• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nature ecosystem

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Calling for Collaboration to Cope with Climate Change in Ethiopia: Focus on Forestry

  • Kim, Dong-Gill;Chung, Suh-Yong;Melka, Yoseph;Negash, Mesele;Tolera, Motuma;Yimer, Fantaw;Belay, Teferra;Bekele, Tsegaye
    • Journal of Climate Change Research
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.303-312
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    • 2018
  • In Ethiopia, climate change and deforestation are major issues hindering sustainable development. Local Ethiopian communities commonly perceive an increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall. Meteorological data shows that rainfall has declined in southern Ethiopia, and spring droughts have occurred more frequently during the last 10-15 years. The frequently occurring droughts have seriously affected the agriculture-dominated Ethiopian economy. Forests can play an important role in coping with climate change. However, deforestation is alarmingly high in Ethiopia, and this is attributed mainly to agricultural expansion and fuel wood extraction. Deforestation has led to a decrease in various benefits from forest ecosystem services, and increased ecological and environmental problems including loss of biodiversity. To resolve the issues effectively, it is crucial to enhance climate change resilience through reforestation and various international collaborations are urgently needed. To continue collaboration activities for resolving these issues, it is first necessary to address fundamental questions on the nature of collaboration: does collaboration aim for a support-benefit or a mutual benefit situation; dividing the workload or sharing the workload; an advanced technology or an appropriate technology; and short-term and intensive or long-term and extensive?. Potential collaboration activities were identified by sectors: in the governmental sector, advancing governmental structure and policy, enhancing international collaborations and negotiations, and capacity building for forest restoration and management; in the research and education sector, identifying and filling gaps in forestry and climate change education, capacity building for reforestation and climate change resilience research, and developing bioenergy and feed stocks; and in the business and industry sector, supporting conservation based forestry businesses and industries, while promoting collaboration with the research and education sectors. It is envisaged that international collaboration for enhancing climate change resilience through reforestation will provide a strong platform for resolving climate change and deforestation issues, and achieving sustainable development in Ethiopia.

South and North Korean Collaboration for Natural Heritage Conservation across Demilitarized Zone : Its Significance and Challenges (비무장지대(DMZ) 자연유산 남북 공동협력의 의의와 과제)

  • Je, Jonggeel
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.52 no.1
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    • pp.242-257
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    • 2019
  • The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) stretches two kilometers north and south from the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) of South and North Korea. This area was established as a weapons-free buffer zone when an armistice agreement was signed in 1953. However, there have been several very high-tension military standoffss over the past 65 years. On the South Korean side, civilian access to the Civilian Control Line (CCL) and beyond to the north has been restricted, and natural heritage has been well maintained. Natural heritage is defined as living things, their habitat and non-living things of the ecosystem which deserve to be protected. Research shows that a variety of flora and fauna, their habitat, marshes and geographical structures are found across the DMZ region. Although the DMZ region has not been such a good place for habitat conservation, we can say that this area may be the best location for restoration in terms of its variety of ecosystems and considerable land size. Restoration of course depends on future plans and management policies. This area, including the DMZ and the well-protected north of the CCL, will be the best habitat for endangered species of wild fauna and flora if we classify the various habitat types and create a habitat map. In doing this project, we need to include the estuary of the Han River and the lagoon (brackish water lake) of the East Sea coast. In addition, we must establish long-term plans for conservation and sustainable use and do international scientific research across the DMZ region in collaboration with scientists of South and North Korea and international experts. Mutual cooperation between the two Koreas for investigation and conservation efforts is paramount.

