• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2013

Malaysia possesses about 1.56 million ha of Peat Swamp Forest (PSF). The PSF safeguard enormous biological diversity, while providing crucial benefits for the sustainable development of human communities. Numbers of threatened plant species are associated with the PSF, including the commercially important Gonystylus bancanus timber. To prevent significant losses of biodiversity, it is important to manage the PSF for both biological conservation and sustainable use. Equally important is to restore all degraded PSF in an attempt to ensure the PSF ecosystem is suitable for the vegetation to grow and rehabilitate back to the normal condition. Prior to plan any forest restoration program, there is a need to properly map the degraded PSF in order to estimate the forest conditions and determine the vegetations status. Most of the time this need to be done at a landscape level and requires a technology that can provide accurate, timely and reliable information for the planner to make decision. This paper describes a study using geospatial technology in combination with ground survey to classify the degraded PSF in South East Pahang Peat Swamp Forest (SEPPSF), Malaysia, into different degree of vegetation classes. With map accuracy of about 83%, the technique proved to be useful in delineating the different degree of PSF degradation from which the information can be used to properly plan forest restoration program in the area. The final output which is in the form of map can be used in developing a Restoration Master Plan for the degraded PSF areas.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.59-66
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• 2006

The thermal properties of wood flour, Hwangto, and maleated polyethylene (MAPE) reinforced HDPE composites were investigated in this study. The thermal behavior of reinforced wood polymer composites was characterized by means of thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analyses. Hwangto and MAPE were used as an inorganic filler and a coupling agent, respectively. According to TGA analysis, the increase of wood flour level increased the thermal degradation of composites in the early stage, but decreased in the late stage. On the other hand, Hwangto reinforced composites showed the higher thermal stability than virgin HDPE, from the determination of differential peak temperature ($DT_p$). Decomposition temperature of wood flour and/or Hwangto reinforced composites increased with increase of heating rate. From DSC analysis, melting temperature of reinforced composites little bit increased with the addition of wood flour or Hwangto. As the loading of wood flour or Hwangto to HDPE increased, overall enthalpy decreased. It showed that wood flour and Hwangto absorbed more heat energy for melting the reinforced composites. Hwangto reinforced composites required more heat energy than wood flour reinforced composites and virgin HDPE. Coupling agent gave no significant effect on the thermal properties of composites. Thermal analyses indicate that composites with Hwangto are more thermally stable than those without Hwangto.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.1-16
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• 2009

Japan is one of the major forest-rich countries in the world with two thirds of its national territory covered with forests. The various functions of forests, including the prevention of global warming, conservation of national land, recharging of water resources, and maintenance of biotic diversity, play an important role in our safe, secure, and comfortable living. With the increasing national expectations on the role of forests to contribute to the prevention of global warming and "Accelerating forest carbon-sink measures to achieve Kyoto Protocol Commitment", it is necessary to make efforts toward a large-scale forest regeneration in order to secure an absorption of 13 million carbon tons through forest carbon sink for the achievement of the target of six percent reduction under the Kyoto Protocol. Most importantly, however, is to accelerate the measures for forests as absorption sources, including thinning and other forestry management activities. However, there is a situation, among others, where thinning is not implemented properly due to the decreased willingness of forest owners to manage forests, because of the long-term low demand for domestic lumber and lumber prices. In addition, forestry workers are aging and decreasing in number. Thus, the circumstances surrounding forestry are severe. It is necessary for the protection of our precious forests to make efforts to create and maintain forests with activities that involve citizens such as the "National Movement for Utsukushii Mori Zukuri(Fostering Beautiful Forests)".

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.137-151
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• 2004

Many of today's environmental problems are regional in scope and their effects overlap and interact. The purpose of this paper is to developed a simple method for an integrated assessment of environmental conditions across the Mid-Nakdong River Region, by combining data on land use, impervious cover, roads, streams, riparian areas, forest patches, population, pollutant loadings, soil erosion and topography. A cluster analysis was used to identify groups of sub-watersheds with similar environmental characteristics. The mean value for each group was used to find watershed that may be more vulnerable to future environmental degradation. Watersheds in cluster I and II had high amount of forest, but the amount of riparian vegetation was low. Watersheds in cluster III, which located in the middle Geumho River and the main course of Nakdong River, had a greater proportion of their agriculture, a greater proportion of agriculture on steep slopes, and less forest adjacent to streams. Watersheds in cluster IV and V were in the most urbanized areas of the region. The principal adverse impacts for watersheds in this group were high scores for urban area, impervious cover, pollutant loadings, population density, forest fragmentation, and low amounts of forest and riparian forest cover. Notwithstanding the exploratory nature of cluster analysis, it appears to be a useful tool for grouping watersheds with similar environmental characteristics.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.151-159
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• 2015

