• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.41-53
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• 2007

The Baekdudaegan Mountain Range is a backbone of the Korean Peninsula which carries special spiritual and sentimental signatures for Koreans as well as significant ecological values for diverse organisms. However, in spite of importance of this region, the forests of Baekdudaegan have been damaged in a variety of human activities by being used as highland vegetable grower, lumber region, grass land, and bare land, and are still undergoing destruction. The existing researches had determined the details of the damage through on-site and recent observations. Such methods cannot provide quantitative and integrated analysis therefore could not be utilized as objective data for the ecological conservation of Baekdudaegan forests. The goal of this study is to quantitatively analyze the forest damage in the Baekdudaegan preservation region through land cover categorization and change detection techniques by using satellite images, which are 1980s, and 1990s Landsat TM, and 2000s Landsat ETM+. The analysis was executed by detecting land cover changed areas from forest to others and analyzing changed areas' spatial patterns. Through the change detection analysis based on land cover classification, we found out that the deforested areas were approximately three times larger after the 1990s than from the 1980s to the 1990s. These areas were related to various topographical and spatial elements, altitude, slope, the distance form road, and water system, etc. This study has the significance as quantitative and integrated analysis about the Baekdudaegan preservation region since 1980s. These results could actually be utilized as basic data for forest conservation policies and the management of the Baekdudaegan preservation region.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.439-454
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• 2013

UN-REDD (United Nations programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is currently being emerged as one of important mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide in relation to the deforestation. Although administrative boundary has already gained world-wide recognition as a typical method of monitoring unit in the process of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reduction project, this approach did not provide a realistic evidence in the carbon sequestering monitoring in terms of UN-REDD; the meaningful comparison of land use patterns among watershed boundaries, interpretation for distribution trends of carbon density, calculation of opportunity cost, leakage management, etc. This research proposes a comparative evaluation framework in a more objective and quantitative way for carbon sequestering monitoring between administrative and watershed boundary approaches. Mt. Geumgang of North Korea was selected as a survey objective and an exhaustive and realistic comparison of carbon sequestration between the two approaches was conducted, based on change detection using TM satellite images. It was possible for drainage boundary approach to identify more detailed area-wide patterns of carbon distribution than traditional administrative one, such as estimations of state and trends, including historical trends, of land use / land cover and carbon density in the Mt. Geumgang. The distinctive changing trends in terms of carbon sequestration were specifically identified over the watershed boundary from 4.0% to 34.8% while less than 1% difference was observed in the administrative boundaries, which were resulting in almost 21-22%. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference to support more scientific and objective decision-making in introducing watershed boundary as carbon sequestering monitoring unit.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

As the deforestation in North Korea gets severed, the interest for REDD+ is also increasing. This study analyzed historical land cover changes of the study area which is 10,000 ha in Hwanghaebukdo of North Korea for assessing change in landcover and carbon storage. The result showed that the forest area had decreased from 7,035 ha to 4,293 ha which is approximately 39% of total forest area between 1989 and 2013. The deforestation caused that forest carbon storage had decreased approximately $284,399tCO_2$. Set the baseline and analysed the potential reduction amount of carbon emission, it was estimated that REDD+ project could store approximately $364,704tCO_2$ for next 30 years. This study still has limitations such as lacking in direct field survey and the data of stand volume of each tree species which was replaced with the data of stand volume in South Korea. But, study can be applied for future REDD+ projects in North Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.207-218
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• 1995

Five non-stratified plant communities, Dichanthium-Artemisia-Themeda, Dichanthium- Plectranthes-Themeda, Plectranthes-Carex-Myrine, Heteropogon- Dichanthium-Dodonaea and Artemisia-Cynodon-Ber-beris were recognized in Girbanr hills, District Swat, during autumn, 1992. The indices of similarity showed that the communities were dissimilar. The percentage of leptophyllous and nanophyllous, terophytic and nanophanerophytic species were higher than other groups. These indicate dry and disturben conditions. Due to autumn season most of the species were entering in dormant stage. There was no tree layer on southern slopes while northern slopes had a poor layer of Pinus roxburghii. Deforestation, uprooting, terrace cultivation and overgrazing followed by erosion are the main ecological problems. The presence of isolated trees of Pinus roxburghii and stunted Olea ferruginea indicate that the original vegetation might have been of chirpine or Olea-Pinus type. The area having resource potential can be changed into a forest or rangeland by proper protection and management. Suggestions in favour of improvement are given.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.659-665
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• 2013

Most of dredged soil generating millions of tons per year is treated as a waste disposing in ocean or landfill except some part of recycling. The purpose of this study is to present the prerequisite for the use of dredged soil as a resource and analyse economic and environmental values of the recycling of dredged soil. The analysis of the economic and environmental value of recycling of dredged soil as a resource showed that several trillion won of budget can be saved in construction of disposal area or landfill and that loss of about 50 million tons of aggregates from deforestation can be restored by supplyment of dredged soil preserving a mountain as big as the Namsan(Mt.) every year. In order to utilize dredged soil in more diverse areas as high value of resource, the related domestic laws are needed to be readjusted integrating laws spreaded in different government departments and a special law is prepared and enacted.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.257-259
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• 2003

Landuse maps are prepared from satellite imagery and field observations were conducted at various locations in the study area. Compared to the field data and NDVI and RVI thematic maps, NDVI is better than RVI, because it compensates for changing illumination conditions, surface slope, aspect and other factors. Clouds, water and snow have negative values for RVI and NDVI. Rock and bare soils have similar reflectance in both NIR and visible band, so RVI and NDVI are near zero. In forest areas with good vegetation cover, NDVI is high and landslide occurrence is less. But if annual and biennial vegetations are present and if cultivation practices are changed frequently, NDVI is medium and landslide occurrence is moderate. In areas where deforestation and settlement is in progress, NDVI is less and landslide occurrence is more. The NDVI FCC thematic map may be used as an important layer in GIS application for landslide studies. Analyzing other layers such as slope, rainfall, soil, geology, drainage, lineament, etc with NDVI FCC layer will give a better idea about the identity of landslide prone areas.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2015

