• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.193-206
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• 2024

This study aimed to quantify changes in forest cover and carbon storage of Korean Peninsular during the last two decades by integrating field measurement, satellite remote sensing, and modeling approaches. Our analysis based on 30-m Landsat data revealed that the forested area in Korean Peninsular had diminished significantly by 478,334 ha during the period of 2000-2019, with South Korea and North Korea contributing 51.3% (245,725 ha) and 48.6% (232,610 ha) of the total change, respectively. This comparable pattern of forest loss in both South Korea and North Korea was likely due to reduced forest deforestation and degradation in North Korea and active forest management activity in South Korea. Time series of above ground biomass (AGB) in the Korean Peninsula showed that South and North Korean forests increased their total AGB by 146.4Tg C (AGB at 2020=357.9Tg C) and 140.3Tg C (AGB at 2020=417.4Tg C), respectively, during the last two decades. This could be translated into net AGB increases in South and North Korean forests from 34.8 and 29.4 Mg C ha^-1 C to 58.9(+24.1) and 44.2(+14.8) Mg C ha^-1, respectively. It indicates that South Korean forests are more productive during the study period. Thus, they have sequestered more carbon. Our approaches and results can provide useful information for quantifying national scale forest cover and carbon dynamics. Our results can be utilized for supporting forest restoration planning in North Korea

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.650-660
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• 2017

In this study, simplified LCA (life cycle assessment) tool was developed to increase accessibility and availability on LCA timber construction. The result of simplified LCA was compared with commercial program on LCA (Simapro.7) to verify its availability. As a result of evaluating environmental impacts with the Life Cycle Inventory of all processes, gap between LCA and simplified LCA tools of timber construction was about 1%. Therefore, the simplified LCA tool could analyse greenhouse gas emissions of timber construction and to expand number of data set through improved conveniency of users for developing database of timber construction in Korea. The reduction effects of greenhouse gas emissions of timber construction was about 53% of total emission offset up to construction phase. The results of this study would support decision making process to expand to timber construction policy to showcase environmental friendliness of timber construction. It was expected to contribute to response to the New climate regime in forestry.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.181-194
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• 2017

This study aims to develop a regression model for forest volume estimation using field-collected forest inventory information and airborne LiDAR data. The response variable of the model is forest stem volume, was measured by random sampling from each individual plot of the 30 circular sample plots collected in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeong sangbuk-do, while the predictor variables for the model are Height Percentiles(HP) and Height Bin(HB), which are metrics extracted from raw LiDAR data. In order to find the most appropriate model, the candidate models are constructed from simple linear regression, quadratic polynomial regression and multiple regression analysis and the cross-validation tests were conducted for verification purposes. As a result, $R^2$ of the multiple regression models of $HB_{5-10}$, $HB_{15-20}$, $HB_{20-25}$, and $HBgt_{25}$ among the estimated models was the highest at 0.509, and the PRESS statistic of the simple linear regression model of $HP_{25}$ was the lowest at 122.352. $HB_{5-10}$, $HB_{15-20}$, $HB_{20-25}$, and $HBgt_{25}-based$ models, thus, are comparatively considered more appropriate for Korean forests with complicated vertical structures.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2004

In this study, the stand structure of the Korean White Pine stand is analysed by the changing growth situation and the growth model for DBH, Height, and Volume per ha, which is estimated with the data collected for Korean White Pine stand in the Research Forests of Kangwon National University. The results were summarized as follows The estimated equations were (1) Y=20.687Ln(X)-50.431 for DBH, (2) Y=12.951Ln(X)-31.225 for Height, (3) Y=171.06Ln(X)-462.16 for Volume per ha. The mean volumes per ha according to the age classes using the estimated equations were $27.45m^3$ $91.05m^3$, $147.71m^3$, $190.03m^3$, $223.84m^3$, $252.01m^3$ and $276.15m^3$ for the age class II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII, respectively. And also, the relationship between mean annual increment(MAI) and periodic average increment(PAI) was analysed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 1992

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impacts on the domestic timber supply potential of forest resources management policies such as the extention of forest management infrastruture and setting aside more forest lands for the provision of environmental goods. To this end, the domestic timber supply functions were estimated using time series data for the period 1970-1990 and were used to predict the future trends in timber production in the Republic of Korea. For this purpose, a set of scenarios based on the forest road density and forest inventory growth were designed for the next 40 years. The timber supply behavior in Korea was found to be different by species group : domestic supply of softwood roundwood is inelastic with respect to its ovum price while that of hardwood elastic. The effect of forest road construction on the domestic timber production seems to be insignificant yet. The model simulation aided by policy scenarios revealed that the future timber supply potential will be largely restricted if the policy option with emphasis on the provision of environmental goods from the forest resources were adopted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 2010

