• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.876-879
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• 2006

This study was performed for developing the National Environmental Assessment Map (NEAM) in Korea and presenting the application method of NEAM. This NEAM adopted the least indicator method and uses a Geographic Information System (GIS). This map is made through evaluation of 67 items, including greenbelt status and biodiversity. As a result, the construction of NEAM was defined as a process of identifying land use to scientifically assess the physical and environmental value of land and classify conservation value into several grades for the sustainable management of environmental resources. After applying NEAM criteria of five degrees to the whole of Korea, Grade I, showing the highest conservation value, accounted for 45.6% by land area of NEAM. Grades II, III, IV, and Ⅴlikewise accounted for, respectively, 23.6%, 17.9%, 6.3%, and the lowest conservation value of 6.6%. This map can be widely used in, for example, urban and regional planning, development planning, and environment impact assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.27-46
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• 2023

This study examines the possibility of applying Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to natural heritage sites that are not designated as protected areas for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Firstly, the study investigated the ecological and cultural characteristics associated with a natural heritage site, specifically the natural monument known as Dangsanmok, and synthesized the collected information to assess its conservation value. Subsequently, the study examined the possibility of designating Dangsanmok as an OECM that reflects local communities through the criteria of the IUCN's individual assessment tools. The research findings indicate that Dangsanmok and the associated Dangsanje system are positively evaluated as potential OECMs. Additionally, initiatives such as the "Dangsan Tree Grandfather Program" and the "National Heritage Folk Event Grant Program," implemented by the Cultural Heritage Administration, are seen to have a positive impact on engaging local communities voluntarily. Consequently, based on these results, it is expected that natural heritage sites like Dangsanmok, serving as national indicators, will contribute to the 2030 goals for biodiversity conservation and the 2050 goals for harmonious coexistence with nature as part of NBSAPs.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2004

Understanding farmer household and community management of crop diversity is necessary in order to effectively strengthen the local plant genetic resources management system in Vietnam, Assessment and management for distribution of farmer's cultivars of rice, taro and tropical tree species were conducted in four different agro-ecological zones in Vietnam using participatory approaches, focus surveys, diversity fairs, agro-morphological field trials, isozyme analysis to understand why Vietnamese farmers grow diverse types of these crop cultivars, when and where these crops cultivars are grown and how farmers maintain and use them. Results showed significant differences in the extent, distribution and use pattern crop cultivars diversity in contrasting environments and between community farmer households. Seed system is an important role in the access and use of diversity in eco-geographical regions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.38-51
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyze of biotope types and to develop assessment for forest ecosystem evaluation method. Vegetation types divided into 27 types. Considering the vegetation types, vegetation structures, DBH, potentials, and disturbance, it was decided to apply 58 biotope types and survey site's biotopes were divided into 24 biotope types. Assessment indicators were naturaliness, diversity, rarity, stability, potential, and disturbance. The areas given the first grade in ecological value included 9.2% of the site's total land. Areas with the second grade accounted for 43.0% of the total land. Areas with the third grade made up 47.8% of the site and mostly they were areas with dominance of fired area and artificial forest. To plan to build naturally-development for Site, there should be plans to conserve areas with the first grades. For the areas with the second, and third grades, plans for ecological land use based on conservation and restoration in terms of securing biodiversity are needed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.177-188
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• 2008

Attempts to develope designation criteria for ecological protected areas were made for rational and scientific designation and management of 'ecosystem and landscape conservation areas', 'wetland protection areas', 'special islands protection areas', and 'wildlife protected areas' which have been designated and managed by the Ministry of Environment. Through analysis of the requisites and criteria of IUCN, UNESCO, Natura 2000, the Ramsar convention, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany as well as various academic researches, evaluation items of the protected areas were classified into naturalness, biodiversity, ecosystem, and scientific values. These classification titles are reflection of Korean laws concerning the 4 protected areas described above. Of these items 'naturalness' is composed of 3 factors of wilderness, geomorphology and landscape, and vegetation. 'Biodiversity' is composed of the 5 factors of species diversity, endangered species, rare species, indigenous biological resources, and habitat of wetland wild animals. 'Ecosystem' is composed of 5 factors of typicalness, diversity, rarity, restoration ability, and degree of interference. All factors are scored using a 3 point scale of high, middle, or low and are then transformed into the numerical index for designating and zoning purposes. Conclusively, it is expected that the developed methodology will be highly applicable with field verifications.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2011

The tidal flats of Korea today have reduced by 40% in size compared to 1964. To manage this important habitat properly, development of well-organized and nationwide-applicable grading systems is required. There have been several assessment systems proposed previously in Korea, but they are critically flawed in that selected biological indicators are not adequate and grading criteria are obscure and arbitrary. We reviewed the indicators used in these previous evaluation systems (e.g., diversity indices, quantity and quality of benthic macrofauna, halophytes, water birds, etc.) and subsequently proposed new indicators and an improved grading scheme. For the quantitative assessment of macrobenthic community, biomass reflecting production and ecosystem function is recommended over density, which is much less discriminatory among habitats. Of biodiversity indices used, within-, between-habitat and regional biodiversity indices that accurately reflect sampling efforts are suggested. In addition, we proposed to include species rarity, ecosystem engineers, and the ecological quality index ISEP (Inverse function of Shannon-Wiener Evenness Proportion). As for halophytes, their low spatial coverage on benthic habitat suggests that their presence can be used as an ecological indicator of benthic habitat, regardless of their protective status. We stress the need to introduce 1) quantile approach for quantitative indicators (e.g., diversity, biomass, etc.) in relation to grading, 2) presence-absence approach for spatial or aggregate indicators (e.g., boundaries of halophytes and feeding ground of water birds) and 3) benthic habitat mapping that combines all of these indicators.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.593-607
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• 2012

