• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.561-573
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• 2012

The object of this study was to analyze long-term water quality gradients during 1992-2008 at six sites of Geumho River and near-by two sites of Nakdong River and their influences on fish trophic guilds and tolerance guilds along with ecological health. Water quality including biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), conductivity, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and total suspended solids (TSS) varied largely depending on the sampling locations and seasons. Values of ambient BOD, COD, TP, and TN were greater in the downstream than in the upstream reach, and seasonal and interannual variabilities were also higher in the downstreams. This phenomenon was evident due to a dilution by the Asian monsoon rainfall during the monsoon. These outcomes indicate that point sources near the downstream are important for the chemical conditions, but also seasonal stream runoff was considered as an important factor regulating the chemical conditions. Conductivity decreased rapidly during the summer due to ionic dilution, and nutrients (N, P), BOD, COD had an inverse function of seasonal precipitation. Based on the water quality, we selected two sites (control site = $C_s$ vs. impacted site = $I_s$) for impact analysis of water chemistry on fish community and trophic/tolerant guilds. Fish guild analysis showed that species diversity was higher in the headwater stream ($C_s$) than the impacted downstream ($I_s$), and that the proportion of tolerant and omnivore species were greater in the impacted site of downstream. Comparisons of water quality between Geumho River and Nakdong River indicated that Geumho River was considered as a point source which degradated water quality to the Nakdong River. Overall, chemical water quality and fish guild analysis suggest that even if current chemical quality got better after 1996 due to continuous constructions of wastewater disposal plants near the downstreams, fish compositions of tolerant and omnivores were still dominated the community. Thus, biological restoration based on ecological health is required for the ecosystem conservation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2014

This quantitative research aims to examine the connectivity of forest networks in seven metropolitan cities of South Korea using a graph-theoretical approach. We first estimated an overall network connectivity at multi-scales (i.e., dispersal distances), ranging from 100 m to 20 km, and quantified the contribution of small forest patches (less than 10 ha) to the overall network connectivity by comparing networks according to the presence and absence of small ones. As a result, the cities were divided into two groups depending on the network connectivity; one group of cities with high connectivity such as Daegu, Daejeon, and Ulsan and the other group of cities with low connectivity including Gwangju, Busan, Seoul, and Incheon. The result showed that small forest patches, especially in the cities with low connectivity, played a key role as stepping stones that connect large forested patches, thereby contributing to maintaining connectivity. This study also suggests that large and well-connected forest areas may be the key factor to preserve the connectivity in the cities with high connectivity, while the cites with low connectivity are in need of some complementary strategies. Through the study, we suggest that the creation of new forest patches in the areas where a gap in connectivity presents is needed in order to improve connectivity; and that the conservation of the existing small forest patches is essential in order to maintain the current connectivity level.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2012

Tribolodon hakonensis(Cypriniformes; Leuciscinae) is anadromous; they are born in freshwater, migrate back to the ocean, then return to their home stream for spawning from mid-March to early-June. Here, five microsatellites were used to assess the level of gene flow among T. hakonensis populations from the Samcheok-Oship Stream, South Korea. The frequencies of dominant alleles across several loci differed between down-and upstream populations divided by several weirs, and pairwise multilocus $F_{ST}$ estimate was significantly high(0.083). However, there were no signs of any loss of genetic variation in the upstream population. Assignment tests of individuals in admixture model(K=2) to a set of baseline samples showed fairly correct assignment to each cluster; all of upstream individuals sere included in the first cluster, while the majority of downstream individuals(65%) comprise the second cluster. These results indicate reduced gene flow between up- and downstream populations but allowing passive downstream drift. It is likely that man-made structures might at least partially be a factor for creating and consolidating the current distribution patterns of genetic variation among T. hakonensis populations in the Samcheok-Oship Stream. This information will assist governing agencies in making informed decisions regarding conservation of anadromous fishes in Korean drainage systems.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.561-580
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• 2021

