a tool to estimate spatially distributed local forest carbon stocks and facilitates accounting of real-time changes in the carbon balance as well as managing the LULUCF part of greenhouse gas inventories.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.102 no.4
• /
• pp.467-476
• /
• 2013

Site index information given from forest site map only exist in the sampled locations. In this study, site index for unsampled locations were estimated using kriging interpolation method which can interpolate values between point samples to generate a continuous surface. Site index of Pinus densiplora in Danyang area were calculated using Chapman-Richards model by plot unit. Then site index for unsampled locations were interpolated by theoretical variogram models and ordinary kriging. Also in order to assess parameter selection, cross-validation was performed by calculating mean error (ME), average standard error (ASE) and root mean square error (RMSE). In result, gaussian model was excluded because of the biggest relative nugget (37.40%). Then spherical model (16.80%) and exponential model (8.77%) were selected. Site index estimates of Pinus densiplora throughout the entire area in Danyang showed 4.39~19.53 based on exponential model, and 4.54~19.23 based on spherical model. By cross-validation, RMSE had almost no difference. But ME and ASE from spherical model were slightly lower than exponential model. Therefore site index prediction map from spherical model were finally selected. Average site index from site prediction map was 10.78. It can be expected that regional variance can be considered by site index prediction map in order to estimate forest biomass which has big spatial variance and eventually it is helpful to improve an accuracy of forest carbon estimation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.342-351
• /
• 2014

The present paper investigates the performance of direct wet mineral carbonation technology to fix carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from relatively high $CO_2$ concentration feeding gas using wollastonite ($CaSiO_3$)-water (and 0.46 M acetic acid) suspension solution. To minimize the energy consumed on the process, the carbonation in this work is carried out at atmospheric pressure and slightly higher room temperature. As a result, carbon fixation is confirmed on the surface of $CaSiO_3$ after carbonation with wollastonite-water suspension solution and its amount is increased according to the $CO_2$ composition in the feeding gas. The leaching and carbonation ratio of wollastonite-water suspension system obtained from the carbonation with 50% of $CO_2$ composition feeding gas is 13.2% and 10.4%, respectively. On the other hand, the performance of wollastonite-acetic acid in the same condition is 63% for leaching and 1.39% for carbonation.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.420-431
• /
• 2015

As biodiversity and climate change have become main issues in recent times, the role of the forest ecosystem has been more important and forest conservation has been highlighted. The purpose of this study is to estimate forest area with high conservation values in Gapyung-gun by considering forest ecosystem services. The indicators of biodiversity, climate regulation, and water regulation were selected for assessment in this study. To assess biodiversity, habitat structural features and distribution characteristics of species were analyzed. Climate regulation and water regulation were assessed through analysis of carbon absorption volume and water storage. The result showed that, 50.1% of the forests in Gapyung-gun had high conservation values. The results were verified by comparing them with distribution tendencies of other environmental maps, which represent forest ecological values, and showed similar distribution tendencies. The study was conducted on only Gapyung-gun in Korea; however, the methods used in this study could be utilized for assessment of other areas to identify forests with high conservation values.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2003

