• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2015

This study aims to figure out the vegetation status and characteristics of the spatial distribution in Taeanhaean National Park. As a result, vegetation communities were Pinus thunbergii community, Pinus densiflora community, Pinus thunbergii-Pinus densiflora community, Camellia japonica community, Carpinus turczaninowii community, Carpinus turczaninowii-Pinus thunbergii community, Kalopanax septemlobus community, Koelreuteria paniculata community, Robinia pseudoacacia community, and sand dune and coastal wetland vegetation including Vitex rotundifolia community, Elymus mollis community, Calamagrostis epigeios community, Ischaemum anthephoroides community, Zoysia sinica community, Suaeda maritima community, and Phragmites communis community. Landscape types in actual vegetation map were Pinus thunbergii community (3.92%), Pinus densiflora community (1.40%), Robinia pseudoacacia community (0.05%), sand dune and coastal wetland vegetation (0.11%), field (0.46%), seashore (0.24%), thinning area (0.08%), bareground (0.16%), and sea (93.58%). Area of Pinus thunbergii community among vegetation type was $14.797km^2$ (3.92%) and the largest. Stratification structure and species composition of Pinus thunbergii community distributed in the seashore were different as a result of disturbance and human use. On the other hand, we assumed that succession will take place to the potential natural vegetation that is Quercus serrata and Quercus dentata in undisturbed Pinus thunbergii community. Meanwhile, Erechtites hieracifolia was occupied in understory of Pinus thunbergii community around the seashore and Diodia teres was invaded to sand dune vegetation. They may affect on natural species negatively. Therefore, monitoring and management plans are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.33-50
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• 2023

This study is to propose the ecosystem service valuation method as a complementary or alternative tool to overcome the limitations of the contingent valuation method(CVM), typically used to assess social benefits in preliminary feasibility studies. With an increasing interest in natural and environmental restoration projects, we assessed social benefits with theses CVM and ecosystem service valuation method from a case of Janghang wetland restoration project and compared the extent of the two social benefits. For quantitative evaluation of ecosystem services, the biophysical quantity for each ecosystem service indicator was calculated and then converted into currency (KRW) units to estimate the economic value of ecosystem services. The four ecosystem regulating service indicators were selected including greenhouse gas capture/storage, air pollution, water quantity and quality regulation. The amounts of CO₂ sequestration and storage as a ecosystem's greenhouse gas regulating service in the study area were 73.04 tCO₂/yr and 5,867.53 tCO₂/yr respectively. The reduction of SO₂, one of air pollutant gases by ecosystems was calculated to be 180.27 kg/yr, the reduction of NO₂ to be 378.90 kg/yr, and the reduction of fine dust (PM10) to be 9,713.92 kg/yr. The amount of freshwater regulating service by the ecosystem was estimated to be 459,394,319ℓ/yr, and the amount of nitrogen in freshwater removed by the ecosystem was 78.00kg/yr. Study results show that the benefits derived from the CVM were KRW 227.8 billion over the 30-year analysis period and those from the ecosystem service valuation method were KRW 41.4 billion for regulatory services and KRW 148.8 billion for cultural services, totaling KRW 189.5 billion. With KRW 184.8 billion of the total costs, the benefit/cost ratio using the CVM was 1.23 and that with the ecosystem service valuation method was 1.03. This study implications include that the CVM and ecosystem service valuation method can be applied together to assess and compare social benefits for natural and environmental restoration projects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.24-36
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• 2008

The essence of a natural stream restoration project is providing habitats for various creatures in terms of the stream's environmental function. This research suggests the problems of natural stream restoration project by studying streams in terms of habitats for creatures and reviewing the national and international cases on existing natural stream restoration project. As a solution for the above, this research suggests a preservation method for biotope of upper stream areas focusing on the fish biotope area considering the ecological characteristics and preservation value of the respective stream so that the stream can be preserved as habitats for creatures. The research was carried out on Cheonglimli Baekcheon region which is an upper stream area of Buan-Dam located in the public park in Byunsanbando, Buangoon, Jeonlabookdo. We suggest the preservation method based on the habitat environment and keystone species of fish. The habitat environment evaluation was carried out mainly being divided into three groups namely, habitats and surrounding environment, reservoir's features and fish way and the diversity of fish. By improving the problematic elements discovered through such evaluation, it tries to improve the biotope of the stream and continuously preserve the stream. In addition, in order to restore the stream as habitats for various creatures, this research suggests to select keystone species which are suitable for the stream environment and restore the habitats based on the keystone species rather than restoring habitats for all species. Fish not only plays the role of a consumer of Epilithic algae and water beetles but also plays an important ecological role as a food for birds or small mammalia. If such ecologically important biotope for fish is preserved, the ecological environment of the stream will be maintained more stably.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.249-260
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• 2022

