• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.71-86
• /
• 2024

Despite the increasing importance of urban parks' ecological functions in dealing with the climate crisis, ecological parks are not clearly defined in Korea's legal system. Numerous ecological parks created nationwide cannot be systematically designated and managed due to various legal bases and varying management authorities. It is important to clarify the legal status of ecological parks in order to lead the ecological paradigm shift of urban parks and to improve the natural park system for a comprehensive and integrated approach to protect the national ecosystem. To this end, related laws were analyzed to identify problems and to draw directions for legislative improvement. Through the literature review of relevant laws, acts, and ordinances, six major directions for improvement were suggested based on the analysis of problems. First, the legal status of ecological parks in the administrative dichotomy of the current park system is ambiguous, and ecological parks should be clarified through the revision of park-related laws. Second, an ecological park can be defined as a sustainable park created and managed in an ecological manner, promoting the protection and restoration of the ecosystem, conservation, and promotion of biodiversity, and balancing nature observation, ecological learning, and leisure activities. Third, the role of the state and local governments should be systematically revised to lead to a new park planning and management model through new governance. Fourth, since the characteristics of ecological parks are affected by individual laws, the possibility of overlapping ecological parks for other uses should be allowed. Fifth, detailed guidelines and standard ordinances need to be enacted to meet the goals, principles, and facilities of ecological parks. Lastly, along with the revision of the laws, ordinances by local governments also need to be more concrete. This study, which tracks various legal realities related to ecological parks, can contribute to policymaking that can systematize the foundation for the creation of ecological parks to preserve nationwide ecosystems and provide citizens with opportunities to experience and learn about nature.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.32 no.6 s.107
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to find out the heavy metal contents and the physico-chemical properties for the improvement of dredged soils which widely exist in lowlands of Korea. At first all the average heavy metal contents were close to background level and were much lower than concern level of the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea. And the results of physical analyses of soils showed on the average $2.46\~2.74 Mg/m^3$ in Particle density, $0.45\~2.45 kg/kg$ in soil water contents, $0.34\~0.90 Mg/m^3$ in bulk density, $0.67\~0.87m^3/m^3$ in porosity, $2.18\times10^{-5}\~1.20\times10^{-8} m/s$ in saturated hydraulic conductivity, R0.12\~0.65 m^3/m^3$ in available water contents. Finally the results of chemical analyses of soils showed on the average $6.5\~8.2\;in\; pH,\;5\~48 g/kg\;in\; OM,\;0.48\~4.51g/kg\;in\;T-N,\;19\~25mg/kg$ in available phosphate, $0.28\~11.80 dS/m\;in\;EC,\;8.7\~38.1cmol/kg$ in CEC, respectively Accordingly, the physicochemical properties of soils ought to be analyzed accurately before dredging for effective using of dredged soils. And it will be more effective, if the dredged soils are used with proper balance among each content of components with consideration to the physicochemical properties of common soils.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2007

Land suitability assessment has been enforced by the National Land Planning and Utilization Act since 2003 to prevent urban sprawl and protect natural environment. It assesses developmental, agricultural or preservable suitability of land parcel according to such criteria as soil, location and usability by local governments. Land suitability assessment system (LSAS) has been introduced to prevent cursory development by urban sprawl and to lead a harmonious development with conservation in the non-urban area. However, with the lack of experience and knowledge various problems have been arisen in the operation of this system, raising a question for the improvement of the assessment unit of land. The purpose of this study is to investigate methods of developing land assessment as a sustainable land use management tool. In this study, land suitability assessment has been executed through geographic information systems. On the basis oh the results of analysis, practical and institutional problems are described, and technical and institutional solutions are suggested.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.337-343
• /
• 2017

This study is going to contribute the activation of ecosystem services written in the 3rd National Basic Plan for Nature Conservation(2016~2025) in Korea. Meanwhile we considered the benefits that the nature has given to the humankind as free goods or services which we may consume traditionally without due payment therefore. But on account of the expansion of cities and expedition of development, as the carrying capacity of the nature has been breached, people have come to try to restore and enhance artificially such vulnerable capacity. It is necessary to compensate the opportunity cost which the land owners or occupiers have to pay for conservation and maintenance of natural capitals which yield the ecosystem services. Therefore the institutionalization of ecosystem services should be established that the consumers who enjoy such services should share the interest from enjoying services with the land owners or occupiers who produce the ecosystem services, under the legal system which will make it possible to connect the benefit sharing with the conservation of environment. However it is the first task that the present legal system could not realize the fair and equitable benefit sharing between the producers and consumers of ecosystem services. And the second task in such legal system is that the value of ecosystem services could not be fully considered in the process of development planning. According to the analysis of this study, the institutionalization of ecosystem services in the government side and the civilian side could be realized to somewhat extent, although not sufficient. Especially the transactions of ecosystem services through the private contract among stakeholder are possible in the course of development planning or without any relevancy to a development project. The final task in the institutionalization of ecosystem services is how to assess the ecosystem services and to value the economic benefits therefrom on the basis of what kinds of procedures relating to some development processes. To overcome such difficulties, it is necessary that the state, trend and change of ecosystem services confronting with a developing project should be assessed concretely at the threshold of development. It is possible to integrate the ecosystem services into the environmental impact assessment(IEA), not by way of the Act of IEA, but by way of the Decree thereof.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2018

