• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.878-886
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• 2011

The fish fauna and characteristic of population of Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis at the 7 stations in the Bonghwa-gun were investigated from June 2010 to May 2011. The collected species during the survey period were 15 species belong to 7 families. Protected species by the legal were B. lenok tsinlingensis, Koreocobitis naktongensis, and Cottus koreanus. Korean endemic species were Microphy sogobio yaluensis, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Zacco koreanus, Cobitis hankugensis, K. naktongensis, Iksookimia longicorpa, Niwaella multifasciata, Liobagrus mediadiposalis, C. koreanus, and Coreoperca herzi, which showed a ration of 66.7% in collected species. Dominant species were Z. koreanus(St. 1), B. lenok tsinlingensis(St. 3, 4, 5), and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus(St. 2, 6, 7). Length-weight relation in the population of B. lenok tsinlingensis was BW = $0.000008TL^{3.02}$, and condition factor in the population was average 0.84. Frequency analysis of total length indicated that the group 80~180 mm in total length is represented by one-year-old individuals, the group 200~300 mm by two-year-old individuals, and the group over 300 mm by three-year-old individuals. The density of population was presumed average 17 individuals per 100$m^2$ and total 4,760 individuals in the reservation for B. lenok tsinlingensis.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.365-375
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• 2017

This study investigated in the vascular plants of special protection zones (the native land of Iris koreana in Gaeamsa Temple and Soeppulbawi Rock) of Byeonsanbando National Park and identified the whole flora. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 255 taxa including 71 families, 166 genera, 222 species, 2 subspecies, 27 varieties and 4 forms. Woody plants were identified as 114 taxa (44.7%) and herbaceous plants as 141 taxa (55.3%). A total of 178 taxa were identified in the area of Gaeamsa Temple, and 184 taxa were found in the Soeppulbawi Rock. As a legal protected species, the endangered wild plant II grade Iris koreana designated by the Ministry of Environment was confirmed. A total of 6 taxa of rare plants were identified, each of which was divided into 1 taxa of critically endangered (CR; Iris koreana), 1 taxa of vulnerable (VU; Ilex cornuta), and 4 taxa of least concern (LC; Asarum maculatum, Viola albida, Chionanthus retusa and Tricyrtis macropoda). The Korean endemic plants were 11 taxa (Populus tomentiglandulosa, Lonicera subsessilis, Carex okamotoi, etc.). In the specific plants by floristic region were 38 taxa, a degree I were 23 taxa (Euscaphis japonica, Hedera rhombea, Lophatherum gracile, etc.), 7 taxa of a degree II (Viola violacea, Ainsliaea apiculata, Cephalanthera falcata, etc.), 6 taxa of a degree III (Ilex cornuta, Callicarpa mollis, Mitchella undulata, etc.), 1 taxa of a degree IV (Carex remotiuscula), 1 taxa of a degree V (Iris koreana). The Iris koreana special protection area that is more natural and healthier than any other areas in Byeonsanbando National Park. Therefore, it should be possible to continue its role as a special protection area through regular monitoring in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.530-542
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• 2020

This study surveyed the central mountain area of Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from March to October 2018 to reveal the appearance patterns of freshwater fish. We collected 7,744 individuals of 43 species in 12 families with skimming nets and cast nets in 12 stations during the survey. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (30.3%), and the subdominant species was Z. platypus (18.5%), followed by Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (10.0%), R. steindachneri (6.7%), Microphysogobio yaluensis (5.9%), Acheilognathus signifer (4.5%), Pungtungia herzi (4.2%), and Orthrias nudus (2.6%). Among the collected species, four were legally protected. They included Hemibarbus mylodon, which was a natural monument, and Lethenteron reissneri, A. signifer, and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa, which were class II endangered wildlife designated by the Ministry of Environment. Twenty Korean endemic species (46.5%) and one exotic species, Micropterus salmoides, were also collected. Additionally, three climate-change sensitive species, R. kumgangensis, Ladislavia taczanowskii, and Cottus koreanus, and three landlocked species, L. reissneri, C. koreanus, and Rhinogobius brunneus appeared. The dominant species in each station were Z. koreanus (15 stations), Z. platypus (four stations), R. oxycephalus (four stations), and C. koreanus (one station). The species dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream (mainstream of Gimhwanamdae Stream), while the species diversity index and the species richness index increased. The community structure of the rivers was divided into the uppermost stream, upper stream, Han River, and Imjin River. Compared to antecedent surveys, this study collected the highest number of species. Two new species (Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae and Micropterus salmoides) were caught, while six species (Siniperca scherzeri, Leiocassis ussuriensis, Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis, Rhodeus ocellatus, Abbottina springeri, Aphyocypris chinensis) did not appear. Gimhwanamdaecheon Stream has high biological value with the inhabitation of many species, including species under legal protection and high diversity and richness index scores. This paper also discussed a protection plan for this area.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.169-180
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• 2003

Biodiversity is defined as totality of genetic, species, and ecosystem variability. It provides natural sources of crop improvement, traditional medicine and biotechnology. In 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) became a legally binding framework for conserving and utilizing global biological diversity. It recognizes national sovereign rights over all genetic resources, such as the need to compensate developing countries for the resources they have provided to the industrialized world. The CBD grants access to those resources in exchange for compensation as well as technology transfer, so that the access to genetic resources would be made under prior informed consent(PIC) and mutually agreed terms(MAT). On the other hand, the developed countries argued that unfettered exchange of genetic resources was essential for scientific research and development, and that technology using genetic resources should be protected. There are many countries today, developing legal frameworks concerned with access to their local genetic resources and benefit sharing. In this study, we analyzed the international trends for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of genetic resources, and suggested how to cope actively with the situation.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.272-287
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• 2019

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.