• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2017

Background: This study investigated the temporal variation in soil $CO_2$ efflux and its relationship with soil temperature and precipitation in the Quercus glauca and Abies koreana forests in Jeju Island, South Korea, from August 2010 to December 2012. Q. glauca and A. koreana forests are typical vegetation of warm-temperate evergreen forest zone and sub-alpine coniferous forest zone, respectively, in Jeju island. Results: The mean soil $CO_2$ efflux of Q. glauca forest was $0.7g\;CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$ at $14.3^{\circ}C$ and that of A. koreana forest was $0.4g\;CO_2\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$ at $6.8^{\circ}C$. The cumulative annual soil $CO_2$ efflux of Q. glauca and A. koreana forests was 54.2 and $34.2t\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Total accumulated soil carbon efflux in Q. glauca and A. koreana forests was 29.5 and $18.7t\;C\;ha^{-1}$ for 2 years, respectively. The relationship between soil $CO_2$ efflux and soil temperate at 10 cm depth was highly significant in the Q. glauca ($r^2=0.853$) and A. koreana forests ($r^2=0.842$). Soil temperature was the main controlling factor over $CO_2$ efflux during most of the study period. Also, precipitation may affect soil $CO_2$ efflux that appeared to be an important factor controlling the efflux rate. Conclusions: Soil $CO_2$ efflux was affected by soil temperature as the dominant control and moisture as the limiting factor. The difference of soil $CO_2$ efflux between of Q. glauca and A. koreana forests was induced by soil temperature to altitude and regional precipitation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.27 no.7
• /
• pp.519-529
• /
• 2018

With rapid economic growth, the urban environment has created a problem of human physical and mental illness. In order to solve these problems, urban forests have emerged as a way to mitigate the environmental risks through improving the polluted environment of the city and improve the quality of life. As the urban forests have expanded, the school forests movement has also been taking an important place recently. The study focused on the performance of school forests by comparing the perceptions among teachers and students about their functions. The questionnaire was composed of 4 questions concerning human matters, 10 questions for space recognition, 4 questions for thermal environment, 2 questions for health promotion, and 20 total questions for composition of survey items. The reliability of the school forest function, number of tree planting areas and quantities, the harmony of the planting, and the satisfaction of the school forest were analyzed in the questionnaire conducted by the school members. Although it does not recognize school forests, it has a positive response to the green space that is built outdoors. It is considered that outdoor education and environmental education are sufficient in school forests and green spaces. The results showed that the outdoor green space was more satisfactory when compared with the general school. Teachers and students' preferences were similar to 'seasonal changes' and' trees of various colors and shapes'. The reliability analysis between each item shows that the coefficient for cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was .700 to .834. The purpose of this study is to identify the perception of forest function among school forest members and to utilize them as a basic data in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.13-24
• /
• 2010

Beopseongpo has been one of the most thriving ports of the Jeolla region since the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). During the time of King Seongjong (r. 1469-1494) of Choseon Dynasty, a navy garrison had been deployed and the port was named Beopseongjin, as recorded in the 1485 edition of Grand code for state administration (Gyeongguk daejeon). Dangsan forests and Bibo forests have been maintained by local residents since hundreds of years ago. Dangsan forests have been applied to the scale of government and public offices. The objectives of this study were to understand the characteristics of the "Wooded Fortress of Beopseongjin in Yeonggwang" as "Scenic Site No. 22", and to investigate the conservational problem of the wooded fortress of Beopseongjin and seashore. The "Wooded fortress of Beopseongjin in Yeonggwang" consists of a Dangsan forest and two Bibo forests. But, the presence of the Dangsan forest has not been well known to the public. Although the wooded fortress has been somewhat disturbed by cultural activities, the Dangsan rituals have been held until the present every January 15 by lunar calendar. On the other hand, the seashore in front of Beopseongpo plays an important role as a scenic view. It was one of the reason that the "Wooded fortress of Beopseongjin in Yeonggwang" had been designated as a national cultural property of "Scenic Sites". However, the sandbar was reclaimed in 2009 to build commercial buildings. An integrated plan should be prepared to conserve the landscape of "Wooded fortress of Beopseongjin in Yeonggwang", which requires close partnership among local residents, experts, and local government. At present, four new buildings have been built. Although we have lost the sandbar, it is indispensable to secure the visibility of Wooded Fortress of Beopseongjin at the entrance of the village.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.308-316
• /
• 2018