This mini review examines the habitat connectivity and effectiveness of Korean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) region. We first reemphasize that the Korean region of the YSLME is a single ecosystem (ecoregion) given the biophysical distribution patterns. The MPAs within the YSLME contribute about 50% to the total MPAs in Korea, accounting for about 10% of the territorial sea waters of Korea and 20% of the waters of YSLME on the Korean side. By area, national parks account for nearly 45% of the MPAs, followed by the wetland protected areas at 25%, with other types of MPA comprising the remaining 30%. Large MPA (> 100 km²) is the dominant type of MPA, accounting for 90% of the total area. We find that MPAs in the region are connected physically and perhaps also genetically. However, the level of protection was found to be low, and a no-take zone is rarely implemented. In addition, interrupted freshwater discharge caused by river-mouth dams poses a major hindrance to the physical connectivity of the MPAs. Restoration of the river-mouth dams and strengthened regulation on MPAs, with further expansion of MPAs in line with the current development of post-2020 global biodiversity frameworks, should be priorities for better management of marine resources. The newly revised law incorporating the concept of "Marine Ecosystem Axis Management" would reinforce the processes, and their effectiveness together with overall management of MPAs in Korea should be evaluated by designing appropriate measurement tools.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.359-369
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• 2015

Stream ecosystems are highly valued natural resources, however, stream environments are currently under threat in several respects. We evaluated vegetation and ecological characteristics according to different revetment types. The distribution of vegetation differed with revetment type, with a 42~45 taxa found in natural revetments, and 23~38 taxa in vertical revetments. Thus, natural revetments host more diverse vegetation than vertical revetments. We also found more plants belonging to the families Labiatae and Cyperaceae growing in natural revetments than in vertical revetments. We proposed that habitat space be apportioned to introduce annual plants as part of stream restoration projects. And, we identified 7 families and 18 taxa of naturalized plants, majority taxa were either biennial or perennial. Moreover, naturalized ratio was higher in vertical(14.3%) than natural(12.1%), we proposed a plan to promote and improve natural streams and revetments. Furthermore, we applied a waterfront evaluation method developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the USDA-NRCS, which confirmed that stream health can be improved in most regions by controlling naturalized plants and ensuring shrub and tree growth. We adopted a new method to remove naturalized plants and establish natural revetments to ensure shrub and tree growth to aid in small-stream restoration and improvement. In future studies, we hope to develop methods for small-stream restoration projects in rural areas.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.29
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

This research gives weight to establish practical improvement based on analysis of the landscape ecological character and value to realize the importance of small wetland and stream in cultivated areas functioning as a residual landscape element in rural landscape and to deal with ecological depression effectively. The results of summary are as follows. 1) The results of landscape ecological character analysis of wetlands biotop in total of 7 sites, for example, size of surface in site 5 was widely formed about $10,600m^2$, which was assessed satisfactory in terms of slope of waterfront, width of hedgerow, vegetation condition of composition and so on. Also, The number of flexibility showed 2 in site 8-1, the highest, and morphological diversity showed 1.47, the highest. 2) The results of problem analysis of wetland biotop, most of wetlands are analyzed that the width of hedgerow was below 1m. Also, the 4 wetlands in site 8 are appeared that hard to live slope vegetation in there because of slope of waterfronts are above $45^{\circ}$. 3) The results of landscape ecological character analysis of stream in total of 6 sites, for example, width of waterfront in site 4 showed 55m, the widest, and investigated consist of natural ingredients such as soil, rock, gravel. However, width of waterfront in site 2-2 showed 4m, the narrowest, and inclined angle of slope was formed a right angle. 4) The results of problem analysis of stream, width of waterfront hedgerow in site 2-1 showed about 5m, which was very narrower than width of waterfront, and toxic chemicals discharged from near cultivated area without any filtering. Also, all areas of site 2-2 was formed concrete, and was assessed dissatisfactory in terms of capacity of nature purification, flood control, habitat living space because of straight stream. 5) Based on the result above landscape ecological character and problem analysis, main improvement guidelines are set in terms of shape, vegetation, topography in case of wetlands, and which are set in terms of vertical, horizontal structure in case of stream.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.4 s.118
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• pp.498-507
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• 2006

The main objective of present study was to evaluate how seasonal rainfall influenced natural habitat conditions of 10 metric habitat variables along with ionic conditions and suspended solids in the Woopo Wetland during August 2002-July 2003. Largest spatial variabilities in total suspended solids (TSS) occurred during the summer monsoon and the inorganic suspended solids (ISS), expressed as a inorganic proportion of total solids, showed linearly increasing trend from the upstream to downstream. This phenomenon was mainly attributed to counter flow of turbid water from the main Nakdong-River. During the flooding, ISS : TSS ratio showed large increases (92%) in the downstream than the upstream (43%). For this reason, transparency declined (mean=0.13 m, range=0.08-0.21 m) largely in the downstream reach and thus, chlorophyll-a concentration showed low values (range: $4.2-8.6\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), indicating a direct influence on primary productivity or algal growth by inorganic turbidity. In the 2nd survey, ISS averaged 4.0 mg $L^{-1}$ (3.3-4.8 mg $L^{-1}$), thus the ISS decreased by 14 fold, compared to the ISS in the 1st survey during the flooding, while organic suspended solids (OSS) values were greater than those of ISS, indicating a dominance of organic solids. This condition was similar to solid contents in the 3rd survey, but showed a large difference compared to the 4th survey during the growing season. Habitat health assessments, based on 10 metric habitat variables, showed that QHEI values were greatest in the growing season (May) than any other seasons and largest spatial variations occurred in the 2nd survey. Overall, dataset suggest that seasonal episodic flooding during the monsoon may largely contribute nutrient cycling and sediment contents in the Woopo Wetland and Topyung Stream.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.170-174
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• 1997