Assessment of CH4 oxidation in macroinvertebrate burrows of tidal flats (갯벌의 무척추 동물 서식굴 내 메탄산화 평가)

  • Kang, J.;Kwon, K.;Woo, H.J.;Choi, J.U.
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.21 no.2
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    • pp.95-101
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    • 2019
  • In tidal flats that lack plants, methane ($CH_4$) fluxes are both positive (gas emission) and negative (gas "sinking") in nature. The levels of methanotroph populations significantly affect the extent of $CH_4$ sinking. This preliminary study examined $CH_4$ flux in tidal flats using a circular closed-chamber method to understand the effects of macroinvertebrate burrowing activity. The chamber was deployed over decapods (mud shrimp, Laomedia astacina and crab, Macrophthalmus japonicus) burrows for ~ 2 h, and the $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ concentrations were continuously monitored using a closed, diffuse $CH_4/CO_2$ flux meter. We found that Laomedia astacina burrow (which is relatively long) site afforded higher-level $CH_4$ production, likely due to diffusive emission of $CH_4$ in deep-layer sediments. In addition, the large methanotrophic bacteria population found in the burrow wall sediments has $CH_4$ oxidation (consumption) potential. Especially, nitrite-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) may occur within burrows. The proposed $CH_4$-oxidation process was supported by the decrease in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ of headspace $CO_2$ during the chamber experiment. Therefore, macroinvertebrate burrows appear to be an important ecosystem environment for controlling atmospheric $CH_4$ over tidal flats.

Seeking Directions of Environmental Education for Sustainable Development at Elementary School; focusing on the 5th, 6th grade (지속가능 발전을 위한 초등학교 환경교육 방향 모색 - 초등학교 5, 6학년을 중심으로-)

  • Chi, Chun-ho
    • The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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    • no.31
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    • pp.113-141
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    • 2011
  • Everyone knows the importance of environmental education, which is essentially required especially today. In particular, the education could influence greatly students who have to get in their class and they might build their own thought on the basic concept regarding environment and ecosystem through their elementary school period. But the current elementary education has not the independent subject of 'environment' but only refers to other courses some dealing with it, leading to the highly possible failure of achieving comprehensive and concrete approaches toward environmental education. In that sense, it will be meaningful that based on existing academic discussions and approaches about various environmental issues facing our society, we seek desirable directions for environmental education at primary school for sustainable development that is needed in this era and its possible applications. The concept of sustainable development that puts an importance on the harmony between the development of environment and its preservation should be rather the one which helps to satisfy desires of the future and now generation together and also emphasizes that environmental protection should be primarily considered even in the situation in which economic development could be seen necessary. Therefore, the key to environmental education for sustainable development lies in building the attitude respecting 'life and nature' and such value will be accomplished through education.

Study on the photosynthetic characteristics of Eutrema japonica (Siebold) Koidz. under the pulsed LEDs for simulated sunflecks

  • Park, Jae Hoon;Kim, Sang Bum;Lee, Eung Pill;Lee, Seung Yeon;Kim, Eui Joo;Lee, Jung Min;Park, Jin Hee;Cho, Kyu Tae;Jeong, Heon Mo;Choi, Seung Se;Park, Hoey Kyung;You, Young Han
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.45 no.1
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    • pp.54-61
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    • 2021
  • Background: The sunfleck is an important light environmental factor for plants that live under the shade of trees. Currently, the smartfarm has a system that can artificially create these sunfleks. Therefore, it was intended to find optimal light conditions by measuring and analyzing photosynthetic responses of Eutrema japonica (Miq.) Koidz., a plant living in shade with high economic value under artificial sunflecks. Results: For this purpose, we used LED pulsed light as the simulated sunflecks and set the light frequency levels of six chambers to 20 Hz, 60 Hz, 180 Hz, 540 Hz, 1620 Hz, and 4860 Hz of a pulsed LED grow system in a plant factory and the duty ratio of the all chambers was set to 30%, 50%, and 70% every 2 weeks. We measured the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and substomatal CO2 partial pressure of E. japonica under each light condition. We also calculated the results of measurement, A/Ci, and water use efficiency. According to our results, the photosynthetic rate was not different among different duty ratios, the transpiration rate was higher at the duty ratio of 70% than 30% and 50%, and stomatal conductance was higher at 50% and 70% than at 30%. In addition, the substomatal CO2 partial pressure was higher at the duty ratio of 50% than 30% and 70%, and A/Ci was higher at 30% than 50% and 70%. Water use efficiency was higher at 30% and 50% than at 70%. While the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance generally tended to become higher as the frequency level decreased, other physiological items did not change with different frequency levels. Conclusions: Our results showed that 30% and 50% duty ratios could be better in the cultivation of E. japonica due to suffering from water stress as well as light stress in environments with the 70% duty ratio by decreasing water use efficiency. These results suggest that E. japonica is adapted under the light environment with nature sunflecks around 30-50% duty ratio and low light frequency around 20 Hz.