The Ministry of Environment have started the 'National Ecosystem Survey' since 1986. It has been carried out nationwide every ten years as the largest survey project in Korea. The second one and the third one produced the GIS-based inventory of species. Three survey methods were different from each other. There were few studies for species distribution using national survey data in Korea. The purposes of this study are to test species distribution models for finding the most suitable modeling methods for the National Ecosystem Survey data and to investigate the modeling results according to survey methods and taxonominal group. Occurrence data of nine species were extracted from the National Ecosystem Survey by taxonomical group (plant, mammal, and bird). Plants are Korean winter hazel (Corylopsis coreana), Iris odaesanensis (Iris odaesanensis), and Berchemia (Berchemia berchemiaefolia). Mammals are Korean Goral (Nemorhaedus goral), Marten (Martes flavigula koreana), and Leopard cat (Felis bengalensis). Birds are Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo), and Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Environmental variables consisted of climate, topography, soil and vegetation structure. Two modeling methods (GAM, Maxent) were tested across nine species, and predictive species maps of target species were produced. The results of this study were as follows. Firstly, Maxent showed similar 5 cross-validated AUC with GAM. Maxent is more useful model to develop than GAM because National Ecosystem Survey data has presence-only data. Therefore, Maxent is more useful species distribution model for National Ecosystem Survey data. Secondly, the modeling results between the second and third survey methods showed sometimes different because of each different surveying methods. Therefore, we need to combine two data for producing a reasonable result. Lastly, modeling result showed different predicted distribution pattern by taxonominal group. These results should be considered if we want to develop a species distribution model using the National Ecosystem Survey and apply it to a nationwide biodiversity research.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 2024

This study assesses forest fire susceptibility in Gangwon-do, South Korea, which hosts the largest forested area in the nation and constitutes ~21% of the country's forested land. With 81% of its terrain forested, Gangwon-do is particularly susceptible to wildfires, as evidenced by the fact that seven out of the ten most extensive wildfires in Korea have occurred in this region, with significant ecological and economic implications. Here, we analyze 480 historical wildfire occurrences in Gangwon-do between 2003 and 2019 using 17 predictor variables of wildfire occurrence. We utilized three machine learning algorithms—random forest, logistic regression, and support vector machine—to construct wildfire susceptibility prediction models and identify the best-performing model for Gangwon-do. Forest and soil map data were integrated as important indicators of wildfire susceptibility and enhanced the precision of the three models in identifying areas at high risk of wildfires. Of the three models examined, the random forest model showed the best predictive performance, with an area-under-the-curve value of 0.936. The findings of this study, especially the maps generated by the models, are expected to offer important guidance to local governments in formulating effective management and conservation strategies. These strategies aim to ensure the sustainable preservation of forest resources and to enhance the well-being of communities situated in areas adjacent to forests. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study are anticipated to contribute to the safeguarding of forest resources and biodiversity and to the development of comprehensive plans for forest resource protection, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.165-177
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• 2005

This study was carried out to offer the basic methodology of the system and model to objectively assess the natural ecosystem for environmentally friendly land conservation and present the alternative plan on establishing the environmental policy. The results of this study were as follows. We selected four assessment factors associated with biotic, abiotic, qualitative, and functional factors. Also, there were extracted fifty-six indicators including density, total nitrogen, hemeroby degree, and goods production. The assessment factor showed that biotic one was very important. The importance of indicators were analyzed that rare and endangered plant was important in biotic factor, in case of abiotic, qualitative, and functional factors, organic matter, landscape diversity, and conservation of ecosystem were greatly important. The results of factor analysis on the characteristics of indicators, classified biotic factor into six factors including a structural one, abiotic factor as a soil and physical one, qualitative factor as five ones including hierarchical one, and functional factor as public and conservational one. In the results of analysis on assessment model, R-square of biotic factor was 51.7%, those of abiotic, qualitative, and functional one were each 58.4%, 44.2%, and 39.3%, and statistical problem was no existence. In future, to develop the assessement model and methodology of sustainable natural ecosystem, we will have to achieve the integrated model and grouping by assessment factor.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.347-356
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• 2010

Forests are being seriously fragmented as a result of land development. Land development with disregard to its subsequent environmental impacts is a primary threat to biodiversity by incurring massive habitat losses and changes in structure and composition of forests. The purpose of this study was to develop the impact assessment model for quantitative distance or degree of disturbance by land developments. This study conducted a survey about structure and composition of forest species to determine degree of impact from land development. The edge effect of forest fragmentation on the number of bird species, population size, and bird diversity was obvious. In particular, the bird diversity sharply declines around the forest edge where intensive land development projects take place. To assess the disturbance of forest species, the factors selected were the bird diversity and the rate of edge species. The impact assessment model about bird diversity was explained by type of forest fragmentation and type of vegetation ($R^2$=0.23, p<0.005). The other model about edge species explained by a distance, type of forest fragmentation, type of vegetation, and width of road ($R^2$=0.34, p<0.001). In order to test the applicability of the model developed in this study, the models was applied to the Samsong housing development in Goyang-si, Gyunggi-do. The impacts of land development on the bird species were reasonably quantified to suggest effective mitigation measure. The impact assessment model developed in this study is useful to assess the magnitude of disturbance of bird species. Particularly, the model could be applied to the current Environmental Impact Assessment practices to predict and quantify the impacts of land developments projects on forest bird species.