• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.573-581
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• 2010

Natural ecosystem is an essential part to connect with the plan for biodiversity conservation in response strategy against climate change. For connecting biodiversity conservation with climate change strategy, Europe, America, Japan, and China are making an effort to discuss protection necessity through national biodiversity valuation but precedent studies lack in Korea. In this study, we made biodiversity maps representing biodiversity distribution range using species richness in National Forest Inventory (NFI) and Forest Description data. Using regression tree algorithm, we divided various classes by decision rule and constructed biodiversity maps, which has accuracy level of over 70%. Therefore, the biodiversity maps produced in this study can be used as base information for decision makers and plan for conservation of biodiversity & continuous management. Furthermore, this study can suggest a strategy for increasing efficiency of forest information in national level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.428-434
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• 2022

This study was conducted to derive the site index of forest productivity of Robinia pseudoacacia (honey plant) to characterize suitable planting sites and to investigate the effect of the site environmental factors on the site index using the quantification theory I method. The data used in the analysis were growth factors (stand age, dominant height, etc.) of the 6th national forest resources survey and various site environmental factors of a forest soil map (1:5,000). The average site index value of the R. pseudoacacia stand in Korea was 14 (range, 8 to 18). The environmental factors affecting the site index were parent rock, climatic zone, soil texture, local topography, and altitude. The accuracy of the estimation model using quantification theory I was only 33%. However, the correlation between the site index and the site environmental factors was statistically significant at the 1% level. Results of quantification analysis between site index and site environmental factors revealed that metamorphic and igneous rocks received high grades as parent rocks, climate zones received higher grades than central temperate zone, clay loam and silt loam received high grades in soil texture, and hillside received a high grade in local topography. Analysis of the partial correlation between site topographical factors and forest productivity (site index) found that soil class and altitude were partially correlated to x by 0.4129 and 0.4023, respectively, indicating that these factors are the most influential variables.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.241-255
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• 2020

Background: The stem exclusion stage is a stage of forest development that is important for understanding the subsequent understory reinitiation stage and maturation stage during which horizontal heterogeneity is formed. Over the past 11 years (2009-2019), we observed a deciduous broad-leaved forest in the Albongbunji Basin in Ulleungdo, South Korea in its stem exclusion stage, where Fagus engleriana (Engler's beech) is the dominant species, thereby analyzing the changes in the structure (density and size distributions), function (biomass and species richness), and demographics. Results: The mean stem density data presented a bell-shaped curve with initially increasing, peaking, and subsequently decreasing trends in stem density over time, and the mean biomass data showed a sigmoidal pattern indicating that the rate of biomass accumulation slowed over time. Changes in the density and biomass of Fagus engleriana showed a similar trend to the changes in density and biomass at the community level, which is indicative of the strong influence of this species on the changing patterns of forest structure and function. Around 2015, a shift between recruitment and mortality rates was observed. Deterministic processes were the predominant cause of tree mortality in our study; however, soil deposition that began in 2017 in some of the quadrats resulted in an increase in the contribution of stochastic processes (15% in 2019) to tree mortality. The development of horizontal heterogeneity was observed in forest gaps. Conclusions: Our observations showed a dramatic shift between the recruitment and mortality rates in the stem exclusion stage, and that disturbance increases the uncertainty in forest development increases. The minor changes in species composition are likely linked to regional species pool and the limited role of the life-history strategy of species such as shade tolerance and habitat affinity. Our midterm records of ecological succession exhibited detailed demographic dynamics and contributed to the improvement of an ecological perspective in the stem exclusion stage.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.465-473
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• 2021

This study is the application of a choice experiment to assess Mekong Delta urban households' preferences and motivations for ecosystem conservation in the U Minh forest. The study applied a choice modeling approach to estimate the economic values of the proposed ecosystem conservation program in the U Minh forest by accessing urban consumer preferences and their willingness to pay for the project. Discrete choice experimental data was collected from 450 residents in the cities of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The multinomial logit model was employed to identify consumer's stated preferences for the environmental and sustainability attributes of the conservation project. The results showed that Mekong Delta urban residents paid much attention to the proposed project to protect and develop the U Minh forest. In addition, the results showed that higher education, income, and knowledge of the U Minh forest revealed a higher likelihood of selecting the project, while the older residents would select the status quo more than the younger ones. The study also proved that the effect of participation had a strong impact on the willingness to pay for the project. The findings could be useful for policymakers to take action to raise resident's awareness and willingness to pay for the U Minh forest project.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2022