Mangroves are important coastal ecosystems and are located at the inter-tidal zones of tropical and sub-tropical belts. The global mangrove forests are declining dramatically because of the conversion of forests to shrimp farming, over-exploitation, pollution and freshwater diversion. The Bangladesh Forest Department initiated mangrove afforestation throughout the coastal belts of Bangladesh in 1966 to provide better protection for the coastal communities. Up to 1990, 120,000 ha of mangroves had been planted and it is one of the largest coastal afforestaton programs in the world. The objective of this study is to exploit the spatial extent of mangrove plantation and their dynamics of changes over the last two decades using multispectral Landsat imagery. The study area covers the coastal areas of Bangladesh that is extended over the eastern part of Sundarbans up to Teknaf, the southern tip of mainland Bangladesh. Mangrove plantations were interpreted visually on computer screen and interactive delineation of forest boundary was done. The mangrove plantation area has been estimated as 32,725, 47,636 and 43,166 ha for the year of 1989, 2000 and 2010, respectively. Mangrove deforestation by human activity has increased almost six times in the recent decade in comparison to the previous one. The mangrove forest loss due to coastal erosion has slightly declined in the 2000s. Mangroves have been lost primarily because of agricultural expansion. The result of this investigation will be helpful to understand the dynamics of mangrove plantation and the main drivers of changes in this coastal ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.56-67
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• 2005

Rapid and reckless economical development is causing nationwide deforestation; more and more forest is being developed to be used as a base for economic advancement. While benefiting the national economy, this destruction of forest is creating a serious problem in the National Land Plan. To solve this problem, it is imperative to understand the current condition of damaged forest and make an environment-friendly plan. This paper explains the principles of spatial plan and sets the criteria for the plan, such as patch size, connectivity, and edge of the Landscape Ecology. The paper assesses the conservational value of area that are currently being developed or planned to be developed to figure out the current environmental situation. This conservational value was verified by the field survey. The result of assessment appears that the patch size of the major mountains in site is over 1,000ha and edge is located widely beside roads. The area of the high connectivity is located agriculture area in valley or narrow roads. The research shows that the patch size is related to biodiversity the larger the patch size, the more populated the species are. The research also reveals the conservational value indicated by degree of connection to forest, difference in the structure of vegetation between core area and edge area, and effects of surrounding environment. In further study, we will assess other criteria of conservation value, such as patch shape and fragmentation to the Landscape Ecology, and apply those criteria in biological aspects of the spatial plan.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.6
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• pp.659-668
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• 2009

Time series data on forest resources and population over the period from 1927 to 2007 were constructed and analyzed in order to identify trends and characteristics of forest transition in Korea. Korean forest transition could be classified into three phases in terms of the average annual growing stock of forest; forest degradation period (1927-1952), forest stagnation period (1953-1972) and forest growth period (1973-2007). Over the past 80 years forest area decreased 0.05% each year. The decreasing rate was very low, especially considering rapid economic growth and increased population of Korea with over 60% of forest cover. Growing stock per hectare significantly increased from $5.6m^3$ in 1952 to $97.8m^3$ in 2007, or 17.5 times during 1952 to 2007. Despise of increasing population and rapid economic growth, in particular, growing stock per capita has increased from $1.7m^3$ in 1952 to $12.9m^3$ in 2005 and un-stocked forest area decreased from 3,315 thousand ha to 165 thousand ha during the same period. In this regard, Korea represents a case of modern forest growth. Among 56 countries with more than 10 million of population and 10% or more of forest cover over the period 1990 to 2005, Korea is classified as a country which has high forest cover but low deforestation rate. Also, Korea is the only developing country which has 50% or more of forest cover and shows a below average deforestation rate.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.630-638
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• 2011

This study aims to verify the economic validity of the REDD project in North Korea by estimating the potential carbon credits and the cost of REDD project. The REDD potential credits of North Korea are estimated based on the international statistics of forest area and population from 1990 to 2010, and the cost of REDD project is estimated indirectly by annual land opportunity cost of agriculture assuming that South Korea will aid the food production per area in North Korea. When the 25% reduction scenario was applied to the annual deforestation rate in North Korea, the potential REDD credits were estimated to be $4,232million{\sim}5,290milliontCO_2eq.$ for 20 years. It would account for 28~35% of South Korea's national medium-term greenhouse gas reduction target. On the other hand, the break-even price of REDD project was calculated as the profit of agriculture in the land available by forest conversion in North Korea. It was estimated to be 19.19$/$tCO_2eq.$ when the non-permanence risk of forest conserved through a REDD contract is assumed to be 20%. This price is higher than the price of REDD carbon credit 5$/$tCO_2eq.$ dealt in the 2010 voluntary carbon market, leading to no economic feasibility. However, REDD project provides co-benefits besides climate mitigation. As previous studies indicate, the break-even price is lower than 20$/$tCO_2eq.$, which is the social marginal cost of greenhouse gas emissions by loss of forest. Therefore REDD in North Korea can be justified against the social benefits. The economic feasibility of REDD project in North Korea can be largely influenced by the risk percentage. Thus, North Korean REDD project needs a strong guarantee and involvement by the government and people of North Korea to assure the project's economic feasibility.