Paper records were generally degraded by some factors from atmospheric environments, like temperature, relative humidity or air pollutants. In this study, the degradation behavior of paper records by single or mixed gases of $NO_2$, $SO_2$, HCHO and TVOC was evaluated. The mechanical, optical and chemical properties of 4 kinds of paper (acid and neutral-based printing paper, traditional Hanji, and filter paper) were directly and indirectly affected by gaseous harmful materials. The brightness and $L^*$ value in all papers were slightly increased by accelerated aging under gaseous HCHO and TVOCs, but highly decreased by conditions under gases $NO_2$ and $SO_2$. The optical properties of paper records were most vulnerable in acid-based paper and high stable in filter paper and traditional Hanji by air pollutant degradation. The aging treatments under mixed gas pollutants including $NO_2$ resulted in decrease of physical, mechanical and optical properties of paper, so it was supposed that the concentration of $NO_2$ gas would be strictly controlled for optimum indoor air quality management in domestic storage centers for paper records.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.101-110
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• 2016

Development activities in forest areas are analysed based on degree of slope, altitude, land cover, and prefectures in order to improve the capacity of existing regulations of 'feasibility of forest land conversion' and 'assessment of forest land characteristics' in this research. 959 land based developments between year 2007 and 2013 have been analysed. A development site includes over 50% of forest is categorized as a forest type, degree of slope is steeper than $8.5^{\circ}$ as mountain type, and a development included in the both categories as combined type. Distribution characteristics of the above three types are analysed by development categories and regions adopting Relative Mountain Development Index(RMDI). In results, 44.94% of total development activities have been carried out in Gyeongsang Do in order of urban development, industrial complex, sports facilities, and soil and stone collection quarrying. Developments less than $0.3km^2$ which are exempt from the feasibility of forest land conversion regulation consist 86 cases of forest type, 78 cases in mountain type, and 78 cases in combined type. SAI by slope range showed the highest value of 1.55 in less than $5^{\circ}$ and the lowest value of 0.69 between $20^{\circ}-25^{\circ}$. RMDI value in Gyeongsang Do where mountain ratio is 67.05% appeared 1.17, which is 5 times more than Gangwon Do where mountain area ratio is 81.30%, and 2 times more than Chungchung Do where mountain area ratio is 51.24%. Development activities in forestland in Korea showed unequal distributions and 26% of those developments were not subjected to the feasibility of forest land conversion regulation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.548-557
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• 2011

REDD is recognized as a cost-effective and the most appropriate way of managing global GHG emissions. It is negotiated in a global context under the UNFCCC. The main issues of the REDD mechanism are divided into two parts: 1) developing forest carbon verification and measurement system for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, 2) establishing an appropriate system of incentives for developing countries. REDD can provide stability in carbon offset credits. However, the most important task is to establish a clear legal framework and appropriate governance structures with relevant countries. There is a wide opportunities for Republic of Korea to take a lead in cutting off greenhouse gasses in the Post-Kyoto period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2013

The Cancun Agreements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change require developing countries aiming to undertake REDD+ activities to develop a national strategy or action plan, addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, a measurement, reporting and verifying (MRV) system including forest monitoring system, and safeguards to ensure equity and co-benefits for local communities and indigenous peoples, and biodiversity. The Government of Indonesia and the Government of Norway established REDD+ cooperation through signing a 'Letter of Intent' in May, 2010. Indonesia agreed on 'a two year suspension on all new concessions for conversion of peat and natural forest'. In turn, Norway agreed to support Indonesia's REDD+ implementation efforts up to one billion United States dollars. Indonesia's REDD+ national strategy (June, 2012) accepted most of the requests included in the 'Letter of Intent'. The REDD+ national strategy, however, does not reflect requests of the Cancun Agreements which noted identification of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and guarantee of real greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Indonesia lays emphasis on Norwegian requests which includes expected financial support rather than the Cancun Agreements which have a weak legally-binding requirements.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2007

Almost all the people, particularly the rural people are directly dependent on the continued productivity of natural resources, like water, soils, forests and fisheries. But the overuse by the extremely high population pressures has degraded the natural resources into severe widespread deforestation. The degradation of natural resources, particularly the plant resources has been a great concern for socio-economic and sustainable development of the country. The Forests in Bangladesh have been depleted and degraded in volume, area, and quantity, thus requiring urgent forest protection by identifying the causes of forest loss. There are so many causes of deforestation and loss of genetic resources such as; the timber industry, which, legal or not, are cutting too many trees; indigenous forest dwellers, having their own types of problems; migrants, who, because of problems in their places of origin, have decided to move to the forests and the government through its Forest Department which is not able or willing to implement suitable policies to regulate the cutting trees and to prevent illegal cutting. Because it is a time consuming task to mitigate the first and second sets of factors, we recommend involving forest dwellers in forestry practices as much as possible and taking necessary steps to alleviate the third and fourth sets and thereby reduce the rate of forest depletion. Accordingly, a number of strategies that should be adopted to halt the loss of remaining forest cover are discussed.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.313-318
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• 2023

This study is about the actual condition of forest devastation in North Korea and the cooperative plan between South and North Korea for the restoration. In other words, it aims to derive policy implications for 'forest restoration' from the phenomenon of severe forest devastation in North Korea. It is because forest devastation in North Korea causes floods, droughts, and soil losses on the Korean Peninsula, adding to food shortages, and assuming that the future unification of the two Koreas, the cost of forest restoration in North Korea will increase environmentally and economically. Therefore, this study derives policy implications by examining the causes and conditions of forest devastation in North Korea and comparing the differences and commonalities of forest policies in South and North Korea through analysis of forest policy strategies in North Korea.