While cities became bigger and bigger since 1990s, many indiscretely high buildings started to be built in the mountain areas inside a city and in the rural areas in the suburb of each city. To regulate such indiscrete developments, the government prepared for some relevant legal and institutional criteria by having enacted the "Landscape Act" and established a strong management means in the legal and institutional aspects by having introduced the natural landscape deliberation system and the landscape deliberation one into the "Natural Environment Conservation Act." However, since some uniform levels of absolute height and no. of stories are suggested legally and institutionally, it is hard to consider the effects of a real building structure onto the relevant landscape. Accordingly, this thesis is intended to grasp the contrast of the landscape elements in the allowable height section, which is presented through landscape sensitivity. As the results from the visual contrast rating on a small apartment complex located in Dangjin and a large scale of apartment complex in Seosan as the apartment complexes surrounded with natural landscapes that were selected as the subjects of this study, the following conclusion can be finalized. First, there were deducted some factors, that is, forms, lines, colors, textures and sizes as the ones with which can measure and evaluate the contrasting properties when a structure gets into a natural landscape. Second, in case of a small scale of apartment complex (in the foreground) compared to a large one (in the foreground), it was found that the contrasting properties were bigger. In addition, it was also found that the contrasting property of the landscape factor of the foreground compared to that of the middle one becomes bigger depending on a distance. Third, as the results from an evaluation on the contrasting properties of the landscape factor depending on the changes of each floor of a structure, it was found that the factors, that is, forms, lines, colors, textures and sizes are very significant. Among those factors, the factors, forms and lines in a small scale of apartment complex (in the foreground) showed each log regression. But in all of the other cases, they showed each line regression. Fourth, as the results from examining the regression coefficients of the landscape factor, the coefficients of the shapes and lines have similar coefficients and the colors and the textures have similar ones, too. In case of the sizes of apartment complexes, the colors and the textures of a large apartment complex (in the foreground) have similar coefficients, in case of that in the middle ground, the shapes and lines have similar coefficients. Fifth, as the results from estimating the contrasting properties of the landscape factor on the floors within the allowed scope of the landscape sensitivity, it was found that the contrasting property was 3.5 to 4.9 in case of a small scale of apartment complex (in the foreground), but 2.5to 3.7 in case of a small scale of one. In case of a large scale of apartment complex, the value was 3.5 to 5.3, but in case of a large one in the middle ground was 2.9 to 4.9. Sixth, it was comprehended that the contrasting properties of the landscape factor become different depending on each size of apartment complex and the distance of a view point. In this study, it is intended to find the meaning from the aspect that the results can be used as the baseline data for comprehending a proper range of heights of structures objectively during a natural landscape deliberation or a landscape deliberation.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.125-135
• /
• 2004

Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) in Korea has been used to improve environmental conservation and decision-making. Since environmental impact statement(EIS) was introduced in 1981 with the promulgation of the Environmental Preservation Act in 1977, which replaced the Pollution Control Act legislated in 1963. With a rapid growth of environmental perception as well as the diversification of development activities, however, it has recently bring about a strong demand for a new assessment process related to the strategic level of policies, plan, programs. Method of this study includes analyses of the situation of local EIA and its problematic issues through survey and analysis of information and data, analysis of the level of environmental awareness of professionals and case studies including analysis of foreign strategic environmental assessment. Accordingly, I have elicited a concept of SEA. In addition, I have studied on costs of environmental assessment, and efficiency of internalization of HIA. The survey was carried between September and November 2003, and 177 professionals were asks to complete a questionnaire. As a result of questionnaire survey of environmental pundits, it revealed that 83.8% of participants were in favor of introduction of strategic assessment. This result demonstrated more or less higher approval rate than those of awareness survey done by the Ministry of Environment, i.e. 86.0% ayes, and 14.0% nays. 22.8% of participants agreed to the opinion; "For introduction of this system, earlier is better," 50% reported having an opinion such as, "Will introduce this system in an earliest possible time after correcting problems," 26.3% reported having an opinion such as, "Let's decide the time for introduction of this system after correcting problems first,' and 0.9% reported having an opinion, "it's too early to introduce this system." Specifically, the ratio of ayes on introduction of the system marked 72.8%, and it revealed that a majority of respondents have an opinion such as, "Will introduce this system in an earliest possible time after correcting problems." As means of solutions for the problem regarding the limits of applications that existed in SEA System, factors, such as collecting a wide variety of opinions, securing experts, and faithful implementation, etc. were reported important, and in addition to these factors, respondents revealed having opinions such as, consistent research and development, reflection of public interest, establishment of professional organization, enforcement of after-management service, expanding investments in large, systemizing reference materials, and encouraging public participation, etc. To improve problems involving with present EIA system, it has been identified through this study that SEA is efficient and useful. In order to have SEA introduced successfully, it has been cleared that internalization of effectiveness of environmental cost together with HIA must be accomplished.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2008