This study analyses the historical and cultural streets at Pinggang Road in the city of Suzhou, by understanding the development and conservation of the area, and uses the following ways to investigate its development, re-organization, and current state. This paper comprehensively compares, collates and investigates 4 different historical and cultural areas in Insadong and Samcheong-dong in South Korea, and South Luogu Lane in China. From initial research and analysis, this paper gathers the cultural, economic, and societal perspectives as non-physical measures, and spatial structure, road structure, and building maintenance as physical factor framework. It is significant in that it can provide an evaluation model for the preservation and regeneration of historical and cultural streets by presenting the viewpoint of complex development of non-physical and physical elements in Pyeonggang-ro. In addition, it is necessary to conduct optimization and specific research on insufficient areas, such as maintenance and development of programs and signature systems for visitors, and continuous development of historical and cultural network platforms by combining on-site surveys. Basic data should be provided for reference on the street.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.9-40
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• 1984

This thesis purports to overview the diverse administrative and organizational factors and plannings developed by the government organizations, municipal or otherwise, to tackle the Han River water pollution issues in the past years. This thesis also looks into the ever-worsening Han River water pollution problems, in particular, in terms of the various government plans ostensibly designed to reduce the pollution level but with little success. Also dealt with are the efficiencies with which the laws and decrees on water pollution the administrative organizations put to use in the prosecution of the diverse antiwater pollution projects involving the Han River basin. From the early 1960's up to the 1970's the government had concentrated on the growth-oriented economic policy with the result that little attention had been paid to the water pollution and other environmental issues that are bound to arise from the massive economic growth. Belatedly, the five-year Hah River Development Project was initiated in 1982 with emphasis on reducing the water pollution level at Hah River to the minimum. The following are the gists of the thesis and recommendations for the future antiwater pollution plans by the administrative organizations: 1. Documents to date indicate that the irrigation projects along the Han River area had been the main focus of attention during the Yi Dynasty and under the Japanese rule of the country. 2. Despite that the water pollution issue became the subject of many debates among the academic and research institutions in the 1960's and in the 1970's, the administrative organizations in charge of the Han River water quality control failed to come up with a concrete plan for the river's water quality control. 3. Nevertheless, the water pollution of the Han River area in fact began in the 1950's, with the unprecedented concentration into Seoul of population and the industrial facilities on a larger scale, in particular, enforced by the government's strong growthoriented policy in its Economic Development plans in the 1960's. 4. Starting in the 1960's, the Han River water pollution level dramatically increased, but the government was reluctant to promulgate or put into effect strong measures to curb the many factors contributing to the river water pollution, thus worsening the environmental issues along the Han River basin. 5. The environmental protection law and other laws and decrees relating to the antiwater and air pollution issues that were subsequently put into effect underwent so many changes that efficient anti-water pollution policies could not be effected for the Han River basin. The frequent organizational reshuffle within the administrative units concerned with environmental problems has resulted in the undue waste in personnel management and finance. 6. The administration on the environmental protection could not be efficiently carried out due to the organizational overlapping. Under the existing law, frequent organizational frictions and inefficiency are bound to occur among the central government offices themselves, as well as between the central government and the Seoul city administration, and among the city's administrative offices over the conservation of the Han River basin and over the river's anti-water pollution issue. 7. In the planning and prosecution of the Han River project, political influences from the president down to the lower-level politicious appear to have been involved. These political influences in the past had certainly had negative influence on the project, nevertheless, it appears that in the recent years, these political influences are not all that negative in view of the fact that they serve as a positive contributing factor in developing a better water quality control project along the Han River basin. The following are a few recommendations based on the data from the thesis: First, officials in charge of the Han River water quality control should pay attention to a careful screening of the opinions and recommendations from the academic circles and from the public should be made so that the government could better grasp the core issues in the environmental problems that require preventive and other necessary measures. Second, vigorous redistribution policies of population and industrial facilities away from the Seoul area should be pursued. Third, the government should refrain from revising or revamping too frequently the laws and decrees on the anti-water pollution, which is feared to cause undue inconveniences in the environmental administration. Fourth, a large-scale streamlining should be made to the existing administrative organization in an effort to do away with the inter- and intra-organizational friction. It is recommended that a secretariat for the Hah River basis conservation be established. Fifth, High-level administrative officials, with a thorough knowledge and vision on the Han River water quality control, should be prepared to better deal with the budgeting and personnel management for the Han River water pollution control not only at the control government, but also at the Seoul city municipal government levels. Environmental issues should be kept distinct from political issues. Environmental issues should not serve as a window-dressing for sheer political purposes. Sixth, the Hah River proiect should also include, along with the main Han River basin, those areas covering North Han River, South Han River, and the tributaries to the main river basin. The 'Han River Basin Water Quality Control Board' should be established immediately as a means of strengthening the current Han River basin water quality control policy. Seventh, in drawing up the Han River proiect, the administrative officials should be aware that Han River basin is a life line for those people in the region, providing them with not only a sheer physical space, but with a psychological living space for their everyday life.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.480-489
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• 2021