Forest Vegetation Structure around Marugeum (Ridge Line) Area in Deogyusan Region, Baekdudaegan (백두대간 덕유산권역 마루금 주변의 산림식생구조)

  • Kim, Hojin;Song, Juhyeon;Lee, Jeongeun;Cho, Hyunje;Park, Wangeun;Kim, Sujin;Yun, Chung Weon
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.111 no.1
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    • pp.81-99
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    • 2022
  • The Baekdudaegan, spanning around 701 km from Hyangrobong to Cheonwangbong of Mt. Jirisan in South Korea, is rich in biodiversity and known as the main ecological axis of the Korean Peninsula. The Neuljae-Yuksimnyeong section of Marugeum in the southern part of the Baekdudaegan, particularly Mt. Deogyusan, is an area in which various types of vegetation appear depending on the environmental characteristics. The aims of this study were to investigate the current vegetation status at the Neuljae-Yuksimnyeong section of the Baekdudaegan and to provide basic data to aid systematic conservation and management through future classification of forest vegetation types. A vegetation survey was conducted using 637 plots from May to October 2019. Vegetation-type analysis showed that the vegetation units could be classified as a Quercus mongolica community group divided into seven communities: the Abies koreana community, Sanguisorba hakusanensis community, Persicaria hydropiper community, Quercus variabilis community, Quercus dentata community, Cornus controversa community, and Quercus mongolica community. The A. koreana community was subdivided into the Dryopteris expansa group and Picea jezoensis group. The Q. variabilis community was also subdivided into the Q. dentata group and Q. variabilis typical group. We concluded that special management plans for distinctive forest vegetation, including subalpine vegetation, grass or herb vegetation, and agricultural vegetation, should be prepared urgently to aid ecosystem preservation and enhancement.

Environmental spatial data-based vegetation impact assessment for advanced environmental impact assessment (환경공간정보를 이용한 식생부문 환경영향평가 고도화 방안 연구)

  • Yuyoung Choi;Ji Yeon Lee;Hyun-Chan Sung
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.99-111
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    • 2022
  • Vegetation is the basis for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is the most direct and efficient policy measure to prevent degradation of nature, vegetation-related assessment has limitations as it is not based on quantitative and scientific methods. In addition, it focuses on the presence of protected species; hence, it does not take into account the role of vegetation as a habitat on a wide-area scale. As a way to overcome these limitations, this study aims to contribute to the quantification and advancement of future EIA on vegetation. Through the review of previous studies, core areas, connectivity, and vegetation condition were derived as the items to be dealt within the macroscopic aspect of vegetation impact assessment. Each item was spatially constructed using land cover maps and satellite imageries, and time series change analysis was performed. As a result, it was found that vegetation has been continuously deteriorating due to development in all aspects, and in particular, development adversely affects not only the inside of the project site but also the surrounding area. Although this study suggested the direction for improvement of the EIA in the vegetation sector based on data analysis, a more specific methodology needs to be established in order to apply it to the actual EIA process. By actively utilizing various environmental spatial data, the impact of the development on the natural ecosystem can be minimized.

A Study on Early Childhood Teachers' Perceptions of ESD-Oriented Ecological Art Activities (지속가능발전교육(ESD) 지향 생태미술활동에 관한 유아교사의 인식연구)