This study was conducted to perform efficient conservation and management by classifying the types of wetlands distributed in forests of Korea and assigning grades according to the evaluation system from 2015 until 2019. From 2005 to 2014, 1,264 sites derived from the first national forest wetland survey and 16 additional excavated sites were classified and also evaluated 455 out of a total of 1,280 forest wetlands. Forest wetlands are divided into four types: natural type, abandoned paddy field type, man-made type, and modified type, and by reclassifying them in detail, a total of 11 detailed wetland types could be distinguished. Based on this, evaluation was performed according to various items such as plants and ecology, hydrology and hydrology, humanities and society, and the degree of disturbance was graded. As a result, the forest wetland value was sorted at 30 A- grade sites, high-value B-grade 201 sites, moderate C-grade 184 sites, and low-value D-grade 40 sites. Forest Genetic Resource Reserve (FGRR) and other effective area -based conservation measures (OECMs) were designated for 231 sites that received a high grade of A or B, and a long-term monitoring system should be established to systematically conserve forest biodiversity hotspot. It is judged that wetlands need to be managed more effectively and at the national level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.20-27
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of thinning and pruning on characteristics of forest stand, mesopore ratio and soil water content at the Pinus koraiensis stands in Gwangneung, Gyeonggido. The Pinus koraiensis had been planted in 1976 and thinning and pruning were carried out in 1996. A sample area survey was conducted at experimental plots (thinned and unthinned) in 1998 and 2005, and mesopore ratio and soil water content have been monitored from 2000 to present. Average tree height of the thinned plot increased from 10.9m to 13.2m and from 10.3m to 12.8m for the unthinned plot. Average D.B.H of the thinned plot increased from 15.9cm to 21.1cm and from 14.5cm to 16.7cm for the unthinned plot during the period 1998-2005. Crown density at the thinned plot increased from 81.5% to 95.0% and from 89.5% to 95.0% for the unthinned plot during the period 1998-2005. Mesopore ratio (pF2.7) of A layer soil at the thinned plot was 40.1% while that of the unthinned plot was 37.3%. Changes of mesopore ratio at unthinned plot were not associated with stand age, but those at thinned plot had increased and then decreased, showing declining of the practice effect. Average soil water content at the thinned plot were 23.7% and 22.4% for the unthinned plot. Soil watercontents at both plots have been increased with increase in stand age. But the difference of soil watercontent at each plot has been decreased, especially at the depth of 10cm.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.174-180
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• 2006

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.2 s.159
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• pp.117-120
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• 2005

This study was conducted to estimate population size and investigate habitat characteristics for the conservation and management of Amur goral Nemorhaedus caudatus raddeanus in DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) of Gangwon Province in South Korea from November 2003 to May 2004. The Amur gorals counting were carried out by assistance of military soldiers who guards the southern boundary of DMZ. Four hundred sixty individuals were estimated as total population size in DMZ of Gangwon Province. Deciduous forest, rocky area and coniferous forest were dominant land cover types in habitat of Amur goral. DMZ and its vicinity of Gangwon Province are very important areas for the conservation of this species. It is needed to establish management plan for the conservation of Amur goral and their habitats in DMZ.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.220-230
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• 2022

Seasonal variability of water quality in the upland headwater streams in ten forested catchments (37.0~209.0 ha) was examined from April to November 2021. Here, seven physicochemical parameters were analyzed including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (T-N), total phosphorous (T-P), and BOD/TOC. The parameters were compared with those of lowerland rivers as middle and lower reaches within a watershed. The pH showed was low (6.4~6.9) during all the seasons, however, BOD and BOD/TOC in the fall season were 2-fold higher than in the spring and summer seasons. Based on environmental standards, the water quality level revealed that the upland headwater streams maintained the purity and cleanliness of water except for pH in the summer season. BOD/TOC of all the seasons and BOD of the fall season in the upland headwater streams were higher than that in the lowerland rivers, whereas the rest of the physicochemical parameters in the upland headwater streams were lower than that in the lowerland rivers. Additionally, the water quality level maintained the purity and cleanliness of water as "Good" in two reaches. The unique aspects of our study design enabled us to draw inferences about water quality characteristics with temporal and spatial analysis in upland headwater streams. This design will be useful for the long-term strategy of effective water quality management for integrated upland headwater streams and lowerland rivers within a watershed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.84-90
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to introduce the current status and development strategy for an environmental restoration of stream side in Japan, and to consider a methodology which could be effectively applied for the environmental restoration of stream side in Korea. 1. In order to change the recent direction of the forest conservation and erosion control projects which are focused on the restoration of stream side ecology, we have to quit the past erosion control policy such as water control purpose, and establish new plans regarding on the forest conservation and erosion control which is considered the regional environmental restoration of watershed. 2. When we restore stream side and river side ecosystem, we should establish restoration plans which can keep the original nature of stream and river. 3. The forest conservation and erosion control construction projects for the restoration of stream and river ecosystem should be planned for the perfect restoration of their ecosystem by way of sustainable maintenance and management. 4. The restoration direction of stream and river ecosystem needs to be planned to restore the diversity of small geographies such as waterway, shoal and puddles rather than flattening of stream bed. 5. The main principle in the restoration of stream and river ecosystem is to accomplish forest conservation and erosion control construction projects which can conserve the existing stream and river ecosystem.