• Title/Summary/Keyword: Forest recovery

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Recovery and Disaster Prevention Capability of Coastal Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) Forests on the Fukiage Sand Dunes of Southern Kyushu, Japan

  • Teramoto, Yukiyoshi;Shimokawa, Etsuro;Ezaki, Tsugio;Chun, Kun-Woo;Kim, Suk-Woo;Lee, Youn-Tae
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.30 no.4
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    • pp.383-392
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    • 2014
  • In this study, we investigated the Fukiage sand dunes of southern Kyushu, Japan. We surveyed the status of recovery of coastal Japanese black pine forests damaged by pine wilt disease and their disaster prevention capability. We placed two transects: Transect 1, in an area that was severely damaged (80-90% damage rate) by pine wilt disease, and Transect 2, in an area that was mostly undamaged (<10% damage rate). Then, we installed survey lines, carried out vegetation surveys, and measured the depth and pH of humus soil. The survey lines were placed perpendicular to the coastline from the top of the fore-dune to the inland area, and divided into five 50 m sections. Before the point 100 m inland from the top of the fore-dune, the number of invasive hardwoods and of Japanese black pines were small because of the poor growth environment in both transects. Past the 100 m point, the species and number of Japanese black pines and broad-leaved trees increased further inland because the growth environment improved. In addition, the recovery metrics of tree height, diameter at breast height, age, and number in Transect 1 were much lower than those in Transect 2, and the basal area of broad-leaved trees and the depth of humus soil in Transect 1 were lower than in Transect 2, and the soil pH of humus soil in Transect 1 was higher than that of Transect 2. The shape ratio of the Japanese black pine forests indicated that they were insufficient for disaster prevention. Therefore, in order to fully promote the disaster prevention capability of coastal Japanese black pine forests, we should not only focus on prevention of pine wilt disease but also undertake continuous control efforts taking into consideration the sound growth environment such as appropriate density and soil management and removal of invasive broad-leaved trees.

Biogeographic Feature of North Korean Ecosystem (북한 자연생태계의 생물지리적 특성)

  • Kong, Woo-Seok
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.157-172
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    • 2002
  • This work aims to collect a biogeographic informations on the biota, alpine ecosystem, nature reserves, forest ecosystem of North Korea, and also to accumulate a basic data on the current situation and problem of the natural ecosystem of North Korea for the preparation of future cooperation and exchange between South and North Koreas. The obtained findings are as follow. First, North Korean biota contains 18,013 species, and consists of 6,710 plant species, including 3,860 species of vascular plants. Secondly, urgent investigation on the biogeographically important arctic-alpine and alpine plants and ecosystem, those are known to be endangered due to environmental change and global warming, is required. Thirdly, the conservations of diverse nature in North Korea are conducted by the introduction of various systems, such as nature preservation region, reserves for plant, animal and sea bird, and natural monuments. Fourthly, out of 9.5 million hectares of forest, one million hectares have already faced forest denudation, thus caused lots of damages for forest ecosystem. Sharp decline of North Korean forest land are due mainly to the expansion of terraced dry-field farming and deforestation. Recovery of denudated forest land should be approached by both South and North Korean sides to solve the problem of shortage of foods and restoration of natural ecosystem of North Korea.

Analysis of Soil Bacterial Community in Ihwaryeong and Yuksimnyeong Restoration Project Sites Linking the Ridgeline of Baekdudaegan (이화령 및 육십령 백두대간 생태축 복원사업지 토양 박테리아 군집 분석)

  • Park, Yeong Dae;Kwon, Tae Ho;Eo, Soo Hyung
    • Journal of agriculture & life science
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    • v.50 no.1
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    • pp.117-124
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    • 2016
  • Researches on soil microbial community are increasing to assess ecosystem responses to anthropogenic disturbances and to provide an indicator of ecosystem recovery. Microbial communities are able to respond more rapidly to environmental changes than plants and therefore they may provide an early indication of the ecosystem recovery trajectory. This study was conducted using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing of soil samples to compare soil bacterial community composition between artificially covered soils of the Baedudaegan ridgeline and their adjacent forest soils in two restoration project sites, Ihwaryeong and Yuksimnyeong, which were completed in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Richness of the Phylum level was 29.3 in Ihwaryeong and 32.3 in Yuksimnyeong. Significant difference in the richness between artificial restored soils and adjacent forest soils(p<0.01) was observed, however no significant difference was observed for site location and soil depth. Acidobacteria(37.3%) and Proteobacteria(31.1%) were more abundant than any other phylum in collected soil samples. Also, we found the significant difference in the relative abundance of the two abundant phyla between artificially restored soils and their adjacent forest soils (Proteobacteria, 38.1% in restored soils vs 24.2% in adjacent forest soils, p<0.01; Acidobacteria, 55.4% in restored soils vs 19.2% in adjacent forest soils, p<0.001). The results support the previous researches indicating that soil bacterial community composition is affected by nutritional status of soils and that Acidobacteria is also strongly influenced by pH, thus favoring soils with lower pH. This study could be utilized to monitor and evaluate restoration success of forest soil environment quantitatively.

