• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.95-105
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• 2021

Background and objective: A biosphere reserve is a complex concept that combines the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development with the region, outstanding ecosystems with worth conserving in worldwide. The purpose of this study is to suggest the way of zoning that can perform the functions of conservation, development, and logistics support of biosphere reserves. Methods: To meet the purpose of this study, the designation criteria, restrictions, and permissions of the protected area specified in the law for domestic protected areas were reviewed to classify the functions of a biosphere reserve. Results: Through this classification, 10 domestic protected areas with high ecological protection value, such as the natural beauty of the ecosystem, biodiversity, and habitats for wild animals and plants were derived as the core areas of the biosphere reserves. Also, a total of 21 protected zones that can function as a buffer to protect the core of the natural ecosystem from indiscriminate development such as resource protection, recovery, pollution prevention, and improvement were derived as appropriate sites for a buffer. In the review process, issues such as different behavioral restrictions and ranges of permission due to the application of different laws were identified, if two or more protected areas exist within one of the protected areas, there is a protected area that does not meet the criteria for designating use zone, or where behavior restrictions do not meet the zoning criteria of biosphere reserve, under the laws of domestic protected areas. Conclusion: Although this study was not able to carefully review most of the laws on domestic protected areas that are linked to other laws, it was able to categorize appropriate domestic protected areas that can act as the core and buffer zones of biosphere reserves.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.453-464
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• 2023

To this day, conflicts have intensified between managers who want to preserve biosphere reserves and citizen who want to develop them. Based on this problem, this study seeks to investigate the establishment of a forum for communication between various stakeholders and to promote the economic development of local communities while preserving biodiversity. First, in terms of conservation, the results indicated that Gyeonggi Province and Namyangju City highly valued direct conservation activities in biosphere reserves, whereas Pocheon and Uijeongbu City highly valued indirect conservation functions through management or monitoring. Second, in terms of development, it was found that there were differences in the roles, perceptions and responsibilities with respect to biosphere reserves among the different layers of government: the central government agency, the Cultural Heritage Administration, the metropolitan government, Gyeonggi-do, and the local governments, Pocheon, Namyangju, and Uijeongbu. Third, in terms of logistical support, which serves as a function for communication and practical participation among management entities, the results suggested that it was necessary to establish a comprehensive decision-making organization for efficient management and operation and to provide opportunities for active participation. The study can be utilized as a basic reference for developing efficient communication by management entities in protected areas with similar challenges.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.933-941
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• 2023

Since the Industrial Age, economic activities have raised environmental concerns, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity conservation areas. However, a fundamental contradiction exists between conservation and utilization, leading to conflicting interests. In light of these issues, the aim of this study was to propose efficient operational strategies for future urban biodiversity conservation areas, while also promoting local community economic development. Accordingly, the focus was the Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve as a case study. The findings reveal the following. First, all local residents recognize the importance of the biosphere reserve and hold a high regard for its direct role in conservation. Second, developing and promoting brands appears to have a more positive impact on local economic activation than activating projects linked to the biosphere reserve. Simultaneously, local residents have expressed negative evaluations of indiscriminate facility development, fearing reckless expansion. Third, if governance is promoted in the future, community participation will likely increase, leading to a strengthening of conservation awareness and the establishment of a framework among local residents and those in adjacent areas. Findings of this study are expected to serve as fundamental data for establishing effective communication among local residents in protected areas facing similar challenges, thus facilitating efficient decision-making processes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.241-247
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• 2015