Constructed wetland system was studied to treat wastewater from industrial complex in rural area. Pilot plant at the Baeksuk Nongkong Danzi in Chunahn-City was used for field study. For the DO, the effluent concentration was higher than the influent concentration and it implies that natural reaeration supplies enough oxygen to the system. For the SS, the effluent concentration was consistently lower than the water quality standard even though the influent concentration varied significantly, which showed that SS was removed by the system effectively which is consist of soil and plants. For the BOD and COD, the average removal rate of them were 56% and 43%, respectively, therefore, the effluent concentration could not meet water quality standards when influent concentration was high. The removal rate of BOD and COD can be improved by supplemental treatment in addition to this system if necessary. For the T-N and T-P, the influent concentration of them were lower than the water quality standards than no further treatment was needed. Overall, the result showed that constructed wetland system is a feasible alternative for the treatment of wastewater from industrial complex in rural area. For actual application of this system, further study on design factors including loading rate, removal mechanism, and temperature effects is required to meet water quality standard consistently. Compared to existing systems, this system is quite competitive because it requires low capital cost, almost no energy and maintenance, and therefore, very cost effective.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2008

To effectively treat the domestic sewage that was produced on a small-scale in farming and fishing village in order to encourage an ecologically friendly environment, a small-scale sewage treatment apparatus using natural purification methods that consisted of an aerobic and an anaerobic plots were constructed. The efficiency of sewage treatment according to the sewage loading was investigated to obtain the optimum sewage loading in small-scale sewage treatment apparatus. Removal rate of pollutants according to the sewage loading were in the order of $150\;Lm^{-2}day^{-1}{\fallingdotseq}300\;Lm^{-2}day^{-1}>600\;Lm^{-2}day^{-1}$. Therefore, the optimum sewage loading was 300 L m-2 day-1. Under the optimum sewage loading, removal rate of BOD, $COD_{Mn}$, turbidity, T-N and T-P were 99, 94, 99, 49 and 89%, respectively. However, to satisfy the water quality standard in effluent in small-sclae sewage treatment apparatus for domestic sewage treatment, the low removal efficiency of T-N and T-P must be improved. So to improve the removal rate of T-N and T-P, the efficiency of sewage treatment according to the improved sewage treatment process such as, re-treatment at aerobic plot, anaerobic condition of aerobic plot, changing the filter media sizes and the depths in anaerobic plot, and also addition of oyster shells to filter media at anaerobic plot were investigated. In case of 150 cm depth in anaerobic plot with filter medium A (effectivity particle size 1.50 mm) and addition of oyster shells to filter media at anaerobic plot, removal rate of T-N and T-P in both plots were increased by 10 and 3%, and 14 and 7% in comparison with 100 cm depth in anaerobic plot with filter medium B(effectivity particle size 0.95 mm), respectively. The optimum improved sewage treatment process in small-scale sewage treatment apparatus were 150 cm depth in anaerobic plot with filter medium A and addition of oyster shells to filter media at anaerobic plot.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.85-95
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• 2015

Recent years, nationwide projects for ecological restoration are implemented with emerging issues on the stream ecosystem. In order to enhance effectiveness of the ecosystem restoration and reduce negative impact, the appraisal of effectiveness through the follow-up monitoring and the adaptive management process are executed in consecutive phase. In this study, planning phase, monitoring and adaptive management in Hakui stream which is part of An Yang stream restoration project is introduced as representative ongoing case of effective adaptive management. The aim of this study is to verify the adaptive management process and suggest direction of effective restoration. Restoration project of Hakui stream resulted in increasing number and diversity of species (vegetation, fish, bird, invertbrates, amphibian and reptilia) according to monitoring from 2004 to 2013, and enhancing natural river landscape by evaluation of river naturalness among 2001(before restoration), 2007 (after), 2015 (recent). However, excessive vegetation expansion or sediment deposition on channel over time caused unexpected results such as terrestrialization or degradation of habitats. Adaptive management action such as removing disturbance species (Humulus japonicus)(2007), coppicing willow (2007), release of march snail (2007), creation of wetland (2014) were implemented based on monitoring results. And then appraisal of management action was discussed.