• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.483-490
• /
• 2020

This study aims to construct an ecological community and lay the foundation for sustainable development in the Korean Peninsula by promoting cooperation between the South and North Korea in the non-political and no-military natural environment sector under the rapidly changing inter-Korean relations. It analyzed South Korea's aid and international cooperation projects in natural environmental sectors in North Korea and examined North Korea's national plan and the cooperation projects that North Korea proposed to the international community to identify potential cooperation projects. It selected 15 potential cooperation projects and 6 crucial factors to be considered in prioritizing the projects through case studies and the first expert survey (five persons). The six crucial factors were i) urgency, ⅱ) linkage between North and South Korea (ecological community in the Korean Peninsula), ⅲ) contribution to sustainable development (prosperity), i) North Korea's acceptability, ⅴ) cooperation conditions and budget, and ⅵ) project sustainability. The second expert survey (14 persons) focused on prioritizing the 15 potential inter-Korean cooperation projects in line with six crucial factors. The 15 potential inter-Korean cooperation projects in the natural environment were comprehensively reviewed and scored based on the six crucial factors. The resulting priority projects were identified as follow: i) Mt. Seorak - Mt. Keumgang International Peace Park, ⅱ) support and cooperation for agro-forestry, ⅲ) joint conservation projects for internationally important migratory birds (such as Black-faced Spoonbills and Cranes), iv) inter-Korean ecotourism linkage and promotion, and ⅴ) establishment of integrated information system on leading ecosystems and biodiversity in the Korean Peninsula. The priority cooperation projects presented in this study are based on the perception of experts engaged in inter-Korean natural environmental cooperation in consideration of existing cooperation cases and conditions. For the actual implementation of these potential projects, a systematic approach, including the formation of consensus between North and South Koreas and the creation of a cooperative network with suitable partners suitable for each project's characteristics, would be needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.261-270
• /
• 2016

The concept of Eco-welfare emerged in the process of discovering the relationship between a healthy ecosystem and human wellbeing. The objective of this study is to offer basic data for eco-welfare policy realization by conceptualizing the 'National Park Eco-welfare' since national parks are appropriate places for eco-welfare to be optimally implemented. A pre-workshop and two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted to determine the concept of the 'National Park Eco-welfare ' and the main elements to be included in ecosystem service. Through this study, the concept of 'National Park Eco-welfare' was defined as efforts to conserve the biodiversity and sustainability of the ecosystem and create harmony between 'National Park Ecosystem Welfare' and 'National Park Human Welfare'. To establish the direction of the National Park Eco-welfare policy, we identified the main elements of ecosystem services which are appropriate for the National Park. These are comprised of 3 elements (food, fresh water and genetic resources) from supply service, all elements from regulating service and supporting/habitat service and 4 elements (aesthetic information, recreation-based ecotourism, healing, and knowledge systems with educational values) from culture service. In this study, the concept of National Park Eco-welfare was established, and its policy objectives and scope were suggested. However, further studies are necessary to develop action plans areand thereby realize the policy.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.207-220
• /
• 2008

Tourism in the natural environment grows significantly and in many tropical countries it becomesthe important earning of the nations. Nevertheless, tourism impact to environment and cultural values has become the threats to the sustainability and competitiveness of such industry. Therefore, the appropriate planning and management of tourism destination sites where environmentally and culturally fragile are needed in order to increase economic benefits, sustain local culture and conserve environment in balance. The aims of the paper are to examine tourism practices, to determine socio-cultural and natural resources, and to assess local people perception to cultural landscape and its future tourism development in order to formulate the appropriate strategies to achieve sustainable tourism. A case study was carried out at Tengger highland, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park(BTSNP) East Java. Official documents were gathered and interviews with several key persons had conducted to determine recent status of tourism, resources capital and the existence of local people. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were carried out at Tenggerese villages to explore local people perspectives to tourism development, culture preservation, and cultural landscape conservation issues. It is followed by descriptive analysis of vegetation to assess the recent status of environments based on vegetation information. Our findings reveals that tourism grows significantly at BTSNP, and Tengger Caldera as spiritual and cultural sites for local people become the centre for tourism activities. The abundance cultural and natural resources are the significant capital for sustainable tourism. Tenggerese argues that tourism should be planned to provide benefits to local people, preserve tradition and able to conserve nature in order to ensure the living sustainability of Tenggerese. The overall result of the study provide general feature of recent status of the cultural and natural resources as well as positive society perception in order to establish a strategy for sustainable tourism in cultural landscape.