Background: Genus Sasa, dwarf bamboos, are considered to be species that lower biodiversity in the temperate forests of East Asia. Although they have a long interval, they, the monocarpic species, have a unique characteristic of large-scale synchronized flowering. Therefore, once they have flowered and then declined, it may be an opportunity for suppressed surrounding species. A previous study reported that Sasa borealis showed specialized flowering nationwide with a peak in 2015. However, this was based on data from a social network service and field survey at Mt. Jeombong. Therefore, we investigated S. borealis in the forests of five national parks in order to determine whether this rare synchronized flowering occurred nationwide, as well as its spatial distribution. Results: We found a total of 436 patches under the closed canopy of Quercus mongolica-dominated deciduous forests in the surveyed transects from the five national parks. Of these patches, 75% occupied a whole slope area, resulting in an enormous area. The patch area tended to be larger in the southern parks. Half (219 patches) of the patches flowered massively. Among them, 76% bloomed in 2015, which was consistent with the results of the previous report. The flowering rate varied from park to park with that of Mt. Seorak being the highest. The culms of the flowering patches were significantly taller (F = 93.640, p < 0.000) and thicker (F = 61.172, p < 0.000). Following the event, the culms of the flowering patches declined, providing a good opportunity for the suppressed plant species. The concurrent massive flowering of the mature patches was believed to be triggered by some stress such as a spring drought. Conclusion: We confirmed that the rare synchronized flowering of S. borealis occurred with a peak in 2015 nationwide. In addition, we explored that S. borealis not only monopolized an enormous area, but also dominated the floors of the late-successional Q. mongolica-dominated deciduous forests. This presents a major problem for Korean forests. As it declined simultaneously after flowering, there are both possibilities of forest regeneration or resettlement of S. borealis by massively produced seeds.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.163-169
• /
• 2021

Background: Understanding the habitat characteristics of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans is the first step in conserving and managing the forests it requires for nesting, gliding, and feeding. Therefore, in the present study, we characterized the habitats of P. volans using GIS analysis of 411 forest sites in South Korea where fecal droppings were found. Results: Fecal signs of P. volans were found in various regions in South Korea, including the Baekdudaegan Mountains. GIS analysis with six environmental layers (vegetation type, wood-age class, diameter at breast height [DBH], crown density, elevation, and distance from stream) revealed that fecal signs of P. volans were more frequently found in broad-leaved deciduous forests (42%) located 200-399 m above sea level (43.1%) and 0-199 m from the nearest stream (53%), with 5th class wood-age (35.3%), middle size class DBH (51.1%), and high crown density (71%). Conclusions: The present study provides information on the biotic and abiotic characteristics of P. volans habitats. In South Korea, the fecal droppings of P. volans were found predominantly old deciduous broadleaf forests. Further studies are needed to reveal whether the more frequent occurrence of P. volans dropping in broadleaf forests may be due to a particular preference of this species for the forests or to a simple reflection of the area of the broadleaf forests occupying a much larger area than other forest types in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.73-87
• /
• 2018

A variety of micro meteorological variables such as air temperature, wind, solar radiation and latent heat at Gwangneung forests (conifer and broadleaved forests) and AWS (Automated Weather Station) of Pocheon urban area were used to quantify the air temperature reduction effect of forests, which is considered to be an eco-friendly solution for reducing the urban heat island intensity during summer. In June, July and August of 2016 and 2017, the average maximum air temperature differences between above and below canopy of forests, and between the forests and urban areas were $-1.9^{\circ}C$ and $-3.4^{\circ}C$ respectively, and they occurred at 17:00. However, there was no difference between conifer and broadleaved forests. The effect of air temperature reduction by the forests was positively correlated with accumulated evapotranspiration and solar radiation from 14:00 to 17:00 and showed a negative correlation with wind speed. We have developed a model to quantify the effect of air temperature reduction by forests using these variables. The nighttime air temperature reduction effect by forests was due to the generation of cold air from radiative cooling and the air temperature inversion phenomenon that occurs when the generated cold air moves down the side of mountain. The model was evaluated in Seoul by using 28 AWSs. The evaluation shows that the air temperature of each district in Seoul was negatively correlated with the area and size of the surrounding tall vegetation that drives vegetation evapotranspiration during the day. During the night, however, the size of the surrounding tall vegetation and the elevations of nearby mountains were the main influencing factors on the air temperature. Our research emphasizes the importance of the establishment and management of urban forests and the composition of wind roads from mountains for urban air temperature reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.99-111
• /
• 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate the location, shape, environment, and vegetation of the Village Forest in Gyeonggi-do and to evaluate the ecological integration and changes of the Village Forests to figure out the measures for conservation and management. There were 23 Village Forests remain in Gyeonggi-do. Ten Village Forests were established based on Feng-shui background. Many of them were found in Yongin area and southeast of Icheon. The Village Forests were owned by local community at 9 village and privately owned at 8 villages. Most Village Forests were managed by local communities except for the two managed by private person. Fifty-two percent of the Village Forests were in strip shape, and most of them were established by Feng-shui background or for the prevention of disasters. The average size of the Village Forests was relatively small at 3,046m2. The most frequent tree species found at the Village Forest were Zelkova serrata and Pinus densiflora. Over half of the number of Village Forests showed vertical structure of overstory trees only or overstory-sub overstory combination, which seemed to be resulted from the loss of understory plants by the activities of local residents. The Village Forests that had over 30% of damaged trees were found at 7 villages. The damages were caused by the road construction close to the groves, soil compaction, and tree death by covering lower stem with soil. The vitality of the damaged trees seemed to be significantly low compared to that of the undamaged. There were factors that determined the changes in the Village Forests: community ritual, institutional protection, designation as a water resource protection district, road construction, land use change, windstorm hazards, and development of forest areas. In order to conserve and manage the Village Forests appropriately, it is necessary to limit excessive use of the grove areas and maintain proper tree growing conditions by improving the soil environment. The development of neighborhood areas need to be controlled and community activities should be encouraged to maintain or restore the original landscape of the groves. Protection measures and supporting policies need to be enforced to keep the Village Forests from disappearing in near future.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.229-237
• /
• 2015