Bioactive Compounds for the Treatment of Renal Disease

  • Cho, Kang Su;Ko, In Kap;Yoo, James J.
    • Yonsei Medical Journal
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    • v.59 no.9
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    • pp.1015-1025
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    • 2018
  • Kidney diseases including acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease are among the largest health issues worldwide. Dialysis and kidney transplantation can replace a significant portion of renal function, however these treatments still have limitations. To overcome these shortcomings, a variety of innovative efforts have been introduced, including cell-based therapies. During the past decades, advances have been made in the stem cell and developmental biology, and tissue engineering. As part of such efforts, studies on renal cell therapy and artificial kidney developments have been conducted, and multiple therapeutic interventions have shown promise in the pre-clinical and clinical settings. More recently, therapeutic cell-secreting secretomes have emerged as a potential alternative to cell-based approaches. This approach involves the use of renotropic factors, such as growth factors and cytokines, that are produced by cells and these factors have shown effectiveness in facilitating kidney function recovery. This review focuses on the renotropic functions of bioactive compounds that provide protective and regenerative effects for kidney tissue repair, based on the available data in the literature.

Development of a Wood Recovery Estimation Model for the Tree Conversion Processes of Larix kaempferi (낙엽송 제재에 따른 이용재적 산출 모델의 개발)

  • Kwon, Kibeom;Han, Hee;Seol, Ara;Chung, Hyejean;Chung, Joosang
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.102 no.4
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    • pp.484-490
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    • 2013
  • This study was conducted to develop a simulation model for estimating the amount of such products as round wood, dimension lumber and the residual wood biomass produced by processing the individual trees of Larix kaempferi. In the model, the stem volume is assessed using the taper equations of the species to estimate the stem forms. Then, the model simulates the conversion processes of logs to round wood or lumber and assesses the maximum amount of the wood products by the lumber dimensions or round wood size. Also the model provides information on the amount of residuals for kerf and slabs produced on the conversion processes for sawn timber or round wood. According to the results of an application of the model to a L. kaempferi process, the trees greater than 12 cm of DBH can be converted to logs for lumber or round wood production. For the trees, of which DBH is available for log conversion, the maximum amount of final products by dimensions were analyzed. In this analysis, production of the bigger dimension lumber was assumed to be preferred to that of the smaller or round wood. This model can be used for assesment of forest economic value through estimation of merchantable volume for the trees, and assessment of mill residues which has the potential to provide significant amount of feedstock for bioenergy production as well.

A study on the Introduction Plans of Forest Land Bank System (산지은행제도의 도입방안에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Jong-ho;Kim, Won Kyung;Kwon, Soon-duk
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.104 no.3
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    • pp.503-511
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    • 2015
  • The purpose of this study is to suggest the introduction plans of forest land bank system for effective forestry management as well as the livelihood stability support of aged forest landowners. It is expected that forest land bank system can contribute to solve forestry management problems caused by small and scattered forest lands, aging forest landowners, and the increase of absentee forest landowners. This study examined an existing related case of Farmland Bank system, and suggested basic directions, main functions, priority, and agency for forest land bank system. The goals of forest land bank system include activating private forest land management, improving forest management scale, and supporting stable forestry income. Based on the examination of this study, main projects of forest land bank involve forest land sale and lease consignment, forest land reverse mortgage, forest land scale improvement project, and forest business recovery support program. In addition, this study discussed potential problems and their solutions in introducing and operating the forest land bank system. This study can play a key role to determine a basic direction and to establish policies of the forest land management.

