• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2016

Since 2013, the forest carbon offest scheme is operated by 'ACT ON THE MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF CARBON SINK'. Most of projects account for afforestation, reforestation and restoration. This study analyzed what is affected to pricing factors for the registered 71 project of forest carbon offset in Korea Forest Service. The purpose of this study is to introduce information on the business plans of forest carbon offset scheme and aid to understand the process from registration to issuing offset credits. Also it is meaningful to proposing a policy for price competitiveness and how to enable forest carbon offset schemes to produce activation by measuring the factors that affect the forest carbon offset scheme. The results showed forest carbon credit price is 92,827 won per ton on average, it could see less price-competitive than emission rights market when compared with the price.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2016

To achieve large-scale carbon removals, a carbon offset project based on forest management was designed and its carbon stock change was estimated in this study. The project was designed for 874 hectares of forests in the Jin-An Leading Forest Management Zone. For estimating the carbon stock change of the project, the Korean Forest Carbon Standard and VCS (Verified Carbon Standard) methodologies were applied. Three types of management options were considered in the project : extension of rotation age, conversion to productive forests, and conversion to selective harvesting. The estimated carbon removals from the project designed in this study were $259,936tCO_2$ ($8,664tCO_2$ annually), which is 98% of estimated carbon removals from the entire 69 projects currently registered to the Forest Carbon Offset Registry in Korea. The results of this study showed that a large-scale carbon offset project based on forest management could have a huge potential to produce carbon offset credits.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2017

In this study, it was intended to compare the two methodologies for forest management project through extension of rotation age: Korean Forest Carbon Offset Standard (KFOS) and Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The amount of carbon removals and offset credits based on the two methodologies and their trends were analyzed in this study. The major difference between two methodologies were found at the process of estimation of baseline carbon removals. For instance, average carbon stock during the project period was used for estimation of baseline carbon removals in KFOS, while average carbon stock change during the 100 years was used in VCS. Due to the different approach for estimation of baseline carbon removal, the estimated offset credits were also different according to the two methodologies. In this study, 15 project scenarios were considered for comparison of two methodologies : 5 major coniferous stands in Korea (Pinus densiflora in Gangwon region, Pinus densiflora in Central region, Pinus koraiensis, Larix leptolepis, Chamaecyparis obtusa) with 3 project periods (30, 35, 40 years). The results showed that estimated carbon offset credits based on the KFOS methodology were higher for all 15 scenarios compared to those based on the VCS methodology. The KFOS showed a steep decline in the annual offset credit as project period gets longer, thus it is not desirable for projects with longer period. VCS is more acceptable for longer projects with a small difference according to the project periods. The results also indicated that Pinus densiflora in Gangwon, Pinus koraiensis, and Larix leptolepis are more desirable species for forest management project through the extension of ration age.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.165-176
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• 2022

To raise awareness of carbon reduction in climate change, the Korea Forest Service has developed and adopted a forest carbon offset program, which aims to reduce carbon levels based on forest management. However, to maintain the forest carbon offset program, challenges such as the lack of a forest monitoring system to manage and maintain the program, must be faced. In this context, we investigated the limitations of conducting forest carbon offset programs using a number of interview techniques, including in-depth interview and questionnaire survey methods. The questionnaire surveys were developed based on the results of a literature review along with a preinterview and in-depth survey of the people in charge of the forest carbon offset program. The Irving Seidman technique was adopted for the in-depth interviews. Additionally, descriptive and frequency analyses were conducted to identify the characteristics of perception. Lastly, logistic regression was used to identify the limiting factors that affect the willingness to perform forest carbon offset monitoring activity. Results showed that the project managers or people in charge of the forest carbon offset program lacked expertise in forest carbon offset programs, which negatively affected their willingness to perform monitoring activity. Additionally, the study revealed a number of limiting factors that hindered the monitoring of forest carbon offset projects. Improving understanding using the approaches presented in this study may contribute to increasing the benefits associated with the forest carbon offset program in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.137-146
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• 2014

We have developed the Forest Carbon Sink Index on afforestation and reforestation activities, a regulation stated in article 26 of the 'Law on the maintenance and enhancement of carbon sink (Carbon Sink Law)', which took effect on March, 2013. According to the legal purpose to evaluate the performance of individual forest carbon offset projects and to compare each other at a certain point, values of the forest carbon sink index were calculated by the scoring method. Three criteria were established based on the Carbon Sink Law: 'Carbon' (real greenhouse gas reduction), 'Human' (socio-economic effect) and 'Nature' (environmental effect). Continuously, 9 indicators from the three criteria were selected by top-down approach; the adequacy of each criteria and indicators were reviewed through on-line Delphi survey; and finally weighted value of each criteria and indicators were assigned. To reflect the characteristics of the domestic forest carbon offset projects, which focus on corporate social responsibility-typed projects, we applied the score weighting method to minimize gaps among criteria and ones among indicators. After applying our newly developed forest carbon sink index to five domestic forest carbon offset projects, we could confirm that the criteria of 'Human' and 'Nature', which criteria are in relatively low weight, can play a role as an actual incentive to reduce negative socio-economic and environmental impacts. Based on performance evaluation of the five forest carbon offset project by the forest carbon sink index, the best or good performance project developers could be rewarded, and further the performance evaluation would work as an incentive to stimulate the involvement of domestic project developers in the field of forest carbon offset project.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2013

