• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.429-434
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• 2009

Environmental specimen bank (ESB) is a new tool to assess ecosystem in environmental impact assessment (EIA). ESB looks at changes in the concentration of pollutants in human and environmental specimens over long periods of time through retrospective analysis of archived samples. Korea started to design its National Environmental Specimen Bank (NESB) in 2007 and planned to launch an operational pilot project by 2010. NESB prepares five Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of shoots of Red and Korean pine, leaves of Mongolian oak, Pigeon's egg, and Common carp's muscle out of 14 planned specimens in 2009. ESB contributes to monitoring the effectiveness of EIA projects and policies by providing a time capsule through ecosystem assessment of representative species. This study reviews ecosystem assessment in EIA and the ESB establishment in Korea and probes NESB applications in ecosystem assessment.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 2000

The objective of this study were to develop landscape scale ecosystem assessment model, and apply the model for the assessment of the state and change of ecosystem of the study area, Yongin, Korea. Since natural ecosystem of the site has been deteriorated significantly during recent extensive residential development, it is essential to correctly assess ecosystem of the study site. Traditional ecosystem assessment mainly utilizing intensive field survey requires high cost, but the outcome rarely represents spatial pattern of the regional ecosystems. Ecosystem assesment of landscape scale based on landscape ecology can resolve most of the shortfalls of the traditional approach. The research method can be summarized as follows. First, extensive literature review on such topics as spatial pattern of ecosystem, ecosystem assessment of landscape scale, ecological analysis was carried out. Second, a model for the ecosystem assessment of landscape scale emphasizing spatial pattern of ecosystem was developed. This model evaluates three indicators; ecological integrity and biological diversity, watershed integrity, and landscape resilience of 11 watersheds in the study area. Finally, ecological assessment utilizing two sets of indicators, enhancement of and disturbance of ecosystem stability, was carried out. This assessment method is based on Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program´s Landscape component(EMAP-L) of EPA(1994). The results of this study are as follows. First, the ecosystem assessment of landscape scale of the study area of Yongin, Korea, showed that escosystems of Tanchun01 and Chungmichun01 watersheds had the worst state in the study site in 1991. On the other hand, the ecosystems of Jinwechun01, Kyunganchun02, and Bokhachun01 watersheds had the most stable ecosystem in 1991. Second, ecosystems of Tanchun01, Shingal reservoir, and Kyunganchun01 watersheds were evaluated to be the worst state in the study site in 1996. And, ecosystems of Jinwechun01 and Gosam reservoir watersheds had the most stable ecosystem. Third, ecosystem of Tanchun01 watershed which incudes Suji residential development project site changed the most drastically between 1991 and 1996. The ecosystem of the watershed the most drastically deteriorated due to it´s proximity to Seoul and Bundang new town.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 2023

Background: The understanding of ecosystem services can be quantified and qualitative to assess the impacts of changes in the ecosystem to support human well-being. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sustainable use of ecosystem services has attracted the interest of a range of decision-makers. However, although there is a concern for biodiversity, natural ecosystem, and their services, linking ecosystems with conservation planning remains challenging. Results: This study assessed the first qualitative ecosystem services provided by the Mundok wetland with decision makers of the West/Yellow Sea region. Furthermore, this study applied the Rapid Assessment Wetland Ecosystem method to support natural resources management, improving living conditions. We identified that cultural and supporting services index are highly provided, but preparing a plan to increase the provisioning and regulating services in Mundok wetland is necessary. Conclusions: The assessment results can provide helpful information for ecosystem services assessment, habitat conservation, conservation planning, and decision-making at local level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.59-71
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• 2009

The goals of this study were to development Natural Ecosystem Value Assessment Model, to suggest the practical applicability of the Natural Ecosystem value assessment for development areas, and to assess natural ecosystem quantitatively using GIS. The Model can evaluate Natural Ecosystem Value between before and after land developments. To select indicators for the model, we conducted the literature reviews. and six indicators and the standard of evaluation had been developed through the expert interviews and literature reviews. the relative importance of the evaluation index throught two times expert questionnaires was found out. the Natural Ecosystem Value Assessment Model has been established, The results demonstrate that although the suggested six indicators are arranged by priority, to maintain quantitative and qualitative the natural ecosystem value, all indicators are desirable to be maintained complementarily. The findings of this study suggest that the natural ecosystem value assessment model appears to be effective an assessment for damaged natural environment value and possible to assign a score value. Also, this model can be applied to research areas and has implications to help maintain the natural ecosystem in land development districts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-132
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• 2018