This study aims to offer basic data to effectively preserve and manage pine forests using more precise pine forests' distribution status. In this regard, this study predicts the geographical distribution change of pine forests growing in South Korea, due to climate change, and evaluates the spatial distribution characteristics of pine forests by age. To this end, this study predicts the potential distribution change of pine forests by applying the MaxEnt model useful for species distribution change to the present and future climate change scenarios, and analyzes the effects of bioclimatic variables on the distribution area and change by age. Concerning the potential distribution regions of pine forests, the pine forests, aged 10 to 30 years in South Korea, relatively decreased more. As the area of the region suitable for pine forest by age was bigger, the decreased regions tend to become bigger, and the expanded regions tend to become smaller. Such phenomena is conjectured to be derived from changing of the interaction of pine forests by age from mutual promotional relations to competitive relations in the similar climate environment, while the regions suitable for pine forests' growth are mostly overlap regions. This study has found that precipitation affects more on the distribution of pine forests, compared to temperature change, and that pine trees' geographical distribution change is more affected by climate's extremities including precipitation of driest season and temperature of the coldest season than average climate characteristics. Especially, the effects of precipitation during the driest season on the distribution change of pine forests are irrelevant of pine forest's age class. Such results are expected to result in a reduction of the pine forest as the regions with the increase of moisture deficiency, where climate environment influencing growth and physiological responses related with drought is shaped, gradually increase according to future temperature rise. The findings in this study can be applied as a useful method for the prediction of geographical change according to climate change by using various biological resources information already accumulated. In addition, those findings are expected to be utilized as basic data for the establishment of climate change adaptation policies related to forest vegetation preservation in the natural ecosystem field.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.367-374
• /
• 2005

This study was conducted to comprehend the breeding bird community of thirteen urban forests ranged in size from $0.63{\~}37.0$ ha and compare the species richness of streetscapes such as wooded streets, street trees, and green patches. In urban forests, among thirty-one species observed, two species of Pica pica and Parus major were observed in all study areas, but five species of Phoenicuros auroreus, Pericrocotus divaricatus, Eurystomus orientalis, Emberiza elegans, and Cettia squameiceps were observed only one areas. Number of species was high at urban forests of Manchon, Bonri and Chimsan parks distributed in peripheral area of city, that was low at urban forests Jungri, Igoksaengsu and Sinam parks located in the center area of city. We observed the nests at wooded streets and green patches, did not find at street trees. Number of species and density were significantly high at wooded streets than at street trees. Number of species was highly correlated with the area of forests, and srecies richness of bush-nesting guild was low. As the area of urban forests increase, species richness of bush-nesting and -foraging guild showed the relative low rate of increase than other nesting guild. Our results indicate that bush-nesting and -foraging guild of birds was not being provided with their good habitat at urban forests in Daegu city Among streetscapes, birds preferred to u9e the wooded streets and green patch as habitat and pathway in urban ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the landscape structures of the National and Provincial Forest Parks in the list of "100 Famous Forests of Korea" designated by Korea Forest Service by comparing them with those of the non-designated forests. Among the designated and the non-designated, 34 mountain forests were chosen respectively over all provinces of Korea. The spatial characteristics of forest landscapes were quantified as the landscape indices independently using FRAGSTATS and the two sets of results of analyses were compared each other. According to the results of the comparative study, the designated forests were found on the higher elevation with the higher average slope and the more complicated relief conditions rather than those of the non-designated. In terms of landscape structure, the designated forests show the larger average patch size, the lower edge density and the higher diversity of landscape components. These results indicate that the more hilly mountain forests with the more complicated spatial distribution patterns of patches are the characteristics of the designated forests. The indices of the forest landscape structure would be useful in understanding the perception of forest landscape.