The carbon-offset mechanism based on forest management has been recognized as a meaningful tool to sequestrate carbons already existing in the atmosphere. Thus, with an emphasis on the forest-originated carbon-offset mechanism, the accurate measurement of the carbon stock in forests has become important, as carbon credits should be issued proportionally with forest carbon stocks. Various remote sensing techniques have already been developed for measuring forest carbon stocks. Yet, despite the efficiency of remote sensing techniques, the final accuracy of their carbon stock estimations is disputable. Therefore, minimizing the uncertainty embedded in the application of remote sensing techniques is important to prevent questions over the carbon stock evaluation for issuing carbon credits. Accordingly, this study reviews the overall procedures of carbon stock evaluation-related remote sensing techniques and identifies the problematic technical issues when measuring the carbon stock. The procedures are sub-divided into four stages: the characteristics of the remote sensing sensor, data preparation, data analysis, and evaluation. Depending on the choice of technique, there are many disputable issues in each stage, resulting in quite different results for the final carbon stock evaluation. Thus, the establishment of detailed standards for each stageis urgently needed. From a policy-making perspective, the top priority should be given to establishinga standard sampling technique and enhancing the statistical analysis tools.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2012

Forests as carbon sinks and sources, play an important role in mitigating global climate change. Nonpermanence problem of forest carbon offset projects should be addressed practically and properly for obtaining credible forest carbon credits. This study aims to analyze major non-permanence approaches and their applicability for Korean forest carbon offset projects. Introduction of the buffer system, one of the most generally used non-permanence approaches, should be considered first for domestic forest carbon offset schemes. From the research survey, experts preferred the buffer system to other approaches such as forest certification, conservation easement, and longer conservation period. Standard development including a buffer system with a risk assessment tool is required to assure project participation and permanence of carbon credits.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2015

Abstract Monitoring is the most critical element in implementing "forest carbon offset project" to enhance the visibility of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in North Korea. This study is intended to explore monitoring potential in terms of forest carbon offset project using satellite image for Baekdu mountain of North Korea. The permanent record of standard satellite remote sensing system demonstrated its capability of presenting area-wide visual evidences of monitoring conditions in Mt. Baekdu mountain of North Korea (site suitability, carbon stock by forest biomass growth, carbon emission by forest biomass loss, deforestation and degradation, environmental, social and economic impact specified in the Carbon Sequestration Law). It doesn't seem very difficult to comply with monitoring requirements for "the forest carbon offset project" due to the probative value of satellite data. Therefore, it could be considerable or realistic approach to utilize CSR based forest carbon offset project as a point of reform and open-door in North Korea. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference for Korea-based enterprises to ensure monitoring potentials using satellite image in exploring forest carbon offset project sites in North Korea.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.257-265
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• 2015

For estimating a net removal of carbon dioxides from a forest carbon offset project, it is necessary to consider secondary emissions occurred from the use of machineries or vehicles. According to the forest carbon standard in Korea, a default rate (5%) could be applied for estimating secondary emissions of small projects, which provide annual net removals less than or equal to $600tCO_2$, while secondary emissions should be estimated for larger projects with field survey. In this study, we intended to develop a methodology for estimating the secondary emission of a forest carbon project. For this purpose, we analyzed the working process and the carbon emissions of the forest management activities for major tree species in Korea. Based on the developed methodology, we estimated the secondary carbon emission of a reforestation project. The result showed that the secondary carbon emission of a reforestation project was estimated between 0.42% and 1.19 % compared to net removals, that is to say that the current default rate in the forest carbon standard could give an overestimated secondary emission.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.391-396
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• 2016

This study was intended to analyze the average abatement cost (AAC) of forest carbon offset projects to suggest a basic credit price for government purchase of forest carbon credits. For this purpose, an a/reforestation project and a forest management project were designed with 30 years of project period. It is assumed to plant pine trees (Pinus densiflora) for the a/reforestation project, while it is assumed to replace rigida pine trees(Pinus rigida) with oak trees (Quercus acutissima) for the forest management project. For each project, the forest carbon stock was calculated and the revenue and the cost were analyzed with standardized management activities. Korea Forest Service has supported private forest owners the cost of management activities and the consulting fee for designing carbon offset project. Therefore, the AAC were analyzed for two cases : the one with subsidy for consulting fee (case 1) and the other with subsidy for both consulting fee and management costs (case 2). In addition, the sensitiveness of AAC was analyzed according to the 4 credit prices : ￦5,000, ￦10,000, ￦15,000 and ￦20,000. The result showed that the AAC analyzed for the case 1 was so high that net revenue would not be expected from all project types with any credit price. However the AAC analyzed for the case 2 was relatively lower than the AAC of case 1. Net revenue was expected from a/reforestation project with credit price over ￦10,000, while from forest management project with credit price over ￦15,000. Based on the AAC analyzed in this study, ￦15,000 was suggested as the basic price for government purchase of forest carbon credit.