A participatory approach of local stakeholders is important to create a balance between nature protection and the sustainable use of natural resources in a nature reserve and its vicinity area. The zoning and management policy of biosphere reserves (BRs) is a good example of this idea, especially for island reserves. Yakushima was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage (WH) in 1993. Almost all of its residents did not remember that Yakushima was a BR. In addition, Yakushima has some problems in nature reserve management. Overabundance of the deer population is a critical threat to both agriculture and natural vegetation in the world heritage site. There are too many tourists visiting the WH site and Nagata-hama beach. The beach is a Ramsar site and one of the most important spawning grounds of sea turtles in the north Pacific. Now, residents and the municipality have decided to reactivate the Yakushima BR. Although the Ministry of the Environment of Japan has an initiative to manage the WH and the Ramsar site, the BR is managed by the municipality and local stakeholders. Local activities of both nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources are encouraged in the BR site. The islanders willingly included all areas of the island into the BR site. Scientists who have participated in the Society of Yakushimaology have played a significant role to build trust between local stakeholders and to seek feasible policies on the nature reserves. The concept of the "Yakushima Environmental Culture Village" is a good model for the extension plan of the Yakushima and Kuchinoerabujima BRs.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-359
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• 2024

To conduct ethnobotanical study that grow wild in biosphere reserves or are traded in nearby traditional markets, we collected and analyzed traditional knowledge information on vascular plants that live in Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla. As a result, the ethnobotanical plants investigated in Mt. Seorak consisted of 102 families and 489 taxa. The ethnobotanical plants investigated in Mt. Halla consisted of 118 families and 374 taxa. Both ethnobotanical plants from Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla were most widely used for oriental medicine and treatment, and leaves were the most used organ. Differences in diversity by family of ethnobotanical plants inhabiting Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla showed significant differences only in other use. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Mt. Seorak consists of 59 species in 34 families and 56 genera. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Mt. Halla consists of 102 species in 49 families and 94 genera. All ethnobotanical plants traded in traditional markets were most often used for oriental medicine and treatment, and stems were used most often in the traditional market near Mt. Seorak, and leaves were used most often in the traditional market near Mt. Halla.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2021

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea did not have direct legislation on natural environmental conservation until the early 1970s when the regime was still in the early stage. The Law on Land was enacted in 1977 to provide the legal basis for protecting the natural environment, including land protection, protection zones, and forest formation and protection. The enactment of the Law on Environmental Protection in 1986 made progress on environmental conservation in the DPRK. The constitutional amendment in 1992 stipulated "the preservation and creation of the natural environment as the responsibility of the state." Based on the Framework Law on Environmental Protection, subordinate statutes in various fields were enacted after the1990s. While the committee designated and managed the protected zones in the early days, the Framework Law on Environmental Protection established the ground for the designation of legally protected areas, and the Law on Protection of Scenic Spots and Natural Monuments enacted in 1995, and the Law on Environmental Protection enacted in 2009 provided the details. Furthermore, the types of nature reserves include biosphere reserves, primeval forest reserves, animal reserves, plant reserves, and scenic reserves. The 2nd National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan established in 2007 based on the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) stated 326 protected zones in the DPRK. However, the 2018 United Nations list of Protected Areas shows only 31 registered zones, indicating the need to establish basic information on protected areas in DPRK. This study can provide basic information for a better understanding of the nature conservation system in the DPRK. Considering that environmental protection activities such as protection of endangered species and recovery of environmental pollution are subject to exceptions under the current sanctions against North Korea (UN Security Council, the United States), it will be possible to contribute to identifying possible inter-Korean cooperation projects in the field of the natural environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.369-378
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• 1991

Major statutory nature protection areas include Nature Parks, Nature Reserves. Nature Ecological System Protected Areas. Biosphere Reserves, Nature Protected Forests, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Protection Forests with total area of 1,124,000 ha. These protected areas cover almost 18% of the forested area. The number of visitors of NPs reached over 33 million per year with sharp increasing rate over the years. To protect the deteriorated hiking trails and camp grounds caused by overuse, two management policies have been implemented : cooking prohibition and natural rest rotation system. While prohibition of cooking is based on the fact that most of the solid wastes in nature parks are leftovers of cooking, natural rest rotation system is mainly for rehabilitation of deteriorated areas by natural processes. The system has closed 47 trails(in 27 mountains) throughout the country since January 1991, which is scheduled to continue 3 years. Due to the lack of accumulated scientific knowledge on how, when and where to close, application of the system leaves much to be desired. This paper discusses the current efforts to protect the natural resources for recreational use and suggests future directions for an effective policy implementation.