This study was conducted to suggest an assessment indices to evaluate the ecosystem services of the unique functions of wetlands as well as economic value provided by the village wetlands. The assessment indicators applied in this study were used by the RAM indices. The results of RAM assessment on the village wetlands in Cheonan city were analyzed by item and critical functions of the village wetland. They were derived by assessment indicators of ecosystem services, and the village wetland ecosystem were presented by Focus Group Interview (FGI). The 20 critical indices were selected from 52 different indices by analyzing the wetland function assessment items. 13 indicators excluding duplicate indexes by function, were selected as ecological service impact indicators. Finally, ecosystem services were evaluated by using AHP analysis to calculate the weight of each assessment indices and apply it to the 9 village wetlands. The results of this study confirmed that the functions of the village wetlands are compliant with the ecosystem services. Based on this assessment of the unique functions of wetlands, it will serve as a methodology for assessing ecosystem services. The study was also conducted on 49 wetlands in Cheonan. The detailed assessment of wetland ecosystem services based on the wetland ecosystem function proposed by this study, was further developed as a follow-up study. It suggested that the wetland areas should be compared and be used as a general standard. In addition to the assessment of the economic value of ecosystem services provided by the village wetlands, it would be useful to assess the unique features and convert them into value.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-110
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• 2002

Ecosystem health assessment is an emerging concept regarded as a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating ecosystems. The stability of ecosystem is the main theme in the assessment. Generally, two components - resilience and resistance - are involved in the mechanism of ecosystem stability. In this study, relative degrees of the resistance and the resilience were quantified for most aquatic Insects Inhabiting running waters in Korea. A total of 34 groups were newly categorized based on previous studies, and a conceptual model has been produced. The model was applied for the aquatic insect communities inhabiting different streams and demonstrated that each stream ecosystem possessed different degrees of stability. This study also indicated that it was possible to compare stabilities of different ecosystems using relative degrees of resilience and resistance. Using the conceptual model, suitable conservation and management strategies could be recommended in ecological assessments. The model can be used as a stepping-stone for developing more comprehensive methodology that objectively diagnoses and evaluates the ecosystem stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.346-346
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• 2005

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.327-338
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• 2012

Environmental specimen banks provide the baselines for the scientists and decision makers to do research using the past and present specimens to expect the possible contaminant implications of the future. Many chemicals that are considered harmless now but not found may be found and pose threats in the future. Collected specimens of animals and plants should be conserved without contamination for future analysis. To ensure the availability of samples for the retrospective analysis, the establishment and maintenance of specimen banks in the developing and developed nations has become absolutely necessary. National Environmental Specimen Bank (NESB) established at National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) in 2009. For the application of NESB, several activities such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) development have been prepared. This study applied the guidelines for sampling and sample treatment of five environmental specimens which had been prepared from 2007 to 2009. The target species were shoots of red pine and Korean pine, leaves of Mongolian oak, eggs of domestic pigeon and muscles and livers of common carp. The NESB will enhance the quality of environmental assessment and environmental monitoring based on real time and retrospective analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.13-24
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of Ecosystem Service Matrix method in Songnisan and Hannamgeumbukjeongmaek Boeun-gun area. The assessment was carried out with 25 land cover types by 7 ecosystem values. The research area was divided by 30m x 30m cell unit and the each cell value was classified into 5 grades. The total number of cell under the investigation was 433,910 units in Songnisan and 84,975 in Boeun-gun. Class I and II area were widely spread and Class V area is narrowly distributed inside of Class III area in Songnisan. I area, II area and separately managed zone belong to Ecological Zoning map and Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map(Environment + Ecology) were assessed Class I in Ecosystem service matrix. In conclusion, Ecosystem Service Matrix assessment based on land cover map is a rapid assessment methodology which reflecting ecosystem functions in a larger area. If it is supported with more ecosystem functions, the more precise nature value can be calculated.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.188-194
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• 2002

Assessment institution of urban ecosystem is divided into ‘Urban Planning Act’and ‘Environmental Management Act’in Korea. The assessment institution of urban planning is divided into ‘Standard of land development approval’and ‘Environmental assessment of urban planning’. The institution of environmental management is divided into ‘Environmental impact assessment’and ‘Advance environmental assessment’. Assessment institution of urban ecosystem is progressed very slowly, because of development oriented policy. And so there are many problems that objective assessment method is not invented except ‘Degree of growing tree number per unit area’and ‘Degree of human disturbance of vegetation’, and insufficiency of conservation measures or post evaluation, etc. Activation of assessment institution of urban ecosystem is necessary followed countermeasures in Korea. (1) Development of objective assessment method for urban ecosystem as biotope map, (2) Appointment of censer-vation zone or consideration of damage for high value in conservation, (3) Parallel establishment of development and ecosystem conservation plan, and enforcing post evaluation