• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-50
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• 2005

This study estimates the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for avoiding the destruction of a first-grade ecological area by means of contingent valuation method. Specifically, we employ the dichotomous choice technique along with the follow-up questionnaires. Our analysis implies the yearly WTP per household for avoiding the destruction of the ecological area of 100,000 pyongs is 8,898 won with the 95% confidence interval of 6,611~11,976 won. We estimate the asset value of that area to be 1,707 billion won with the 95% confidence interval of 1,269 to 2,298 billion won. We also decompose the total value of the area into the value of direct (22%) and indirect (38.8%) use, the option value (19.9%) and the conservation value (21.3%). Although using these data for SEEA (the system of integrated environmental economic accounting) is bound by certain restrictions, one could employ our empirical findings as advisory information for decision making in the process of prior environmental review or for assessing the environmental impact.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2015

The Ecosystem and Nature Map (ENM) is basic map for current status of natural resources. The map has been offered information to ecological conservation and restoration, as well as to land use planning and policy making. The map composed of 794 sheets in 1:25,000 scale classifies total areas into three grade zones (1st, 2nd and 3rd grade zones) and separately managed zone. In 2005, the first draft Ecosystem and Nature Map was prepared by the second National Ecosystem Survey. It was opened for the people to search and appeal. So 1,419 cases of public appeals on the first draft Ecosystem and Nature Map were submitted in 2005. After partial revision, the first Ecosystem and Nature Map was announced in 2007. The second draft Ecosystem and Nature Map was prepared by the third National Ecosystem Survey and opened to public in 2012. As a result, 1,263 cases of public appeals were submitted in 2012. Since the first announcement of the Ecosystem and Nature Map in April 2007, 182 cases of public appeals on the Map were submitted until December 2013. Among them, 159 cases were announced with revision. According to the first Ecosystem and Nature Map announced in 2007, graded areas covered 7.5% in the 1st grade zone, 39.2% in the 2nd grade zone and 44.7% in the 3rd grade zone of the national land area, respectively. In the second draft Ecosystem and Nature Map in 2012, areas of the 1st grade zone and the 2nd grade zone were 9.2% increased 1.7 percentage points and 45.5% increased 6.3 percentage points, and areas of the 3rd grade zone were 36.6% decreased 8.1 percentage points. Among areas of the 1st grade zone, Gangwondo occupies 54.3% in 2007 and 47.6% in 2012. Gangwondo consists of the highest percentage of the 1st grade zone and the smallest of the 3rd grade zone. Seoul has the highest percentage of the 3rd grade zone. There were the highest increase of the 1st grade zone in Gyeongsangbukdo and the highest decrease in Jeollabukdo and Seoul. Vegetation is the most important evaluation factor to determine the grade of the Ecosystem and Nature Map.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

This study, which was conducted from Apr. 2013 to Jan. 2014, was carried out as part of a project of making a more detailed ecological zoning map with 1/5,000 scale. The necessity of electronic vegetation map with large scale has arisen in order to make the best use of basic research findings on resource monitoring of National Parks and to enhance efficiency in National Park management. In order to improve accuracy and speed of vegetation research process, the data base for vegetation research was categorized into five groups, namely broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest, mixed forest, rock vegetation and miscellaneous one. And then a vegetation map for vegetation research was created for the research on the site. What is in the database for vegetation research and the vegetation map reflecting findings from vegetation research showed similar distribution rate for broad-leaved forest with 71.965% and 71.184%, respectively. The distribution rate of coniferous forest (16.010%, 15.747%), mixed forest (10.619%, 12.085%), and rock vegetation (0.015%, 0.002%) did not have much difference. In a detailed vegetation map reflecting vegetation research findings, the broad-leaved mountain forest was the most widely distributed with 60.096% based on the physiognomy classification. It was followed by mountain coniferous forest (16.332%), mountain valley forest (15.887%), and plantation forest (3.558%) As for vegetation conservation classification evaluated in the national park, grade I and grade II areas took up 200.44 km2, 61.80% and 108.80 km2, 33.55% respectively. The combined area of these two amounts to 95.35%, making this area the first grade area in ecological nature status. This means that this area is highly worth preserving its vegetation. The high rate of grade I area such as climax forests, unique vegetation, and subalpine vegetation seems to be attributable to diverse innate characteristics of Odaesan National Park, high altitude, low level of artificial disturbance, the subalpine zone formed on the ridge of the mountain top, and their vegetation formation, which reflects climatic and geological characteristics, despite continuous disturbance by mountain climbing.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.565-575
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to derive political implications and to look into the establishment of new directions for the biotope mapping across the Korean territory so that such biotope mapping process could be used as a means of actual plan for natural environment preservation through the comparative study of biotope mapping methodology with that of the biotope mapping pioneer-Germany. As for research methodology, this study collected literature and data related to the biotope mapping of Korea and Germany and examined the general characteristics and inclinations about biotope mapping of both country, at a level of the national territory, federal government, provincial government, city and settlement areas. As a result of the examination, first, it was found that Germany drew up a landscape eco-type map and ecological landscape grade map throughout the nation in order to preserve and manage effectively by differential landscape eco-type unit. In contrast, Korea drew up a map on which Degree of Green Naturality and Ecological Nature Status are reflected for natural environment preservation at a nationwide unit. Secondly, the biotope mapping of German was worked centering on natural areas and their corresponding areas at German provincial government level and it drew up a Red-list by each province, while Korea has yet to carry out biotope mapping at a provincial level corresponding to Germany's. Thirdly, the biotope mapping on German cities and settlement areas includes not only big city areas but also medium & small cities and rural areas whereas Korean biotope mapping is conducted mainly centering on urban areas. In conclusion, this study suggests that the biotope mapping including natural areas and anti-natural area, not limited to city areas should be revitalized in order to be a real means of the all territory's balanced natural environment and biotope preservation & management. In addition, for this purpose, this study suggests that research on biotope pattern catalog and biotope red-list applicable to all territory should be preceded.