Alien apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata, Pomacea insularus) used in environmentally-friendly agriculture are different from indigenous snails found in Korea. Due to high herbicidal effects and cost-effectiveness, the number of farmers using the snails has been growing every year since 2000. Moreover, in 2008, because of the outbreaks of avian influenza throughout the country from March to May, 2008, central and local governments recommended the use of alien apple snails in agriculture as an alternative to the ducks-oriented environmentally-friendly agriculture. Therefore, it is expected that the use of alien apple snails in agriculture should be expanded in a near future. Since alien apple snails lay eggs with 95.8% of eclosion rate, they are considered to be potential pests unlike indigenous snails. In addition, Japan, Taiwan and most of the southeast Asian countries had already experienced severe ecological and agricultural damage by the alien apple snails. Subsequently, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) designated P. canaliculata as one of "the 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species". It seems highly likely that the alien apple snails in Korea pose a potential threat to conservation of ecosystem and biodiversity since the snails were either found or invaded into the natural environments in some regions of Gangwon-Do and southern parts of Korean Peninsula. However, just recently, agricultural authorities and farmers using alien apple snails in agriculture opposed a proposition of designating the alien apple snails as an ecosystem-disturbing animal described by the Wildlife Protection Act. This is because there has been no concrete evidence of the ecological risk imposed by the alien snails up to now in Korea. Subsequently, in this paper, we analysed the ecological and agricultural risks imposed by the alien snails from the studies done in domestic and abroad. In addition, we proposed an urgent need and reasoning for ecological risk management of the alien snails at the national level as well as using the snails in agriculture.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.377-390
• /
• 2020

URBAN ECOLOGICAL MAPS must be created by local governments by NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT, and the maps are generally called biotope map. So far, biotope maps study was a tendency to focus on the type of vegetation, naturalness, land use, landscape ecology theories. However, biotope related studies have not reflected the concept of animal habitat, which is a component of biotope, and that is the limitation of biotope map research. This study suggest a methodology to predict potential habitats for fauna using machine learning to quantify habitat values. The potential habitats of fauna were predicted by spatial statistics using machine learning, and the results were converted into species richness. For biotope type assessments, we classified biotope values into vegetation value and habitat value and evaluated them using a matrix for value summation. The vegetation value was divided into 5 stages based on vegetation nature and land use, and the habitat value was classified into five stages by predicting the species richness predicted by machine learning. This is meaningful because our research can positively reflect the results of field surveys of fauna that were negatively reflected in the evaluation of biotope types in the past. Therefore, in the future, if the biotope map manual is revised, our methodology should be applied.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.291-300
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of occurrence and distribution of Eupatorium rugosum by forest types and soil characteristics in Mt. Namsan in Seoul, Korea. E. rugosum is designated as a harmful non-indigenous plant in ecosystem by the Natural Environment Conservation Act in Korea. E. rugosum grew along roadside and in valleys with some favorable light conditions. E. rugosum occurred in aggregations under Pinus densiflora and Robinia pseudoacacia communities. And it was sparse in forests of Quercus mongolica and P. koraiensis. The representative herb layer species were Oplismenus undulatifolius, and Parthenocissus tricuspidata in the E. rugosum communities. There was a significantly negative correlation between the coverage of E. rugosum and the coverage of tree layer. However, the result of ANOVA of E. rugosum coverage by dominant species of tree layers did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). The level of soil moisture content, organic content, and pH, was slightly higher in communities with E. rugosum than without, but it was statistically non-significant difference. However, it was found that the coverage of E. rugosum was very significantly negative correlated with the depth of top soil profile (litter and fermentation layer, p<0.05).

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