Climate change poses great threats to wildlife populations by decreasing their number and destroying their habitats, jeopardizing biodiversity conservation. Asiatic salamander (Hynobiidae) species are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their small home range and limited dispersal ability. Thus, this study used one salamander species, the Korean clawed salamander (Onychodactylus koreanus), as a model species and examined their habitat characteristics and current distribution in South Korea to predict its spatial distribution under climate change. As a result, we found that altitude was the most important environmental factor for their spatial distribution and that they showed a dense distribution in high-altitude forest regions such as Gangwon and Gyeongsanbuk provinces. The spatial distribution range and habitat characteristics predicted in the species distribution models were sufficiently in accordance with previous studies on the species. By modeling their distribution changes under two different climate change scenarios, we predicted that the distribution range of the Korean clawed salamander population would decrease by 62.96% under the RCP4.5 scenario and by 98.52% under the RCP8.5 scenario, indicating a sharp reduction due to climate change. The model's AUC value was the highest in the present (0.837), followed by RCP4.5 (0.832) and RCP8.5 (0.807). Our study provides a basic reference for implementing conservation plans for amphibians under climate change. Additional research using various analysis techniques reflecting habitat characteristics and minute habitat factors for the whole life cycle of Korean-tailed salamanders help identify major environmental factors that affect species reduction.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.33-41
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyse the state of the energy industry and to determine the efficiency of its functioning on the basis of energy conservation principle and application of innovative technologies aimed at improving the ecological modernisation of agricultural sectors of Kazakhstan. The research methodology is based on an integrated approach of financial and economic evaluation of the effectiveness of the investment project, based on calculation of elasticity, total costs and profitability, as well as on comparative, graphical and system analysis. The current stage is characterised by widely spread restructuring processes of electric power industry in many countries through introduction of new technical installations of energy facilities and increased government regulation in order to enhance the competitive advantage of electricity market. Electric power industry features a considerable value of creating areas. For example, by providing scientific and technical progress, it crucially affects not only the development but also the territorial organisation of productive forces, first of all the industry. In modern life, more than 90% of electricity and heat is obtained by Kazakhstan's economy by consuming non-renewable energy resources: different types of coal, oil shale, oil, natural gas and peat. Therefore, it is significant to ensure energy security, as the country faces a rapid fall back to mono-gas structure of fuel and energy balance. However, energy resources in Kazakhstan are spread very unevenly. Its main supplies are concentrated in northern and central parts of the republic, and the majority of consumers of electrical power live in the southern and western areas of the country. However, energy plays an important role in the economy of industrial production and to a large extent determines the level of competitive advantage, which is a promising condition for implementation of energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies. In these circumstances, issues of modernisation and reforms of this sector in Kazakhstan gain more and more importance, which can be seen in the example of economically sustainable solutions of a large local monopoly company, significant savings in capital investment and efficiency of implementation of an investment project. A major disadvantage of development of electricity distribution companies is the prevalence of very high moral and physical amortisation of equipment, reaching almost 70-80%, which significantly increases the operating costs. For example, while an investment of 12 billion tenge was planned in 2009 in this branch, in 2012 it is planned to invest more than 17 billion. Obviously, despite the absolute increase, the rate of investment is still quite low, as the total demand in this area is at least more than 250 billion tenge. In addition, industrial infrastructure, including the objects of Kazakhstan electric power industry, have a tangible adverse impact on the environment. Thus, since there is a large number of various power projects that are sources of electromagnetic radiation, the environment is deteriorated. Hence, there is a need to optimise the efficiency of the organisation and management of production activities of energy companies, to create and implement new technologies, to ensure safe production and provide solutions to various environmental aspects. These are key strategic factors to ensure success of the modern energy sector of Kazakhstan. The contribution of authors in developing the scope of this subject is explained by the fact that there was not enough research in the energy sector, especially in the view of ecological modernisation. This work differs from similar works in Kazakhstan in the way that the proposed method of investment project calculation takes into account the time factor, which compares the current and future value of profit from the implementation of innovative equipment that helps to bring it to actual practise. The feasibility of writing this article lies in the need of forming a public policy in the industrial sector, including optimising the structure of energy disbursing rate, which complies with the terms of future modernised development of the domestic energy sector.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2015