The study area, Kwangneung Experiment Forest (KEF) is located on the west-central portion of Korean peninsula and belongs to a cool-temperate broadleaved forest Bone. At the old-growth deciduous forest near Soribong-peak (533.1 m) in KEF, we have established a 1 ha permanent plot ($100m{\times}100m$) and a flux tower, and the site was registered as a KLTER(Korean long-term ecological research network) and DK site of KoFlux. In this site, we made a stemmap of trees and analyzed forest stand structure and physical and chemical soil characteristics, and estimated carbon budgets by forest components (tree biomass, soils, litter and so on). Dominant tree species were Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora, and accompanied by Q. aliena, Carpinus cordata, and so on. As a result of a field survey of the plot, density of the trees larger than 2 cm in DBH was 1,473 trees per ha, total biomass 261.2 tons/ha, and basal area $28.0m^2$/ha. Parent rock type is granite gneiss. Soil type is brown forest soil (alfisols in USDA system), and the depth is from 38 to 66 cm. Soil texture is loam or sandy loam, and its pH was f개m 4.2 to 5.0 in the surface layer, and from 4.8 to 5.2 in the subsurface layer. Seasonal changes in LAI were measured by hemispherical photography at the 1.2 m height, and the maximum was 3.65. And the spatial distributions of volumetric soil moisture contents and LAIs of the plot were measured. The carbon pool in living tree biomass including below ground biomass was 136 tons C/ha, and 5.6 tons C/ha is stored in the litter layer, and about 92.0 tons C/ha in the soil to the 30 cm in depth. Totally more than about 233.6 tons C/ha was stored in DK site. These ground survey and monitoring data will give some important parameters and validation data for the forest dynamics models or biogeochemical dynamics models to predict or interpolate spatially the changes in forest ecosystem structure and function.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.415-424
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to estimate carbon stocks of Pinus densiflora with drawing volume of trees in each tree height and DBH applying the suitable stem taper equation and tree specific carbon emission factors, using collected growth data from all over the country. Information on distribution area, tree age, tree number per hectare, tree volume and volume stocks were obtained from the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (2006~2010) and Statistical yearbook of forest (2016), and method provided in IPCC GPG was applied to estimate carbon stock and uptake. Performance in predicting stem diameter at a specific point along a stem in Pinus densiflora by applying Kozak's model, $d=a_{1}DBH^{a_2}a_3^{DBH}X^{b_{1}Z^2+b_2ln(Z+0.001)+b_3\sqrt{Z}+b_4e^z+b_5(\frac{DBH}{H})}$, which is well known equation in stem taper estimation, was evaluated with validations statistics, Fitness Index, Bias and Standard Error of Bias. Consequently, Kozak's model turned out to be suitable in all validations statistics. Stem volume table of P. densiflora was derived by applying Kozak's model and carbon stock tables in each tree height and DBH were developed with country-specific carbon emission factors ($WD=0.445t/m^3$, BEF = 1.445, R = 0.255) of P. densiflora. As the results of analysis in carbon uptake for each province, the values were high with Gangwon-do $9.4tCO_2/ha/yr$, Gyeongsandnam-do and Gyeonggi-do $8.7tCO_2/ha/yr$, Chungcheongnam-do $7.9tCO_2/ha/yr$ and Gyeongsangbuk-do $7.8tCO_2/ha/yr$ in order, and Jeju-do was the lowest with $6.8tC/ha/yr$. Total carbon stocks of P. densiflora were 127,677 thousands tC which is 25.5% compared with total percentage of forest and carbon stock per hectare (ha) was $84.5tC/ha/yr$ and $7.8tCO_2/ha/yr$, respectively.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.319-330
• /
• 2015

This study was carried out to predict the optimal growth site and estimate carbon stocks of Quercus acuta, evergreen broad-leaved trees in warm temperate zone according to climate change. The criterion for the optimal site prediction was created by quantification method with quantitative and qualitative data, collected from growth factors of stands and environmental factors of survey sites of 42 plots in Q. acuta by study relationship between growth of tree and site environmental factors. A program for the optimal site prediction was developed by using GIS engine tools. To prediction of the suitable growth site of Quercus acuta, developed program in this study applied to Wando in Jeollanam-do, distributing a various evergreen bread-leaved trees of warm temperate zone. In the results from analysis of the optimal site prediction on Q. acuta, the characteristics of the optimal site showed as follows; site environmental features of class I (the best site class for Q. acuta) was defined as 401 ~ 500 m of altitude, $21{\sim}25^{\circ}$ of slope with above hillside, residual of deposit convex of slope type with west of aspect. The area and carbon stocks of optimal site prediction by class for Q. acuta in classI showed 147.1 ha (2.5%), total 316.5 tC/ha, total $1,161tCO_2/ha/yr$ of class I, 2,703.5 ha (46.3%), total 5,817.4 tC/ha, total $21,331tCO_2/ha/yr$ of class II, 2,845.5 ha (48.6%), total 6,123.0 tC/ha, total $2,845.5tCO_2/ha/yr$ of class III and 153.7 ha (2.6%), total 330.7 tC/ha, total $1,213.7tCO_2/ha/yr$ of class IV.