• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.83-87
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• 1999

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.629-646
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• 2021

Damage to the natural environment is becoming increasingly complex in modern society, expanding to impact not only the environment but also society and the economy. Various systems and policies based on sustainability have been promoted internationally. Legal systems and policies based on evaluation systems such as land environment assessment and urban ecological status maps, have been implemented in Korea. However, most of Korea institutions and policies related to the natural environment have been directed toward the conservation of the natural environment, and restricted to in simple theoretical frameworks with various limitations. Therefore, this study analyzed the definition and value of the natural environment for a fundamental conceptual approach to the valuation of the natural environment. Based on this, we modeled the policy process for a flexible evaluation system suitable for the actual situation of Korea natural environment through a review of the integration of environmental policy proposed in Europe.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.25-45
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• 2008

This review was made to discuss the issues of ecological restoration and environmental impact assessment (EIA) related to the preservation of natural environment, the central theme expressed in the National Anthem of Korea. The authors notice that the key word or the central philosophy contained in the verses of the National Anthem of Korea is the preservation of national land and eternal identity for future generations, which is thought to be pursued through the attainment of ecological sustainability. A conceptual model for the sustainable management of natural ecosystems was suggested for the efficient utilization and the preservation of them, whose activities should be promoted by those of conservation and restoration instead of destructive development and negligence, respectively. Here, the preservation of natural environment can be directly pursued through the restoration of degraded ecosystems and landscapes and the utilization of natural environment can be directly pursued through the conservation of natural resources and wise management of natural ecosystems and landscapes. After reviewing the major characteristics and activities of the restoration of degraded ecosystems and landscapes, discussion was further extended to points for the promotion of the EIA activities. To point out some of them, it is needed for the public to better understand the nature of sustainable management of natural environment, for the society to put extensive energy and resources in the restoration of degraded ecosystems and landscapes, and for the government to install higher levels of ministries than that of the Ministry of Environment in dealing with the issues related to the 'preservation' of national land, people, culture and the security of the sustainability for future generations, where EIA and strategic environment assessment (SEA) can directly contribute to the sustainability of the country and future generations.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

The Master Plan of Natural Environment Conservation in Korea by Ministry of Environment has been carried out since 1986. The 2nd 10-year survey started in 1997, and there are three major parts in the Master Plan : First, the basic natural environment survey, second, sites in special features of ecological characteristics such as uninhabitable islands, wetlands, etc, and third, biological species featuring status of habitat, and population dynamics. However the information in the Master Plan is very fragmented and collected data are not so abundant due to insufficient man-power and unsynchronized survey time/season. In this regard this paper examined the similar National Biological Survey in USA and compared the differences with the Master Plan in Korea. The Master Plan in Korea should separate the management zone based on hydrological characteristics, and in each zone we should set a management goal in the long term basis. Secondly the species list is not so meaningful that we must concentrate more on research activities. In each taxonomical group we set up hypotheses and research goals. Thirdly local residents and communities should be involved in research so that enhanced biological diversity should benefit people in areas. Lastly legislation and laws should be reexamined and rectified to provide information to the managers that deals with natural resources, expecially when conflicting with economic matters.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.339-355
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• 2006

In this paper, we reviewed the assessment criteria and conservation value used to evaluate vegetation. The Degree of Green Naturality (DGN) and the Grade of Vegetation Conservation (GVC) are both sets of criteria that estimate the degree of human disturbance or natural value of vegetation. The criteria are extensively used in decision-making about the natural environment conservation and environment impact assessment. Sometimes, social issues can rise because the criteria are not clear. This study aims to evaluate the criteria based on the many aspects of the related literatures and suggest reasonable revised criteria. In addition, criteria for representing the relative value of valuable vegetation conservation are suggested. The DGN and GVC are essentially same; both have 11 degrees and 5 grades. While the DGN is subdivided into levels of anthropogenic disturbances, the GVC indicates the priority for conserving valuable vegetation. Therefore, the DGN is very useful for assessing land development projects, etc., while the GVC is needed to delineate the Ecological Assessment Map(EAM). In conclusion, it is desirable that both criteria should be used together appropriately.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.10-26
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• 2018

This paper reviews the soil conservation policies (SCP) in the global community and suggests the improved options in SCP in Korea. Soil Environment Conservation Act in Korea states soil is a valuable natural resource and it's value should be enhanced to provide the benefits that soil ecosystem can offer to people. However, SCP in Korea limits its application to not only the scope of soil environment but also the issues on soil pollution. The SCPs in the advanced countries have shifted their scopes from soil environment to soil ecosystem, put emphasis on the conservation of soil health rather than soil quality, and set the goals to optimize the soil ecosystem services to people while minimizing the soil threats. In this context, the soil security initiative was recently proposed to accomplish this goal while employing the nexus concept to bridge the soil ecosystem services with water, atmosphere, climate and biodiversity. Therefore, the key policies in soil conservation in Korea should expand the scope from soil environment to soil ecosystem, focus on soil health management, and develop the holistic governance among diverse stakeholder to maximize the soil ecosystem services. Soil ecosystem should be secured by national soil policies for human health.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2003

Conservation of wetlands are important because wetlands are hatcheries for fishes and habitat for migratory birds and mammals. Wetlands also function as a filter for polluted water and material and transition zone for harboring numerous species of plants and animals. This paper reviewed the importance of wetland conservation and policy on management of wetlands in Korea. Wetland Conservation Act(1999) and Maritime Management Act(1999) are two legislation for conservation of wetlands. Wetland Conservation Act is issued by both Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The definition of wetlands are so diverse, but this paper categorized wetlands as both natural and man-made lakes, mud flat areas and inland wetlands. Management application was considered for each wetland categories.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2007

In Korea, a regulation of visual impact evaluation on development plan in natural environment is provided at the Natural Environment Conservation Act, but it was difficult to obtained the effectiveness enough to conserve natural landscape. So, the visual impact review on development plan is introduced to the act, through the revision of the Natural Environment Conservation Act in 2005. The basic directions of visual impact review are preservation, restoration, view protection, and harmony. The items of review are as follows; (1) development alternations for the provided plan, (2) executive reduction plan of visual impacts including consideration of growth of plants, (3) deliberation process between persons or parties concerned, etc. For rapid settlement of visual impact review system, it needs that the validity, the reliability, and the objectivity should be confirmed through steady research about reasonable guidance of review.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.156-159
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.114-115
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• 1999