The Ecosystem and Nature Map (ENM) is basic map for current status of natural resources. The map has been offered information to ecological conservation and restoration, as well as to land use planning and policy making. The map composed of 794 sheets in 1:25,000 scale classifies total areas into three grade zones (1st, 2nd and 3rd grade zones) and separately managed zone. In 2005, the first draft Ecosystem and Nature Map was prepared by the second National Ecosystem Survey. It was opened for the people to search and appeal. So 1,419 cases of public appeals on the first draft Ecosystem and Nature Map were submitted in 2005. After partial revision, the first Ecosystem and Nature Map was announced in 2007. The second draft Ecosystem and Nature Map was prepared by the third National Ecosystem Survey and opened to public in 2012. As a result, 1,263 cases of public appeals were submitted in 2012. Since the first announcement of the Ecosystem and Nature Map in April 2007, 182 cases of public appeals on the Map were submitted until December 2013. Among them, 159 cases were announced with revision. According to the first Ecosystem and Nature Map announced in 2007, graded areas covered 7.5% in the 1st grade zone, 39.2% in the 2nd grade zone and 44.7% in the 3rd grade zone of the national land area, respectively. In the second draft Ecosystem and Nature Map in 2012, areas of the 1st grade zone and the 2nd grade zone were 9.2% increased 1.7 percentage points and 45.5% increased 6.3 percentage points, and areas of the 3rd grade zone were 36.6% decreased 8.1 percentage points. Among areas of the 1st grade zone, Gangwondo occupies 54.3% in 2007 and 47.6% in 2012. Gangwondo consists of the highest percentage of the 1st grade zone and the smallest of the 3rd grade zone. Seoul has the highest percentage of the 3rd grade zone. There were the highest increase of the 1st grade zone in Gyeongsangbukdo and the highest decrease in Jeollabukdo and Seoul. Vegetation is the most important evaluation factor to determine the grade of the Ecosystem and Nature Map.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.293-309
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• 2024

This study was conducted to provide basic data on the structure of the Carpinus turczaninowii community and the characteristics of the habitat environment for ex situ conservation. To identify the current ecological environment, 27 plots (each measuring 100m²) were selected for analyzing the detailed structure of plant communities in Anmyondo Isl.(Jungjangri San 14-217), Hwanggumsan Mt., Gayasan Mt.(Wonhyobong) and Palbongsan Mt.. The research methodology employed in this study was qualitative analysis. The TWINSPAN classification yielded a total of seven distinct communities. Group I represents the C. turczaninowii - Quercus mongolica community, Group II represents the C. turczaninowii - Pinus densiflora community, Group III represents the C. turczaninowii - P. densiflora community, Group IV represents the C. turczaninowii - Q. mongolica community, Group V represents the C. turczaninowii - Q. variabilis community, Group VI represents the C. turczaninowii - Prunus serrulata Lindl. var. pubescens community, and Group VII represents the C. turczaninowii - Styrax japonicus community. The species diversity ranged from 0.8056 to 1.1568, the importance value ranged from 0.1214 to 0.3024, and the similarity index ranged from 9.37% to 36.36%. Based on the correlation analysis of six environmental factors for the seven communities using RDA ordination, the results indicate that on the first axis, Altitude, Crown density, Bare rock, and Slope exhibited a positive correlation. In the C. turczaninowii - P. densiflora community (Group III) and C. turczaninowii - Q. mongolica community (Group IV), altitude, bare rock, and slope were analyzed as factors influencing vegetation distribution. In the C. turczaninowii - Q. variabilis community (Group V), C. turczaninowii - P. serrulata Lindl. var. pubescens community (Group VI), and C. turczaninowii - S. japonicus community (Group VII), crown density was analyzed as a factor influencing vegetation distribution.