Floristic composition and species richness of soil seed bank in three abandoned rice paddies along a seral gradient in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve, South Korea

  • Cho, Yong-Chan;Lee, Seon-Mi;Lee, Chang-Seok
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.42 no.3
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    • pp.90-102
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    • 2018
  • Background: We sought to understand the relationship between the seed bank and vegetation in abandoned rice paddies in South Korea, in order to guide management of these sites. We investigated the floristic composition and species richness of the soil seed bank and ground vegetation in former paddies along three seral gradients (wet meadow, young forest, and mature forest) in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve. Results: Seed bank samples contained 59 species, of which the dominant families were Cyperaceae, Gramineae, and Polygonaceae. Species richness and seedling density (59 taxa and 19,121 germinants from all samples) were high. Carex spp. (11, 921 germinants) were the dominant taxa. The species composition in the seed bank changed gradually as the land transitioned from wet meadow to mature forest. Sørensen's index of similarity between above- and below-ground vegetation was 29.3% for wet meadow, 10.8% for young forest, and 2.1% for mature forest. Germinant density also declined, with 10, 256 germinants for wet meadow, 6445 germinants for young forest, and 2420 germinants for mature forest. Conclusions: Changes in aboveground environment and life history traits such as amphicarpic plants, likely affect the composition of soil seed bank species. Abandoned paddy fields may be good sites for restoration of wetland forest and conservation of wetland habitat. Some intervention may be required to promote the recovery of a natural species assemblage.

Experience of Participating in the Forest Therapy of Cancer Survivors through Focus Group Interviews (포커스 그룹 인터뷰를 통한 암 경험자의 산림치유 참여 경험)

  • Chae, Young-Ran;Cheon, In-Sun;Lee, Sun-Hee;Kang, Hyo-Young;Jo, Young-Mi;Kang, So-Yean;Park, Su-Youn
    • Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.13-23
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    • 2022
  • The purpose of this study was to identify the effects experienced by cancer survivors through the forest therapy, and to provide evidence for applying the forest therapy program. Nineteen cancer survivors who participated in the forest therapy program hosted by K University were targeted, and qualitative data were collected through three focus group interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed and analyzed by subject-specific content analysis method. According to the research results, the attributes of forest therapy experienced by cancer survivors were 'Escape from bondage', 'Time to empty and fill the mind', 'Healing from positive forest stimulation', 'Self met in a space of rest', 'Initiative for life'. Five themes and fifteen sub-themes of 'recovery' were derived. These research results revealed a healing experience of feeling comfortable and physically relaxed through communication with the forest, discovering the self, and regaining initiative in life. It can be seen that the forest therapy is helpful in overcoming the physical, emotional, and psycho-social discomforts of cancer survivors.

Assessment of Carbon Storage Capacity of Stands in Abandoned Coal Mine Forest Rehabilitation Areas over time for its Development of Management Strategy (폐탄광 산림복구지 관리방안 도출을 위한 산림복구 후 시간경과에 따른 임분탄소저장량 평가)

  • Mun Ho Jung;Kwan In Park;Ji Hye Kim;Won Hyun Ji
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.233-242
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    • 2023
  • The objective of this study was to develop a management strategy for the recovery of carbon storage capacity of abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation area. For the purpose, the biomass and stand carbon storage over time after the forest rehabilitation by tree type for Betula platyphylla, Pinus densiflora, and Alnus hirsuta trees which are major tree species widely planted for the forest rehabilitation in the abandoned coal mine were calculated, and compared them with general forest. The carbon storage in abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation areas was lower than that in general forests, and based on tree species, Pinus densiflora stored 48.9%, Alnus hirsuta 41.1%, and Betula platyphylla 27.0%. This low carbon storage is thought to be caused by poor growth because soil chemical properties, such as low TOC and total nitrogen content, in the soil of abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation areas, were adverse to vegetation growth compared to those in general forests. DBH, stand biomass, and stand carbon storage tended to increase after forest rehabilitation over time, whereas stand density decreased. Stand' biomass and carbon storage increased as DBH and stand density increased, but there was a negative correlation between stand density and DBH. Therefore, after forest rehabilitation, growth status should be monitored, an appropriate growth space for trees should be maintained by thinning and pruning, and the soil chemical properties such as fertilization must be managed. It is expected that the carbon storage capacity the forest rehabilitation area could be restored to a level similar to that of general forests.