Carbon Neutral is one of the magnifying pan-governmental tasks which aim for stabilizing pan-global ecosystem. The purpose of this study is to estimates carbon neutral degree in cities by using capacity of carbon storage, which is carbon sinks, on forest and to develop an indicator that could be utilized in establishing policy related to climate change respond. When the carbon emitted from city has been absorbed or stored, the value of the indicator aiming to achieve carbon neutral could be drawn. The result and implication are as follows. First, while the annual amount of carbon emission in Gyeonggi S city was 18,787 thousand (tons), which was the highest, that of Gyeongbuk U city indicated the lowest with approximately 112 thousand (tons). Second, Gyeongbuk U city represented the largest capacity of annual carbon storage with about 16,748 thousand (tons), whereas the smallest figure was shown in Gyeonggi B city with 151 thousand (tons). Third, as result of the estimation of carbon neutral degree, the value of the indicator in Gyeonggi B city was 3% referring the lowest point, while that of other cities demonstrated over 100%. Forth, it has the possibility to suggest the fixed quantity when the plan for achieving carbon neutral of city is being processed. In the near future, after the completion of the construction projects of greenhouse gas inventory in all local governments, by utilizing the relative dates, the value of the indicator can be calculated and a more general conclusion could be drawn. Moreover, as expanding case studies to all domestic cities, generalness is in need.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.3
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• pp.259-268
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• 2007

This study was conducted to produce forest thematic maps and estimate forest statistics for Pyeongchang Gun using the kNN technique, which has been applied to produce thematic maps of variables of interest including unobserved plots by combining field plot data, remotely sensed data and other digital map data in forest inventories. The estimation errors for three horizontal reference areas (HRAs), whose radii are 20, 40 and 60 km respectively, were compared. Although the precision for the 40 km radius was lower compared to that for the 60 km radius, the 40 km radius was found to be an efficient HRA because their difference in precision was modest. At a value of k=5 nearest neighbors for the selected HRA, the overall accuracy was high. As a result, using the k=5 neighbors within the HRA of 40 km radius, thematic maps of number of trees, basal area, and growing stock per hectare were generated. As compared to the forest statistics based on field sample plots, the estimated means of each parameter from the produced maps were underestimated.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.385-396
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• 2024

With the recent development of satellite, aerial, and remote sensing technologies, it is easy to produce landslide inventory maps over a large area. In this study, the object-based framework was designed to address the limitations inherent in the pixel-based deep learning (DL) methodology. This framework explores the potential of combining Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) satellite imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs) to enhance shallow landslide mapping across diverse terrains comprehensively. The study area for analysis and verification was selected as Jucheon-myeon, Namwon-si, and Jeollabuk-do, where significant large-scale landslides and slope failures occurred in 2020. As a result, the application of this framework led to the classification of 68 candidate sites spanning an area of 0.5 hectares or more. Site surveying was conducted on 20 random sites with a 1ha or more scale. Furthermore, six sites were selected where satellite imagery could discern the damaged areas. At these locations, the damaged area estimated by the framework was compared with the actual observed damaged area to assess accuracy. These rapid and cost-effective landslide mapping techniques can accurately estimate the location and extent of landslides and enhance the precision of sensitivity models and land management strategies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.554-558
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• 2007

Current biomass stock of forest has been calculated by using biomass expansion factors (BEFs) that convert timber volumes to dry weight and stem density. The objective of this study was to estimate stem density values and to develop BEFs that are dependent on tree age classes for Quercus acuta stands in Jeonnam Wando-gun. Sample trees on the three different age classes were harvested to obtain each components biomass with stem analysis. Stem density values as tree age classes were ranged from 0.557 to 0.636. Aboveground BEFs were ranged from 1.168 to 1.324. BEFs were increased with increasing age classes. There was a significant difference between BEFs and stem density values with tree age classes. These results suggest that the reliability of the national carbon stock inventory could be improved by applying age classes BEFs, which are formulated on the basis of representative for Quercus acuta.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2017

Improving the urban environmental quality relies mainly on the increasing of urban forests capacity to store carbon dioxide. This study assesses the floristic diversity of urban institutional lands in Bukavu and their potential to reduce atmospheric $CO_2$. An exhaustive inventory over three sites ($Coll{\grave{e}}ge$ Alfajiri, $Cath{\acute{e}}drale$ Notre-Dame de la Paix and Institut $Sup{\acute{e}}rieur$ $P{\acute{e}}dagogique$) of Bukavu led to the identification of 1,113 trees of which the diameter at breast height (1.30 m) ranged from 4.9 to 161 cm. Results reveal a floristic diversity made up of 4 families of conifers with 4 species and 14 of broadleaves with 21 species. Average densities were of $54trees\;ha^{-1}$ and $5.21m^2\;ha^{-1}$ of basal area. Urban-based allometric equations used yielded up to 312.8 tons of carbon stored in trees aboveground biomass equivalent to 1,147.9 tons of $CO_2$ reduced from the atmosphere over the three sites. The rate of carbon storage reaches $15.1tons\;ha^{-1}$. Thus, trees of the three institutional sites in Bukavu play an important role in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ and contribute, thereby, to mitigate global climate change effects. Given the current environmental challenge associated with high population growth rate in cities, the urban forest ecosystem in DRC requires to be extended and further investigation.