  • Young-Ran, Jung;Hee-Jung, Kim
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.291-301
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    • 2023
  • The purpose of this study is to examine the perception of early childhood teachers on ecological art activities oriented to education for sustainable development. The research results are as follows. First, Early childhood teachers recognized the visual art of natural media, the pursuit of community values, and the participation and communication of social members as educational significance of ecological art activities. And difficulties in practicing ecological art were recognized as lack of educational environment, lack of ecological art teaching materials and specific examples, and teachers' lack of understanding of ecological art. Also, they recognized that ecological art activities foster core competencies in art experience area, such as nature-friendly communication skills, eco-friendly sensibility, and creative convergence skills. Second, regarding ecological art activities and sustainable development education, early childhood teachers considered the difficulties in practice as lack of awareness about sustainable development, lack of play meia and materials, lack of educational policies and support, and insufficient teacher training programs. Also, regarding the SDGs that can be practiced in ecological art activities, teachers were found to be highly aware of 'grow affordable and clean energy', 'improve clean water and sanitation', 'provide quality education' in the order. In the contents of education for sustainable development that can be practiced in ecological art activities, teachers are given the order of 'climate change response', 'clean energy', 'water and sanitation', 'quality education', 'health and well-being' and 'marine ecosystem'. was highly recognized. If an ecological art activity program is developed, the rate of responding that it will be used is high, so it is considered that the development of an ESD-oriented ecological art activity program is urgent.

Estimation of Soil Microbiological Respiration Volume in Forest Ecosystem in the Sobaeksan National Park of Korea (소백산국립공원 산림생태계의 토양미생물호흡량 평가)

  • Lee, Sang-Jin;Lee, Chang-Min;Yang, Seung-Ah;Jung, Hae-Joong;Lee, Jong-Myung;Min, Young-Gi;Kim, Jin-Won;Myung, Hyun-Ho;Park, Hong-Chul
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.19-28
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    • 2023
  • The purpose of this study is to estimate carbon dioxide emissions from soil microbial respiration by forest type of Sobaeksan National Park. As a result of estimating the annual soil microbiological respiration volume by forest type in Sobaeksan National Park, broad-leaved forests, coniferous forest, artificial forests were similar to around 19.5 CO2-ton/ha/yr. In the case of coniferous forests in sub-alpine and grassland near Birobong Peak, 12.2 CO2-ton/ha/yr and 8.1 CO2-ton/ha/yr, respectively, were lower than general forest areas. And as a result of analyzing the changes in soil microbiological respiration rate according to forest type in Sobaeksan National Park, the soil microbiological respiration rate in coniferous forests, broad-leaved forests, artificial forests, and sub-alpine areas was the highest in the July survey in summer and the lowest in November in late autumn. The change in soil microbial respiratory volume according to the measurement time in Sobaeksan National Park was the highest between 12:00 and 16:00, when the soil temperature was generally the highest among the days. It is known that the soil temperature is relatively low and the amount of soil microbial respiration decreases during winter, and the change in respiratory volume over the measurement time during the day was the smallest in November, when the amount of soil microbial respiration was relatively smaller than the May-September survey. However, this study has limitations in revealing the causal relationship of various environmental factors that affect the soil microbial respiration. Therefore, it is suggested that long-term research and investigation of various factors affecting soil respiration are needed to understand the carbon cycle of forest ecosystems.

The Impact of Regulatory Approaches on Entrepreneurship and Iinnovation: In the Context of the Growth of Entrepreneurship in South Korea (규제방식이 창업기업의 진입 및 혁신에 미치는 영향: 한국 사례를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Yujin
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.1-16
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    • 2022
  • This paper studies the impact of regulatory approaches on innovation and entrepreneurship. As technological progress and environmental changes avail new business opportunities to innovative startups, many governments find it difficult to regulate new and unprecedented businesses promoted by the innovative firms. In order to provide academic and practitional implications on the regulatory design with which to support innovation and entrepreneurship, this paper aims to review classical theories on the demand and supply of regulation as well as empirical research on the impact of regulation on market entry and incentives for innovation. Based on the findings, this paper discusses the recent controversies around the regulatory approaches on new businesses pursued by startups, which are as known as the "positive regulatory approach" vs. "negative regulatory approaches" among practitioners and policy makers in Korea. This paper claims that the Korean context provides an useful opportunity to investigate how the ongoing transition of the once "fast follower" economy into a pacesetter one changes the nature of businesses pursued by firms, investors, and related market players and, accordingly, calls for the changes in the way the government intervenes in markets to regulate businesses of firms. By doing so, this paper sheds light on the role of the government in establishing an entrepreneurial ecosystem where innovative ideas of startups can be tested and nurtured.