• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.318-326
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• 2017

Riverine wetlands were reduced and damaged by dredging of rivers and constructing parks in wetlands by Four Rivers Project from 2008 to 2013. Therefore, replacement wetlands were constructed for the compensation of wetland loss by the government. However, It is not enough to manage replacement wetlands. In order to manage the wetlands efficiently, it is necessaty to assess the functions of the wetlands and to manage them according to their functions. Here we performed functional assessments for a replacement wetland called Gangcheon wetland using the modified HGM approach. Hydrological, biogeochemical, animal habitat, and plant habitat functions for the wetland were assessed. To assess the functions, we collected informations for modified HGM approach from the monitored hydrologic data, field survey, published reports and documents for before and after the project, and hydraulic & hydrologic modeling. As the results of the assessment, the hydrological function for the replacement wetland showed 65.5% of the reference wetland, biogeochemical function showed 66.6%, plant habitat function showed 75%, and animal habitat function showed 108.3%. Overall, Gangcheon wetland function after the project was reduced to 78.9% of the function before the project. The decrease in hydrological function is due to the decrease of subsurface storage of water. And the decrease in biogeochemical & pland habitat functions is due to the removal of sandbank around the Gangcheon wetland. To compensate for the reduced function, it is necessary to expand the wetland area and to plant the various vegetation. The modified HGM used in this study can take into account the degree of improvement for replacement wetlands, so it can be used to efficiently manage the replacement wetlands. Also when the wetland is newly constructed, it will be very useful to assess the change of function of the wetland over time.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 2013

Wetlands occupy an important ecological position on the earth, carrying out very important functions and roles both ecologically and hydrologically. However, due to past industrialization, not only wetland areas but also the biodiversity of organisms has severely decreased due to several artificial interferences and damage as wetlands began to be perceived simply as targets for development and reclamation. However in recent times, with the importance of wetlands coming to the fore, the assessment of the function and value of wetlands is being made for their wise use and systematic maintenance. Accordingly, this study targeted the Jilnal Wetlands located in Haman, Gyeongnam, and conducted a functional appraisal of this wetland using the modified HGM Model which was modified & developed appropriately for the actual conditions of our country. The result of its appraisal by selecting the Upo Wetland as the reference wetland, which is a criterion of the index, showed a comparatively positive functional index with 0.89 of the Upo Wetland average. This means that the Jilnal Wetland carrys out more than 89% of the functioning of the Upo Wetland. In this regard, it is thought that the Jilnal Wetland could carry out the wetland functioning equivalent to that of the Upo Wetland through a little more systematic management.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2016

This study aims to suggest the framework of functional assessment on lotic area based on HGM(Hydrogeomorphic) approach targeting Wetland Protected Areas which are in the type of river channel, and to set up the fundamental data as a reference wetland. A total of 10 factors in terms of hydrology, biogeochemistry, plant habitat and animal habitat was analyzed based on the original approach of HGM and each Functional Capacity Index(FCI) of those factors was calculated. As the result of the modified FCI analysis, Damyang riverine wetland which is with artificial river bank had high values in the variables of area ratio of actual vegetation in the foreland, the number of plant per area and the area ratio of Salix spp., and those values were highly reflected on the factors of Nutrient Cycling(947,668.00), Species Richness and Maintain Characteristic Plant Communites(6.39) and Maintain Spatial Structure of Habitat(11.00). The Hanbando wetland which is keeping the natural bank had higher values in the variables of structural scale and species diversity, and the those values were highly reflected on the factors of Energy Dissipation(17,805.16), Subsurface Storage of Water(0.54), Removal of Imported Elements and Compounds(103,052.73), Maintain Characteristic Detrital Biomass(2.31), Maintenance of Interspersion and Connectivity (6.50), Species Diversity of Benthic macro-invertebrates(1.60) and Species Diversity of Vertebrate & Species Number of Other Animals(2.52/ 151.50), compared to the Damyang Riverine Wetland.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Wetland function assessment is not only a basic step to understand wetland ecosystems in detail but also an important process as a base of the term, ecosystem service to recognize wetland ecosystems as valuable and useful resources and goods for human being. WET (wetland evaluation technique), EMAP (environmental monitoring assessment program)-wetlands, and HGM (hydrogeomorphic method) were developed as pioneer wetland function assessments in U.S. at the end of $20^{th}$-century. RAMs (rapid assessment methods) became a major function assessment tool which is relatively simpler and easier assessment tool at the beginning of $21^{th}$-century. After that, the hierarchy of three levels of assessment (landscape assessment, rapid assessment, and intensive assesment) has been prepared and strategically utilized according to the objectives and purposes of function assessments. In South Korea, RAM and HGM were used to assess wetland functions with reforming a couple of items and contents at 2001. And, modified and reformed function assessments have been developed to complement and improve upon the existing RAMs and HGMs. Via the trend analysis on wetland function assessments, some needs which require supplements in terms of function assessment are pointed out: 1) wetland function assessments using useful indicators such as birds are needed with considering our environmental characteristics. 2) optimized wetland function assessments for coastal wetlands are also needed. 3) the network construction and further expansion to lead communications and co-operations between researchers and policy makers is needed in the field of wetland function assessment.