• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.185-191
• /
• 2015

This study presents an estimate of on-site surface fuel loadings composed of coarse woody debris (CWD) using $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (NFI) data in South Korea. We classified CWD data into forest type, region and decay class, and used conversion factors by decay class and tonne of oil equivalent developed in the country. In 2010, the total wildfire fuel load of CWD was estimated as 8.9 million TOE; those of coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests were 3.5 million TOE, 2.8 million TOE and 2.6 million TOE, respectively. Gangwon Province had the highest wildfire fuel load of CWD (2.3 million TOE), whereas Seoul exhibited the lowest wildfire fuel load of CWD (0.02 million TOE). Wildfire fuel loads of CWD were estimated as 2.9 million TOE, 1.9 million TOE, 2.4 million TOE and 1.7 million TOE for decay classes I, II, III and IV, respectively. The total wildfire fuel load of CWD corresponded to the calorific value of 8.2 million tons crude oil, 2.46% of that of living trees. Proportionate to the growing stock, total wildfire fuel load of CWD was in a broad distinction by region, while its TOE $ha^{-1}$ was not. This implies that there is no need to establish different guidelines by region for management of CWD. The results of this work provide a baseline study for scientific policy guidelines on preventing wildfires by proposing CWD as wildfire fuel load.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2019

A tree-length harvesting system using the HAM300, which is mounted on a farm tractor prototype machine, have been recently introduced in South Korea for thinning old (>30 years) forests. However, no research has previously been conducted on the characteristics of residual stand damage associated with cable yarding systems on thinning treatment stands in South Korea. Therefore, there were assessed on the degree and quantity of residual stand damage caused by felling and yarding process to broaden the knowledge of residual stand damage on semi-mechanized skyline thinning operations. This study investigated scar size, direction, area, shape type and their distribution on the residual stand damage caused by felling and yarding operations. Damage to residual trees was generated for 7.4% and 6.9% of residual trees in felling and yarding operations, respectively. Damaged direction of scars was located in front-side (38.9%) and up-side (34.7%) for felling operations while the highest scar damage was found on down-side (44.6%) for yarding operations. Scar heights of felling damage were higher than those of yarding damage. In yarding operation, the most of the scars was located within l0m from the center of the skyline corridor. These results should be useful information for forest managers and landowners to reduce residual stand damages and retain valuable timber volume from thinning treatments.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.81-95
• /
• 2023

Due to the multiple ecosystem benefits that iconic large, old growth trees provide, forest managers are applying thinning treatments around these legacy trees to improve their vigor and reduce mortality, especially in the face of climate change and other forest health threats. One objectives of this study was to analyze sub-hourly stem fluctuations of legacy ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. Ex P. & C. Laws) and sugar pines (Pinus lambertiana Dougl.) in the mixed-conifer forests of the Sierra Nevada in multiple different radius thinning treatments to assess the short-term effects of these treatments. Thinning treatments applied were: R30C0 (9.1 m radius), R30C2 (9.1 m radius leaving 2 competitors), and RD1.2 (radius equaling DBH multiplied by 1 ft/in multiplied by 1.25). The other objective was to assess climatic drivers of hourly stem fluctuations. Using the dendrometeR package, we gathered daily statistics (i.e. daily amplitude) of the stem fluctuations, as well as stem cycle statistics such as duration and magnitude of contraction, expansion, and stem radial increment. We then performed correlation analyses to assess the climatic drivers of stem fluctuations and to determine which radial thinning treatment was most effective at improving growth. We found an important role that mean solar radiation, air temperature, and relative humidity play in stem variations of both species. One of the main findings from a management perspective was that the RD1.2 treatment group allowed both species to contract less on warmer and higher solar radiation days. Furthermore, sugar pine put on more stem radial increment on higher solar radiation days. These findings suggest that the extended radius RD1.2 thinning treatment may be the most effective at releasing legacy sugar and ponderosa pine trees compared to the other forest management treatments applied.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2022.05a
• /
• pp.153-153
• /
• 2022

Large-scale and accurate observations at fine spatial resolution through a means of remote sensing offer an effective tool for capturing rainfall variability over the traditional rain gauges and weather radars. Although satellite rainfall products (SRPs) derived using two major estimation approaches were evaluated worldwide, their practical applications suffered from limitations. In particular, the traditional top-down SRPs (e.g., IMERG), which are based on direct estimation of rain rate from microwave satellite observations, are mainly restricted with their coarse spatial resolution, while applications of the bottom-up approach, which allows backward estimation of rainfall from soil moisture signals, to novel high spatial resolution soil moisture satellite sensors over South Korea are not introduced. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the performances of a state-of-the-art bottom-up SRP (the self-calibrated SM2RAIN model) applied to the C-band SAR Sentinel-1, a statistically downscaled version of the conventional top-down IMERG SRP, and their integration for a targeted high spatial resolution of 0.01° (~ 1-km) over central South Korea, where the differences in climate zones (coastal region vs. mainland region) and vegetation covers (croplands vs. mixed forests) are highlighted. The results indicated that each single SRP can provide plus points in distinct climatic and vegetated conditions, while their drawbacks have existed. Superior performance was obtained by merging these individual SRPs, providing preliminary results on a complementary high spatial resolution SRP over central South Korea. This study results shed light on the further development of integration framework and a complementary high spatial resolution rainfall product from multi-satellite sensors as well as multi-observing systems (integrated gauge-radar-satellite) extending for entire South Korea, toward the demands for urban hydrology and microscale agriculture.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.239-249
• /
• 1982

The outlines of superior stands, including species mixed, age classes, canopies, and ecological conditions of the stands, were examined in the forests of west Germany, Sweden, and Netherland. The establishment schemes of tree seed orchards for the production of high genetic quality seed were also investigated in the present study. 1. The meteorological conditions, abundant in precipitation and high in relative humidity, prove it to be oceanic climate characteristics in the Scandinavia located in high latitude and north-western part of Europe. The photo periodical characteristics following to day-length and the frost times determine the patterns of tree growth and distribution as well as the tree adaptability due to bud-setting and bud-flushing in Sweden forest. 2. The European forests are generally characterized by dense multistoried forest type composed of upper stories of tall tree species such as Norway spruce, fir, Scots pine and beech, lower stories of shade tolerant poles and saplings of spruce, fir, beech, and floor vegetations covered with birch, oak and hornbeam etc. 3. The single tree selection method and group shelterwood method are commonly applied for silvicultural system but shelterwood method and clearcutting method practiced partially in limited area. Badischer Femelschlagbetrieb and Bayerischer Femelschlagbetrieb are popularized to the regeneration of Schwarzwald but selection method applied in part. 4. Tree cuttings are properly limited so as not to exceed annual increment volume for the sustained yield and the preservation of ecosystem in European forest management. Land preservation and recreation function are more interested with the promotion of wood production in the forest management. 5. Careful attentions are paid to the reforestation of the introduced exotic species, such as Douglas-fir, red oak, pines from America, Japanese larch, Italian poplar etc., with concern against the insect and pest damage, and the meteorological damage. 6. Some intensive studies on tree improvement, such as selection of plus tree, selection of plus stand for seed collection, provenance trial, progeny test of clone, hybrid seed orchard for clone complexing, are performed in the countries and the great part of the seed required for reforestation are supplied from the seed orchard established in Sweden and Netherland.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 2002

The valley forests located at the east-facing slope and the west facing slope in Hambaeksan area were studied to investigate forest structure in relation to aspect and altitude of the slope. There was little difference in density. mean DBH and basal area of the tree layer between east-facing slope and west-facing slope. The importance percentages of Tilia amurensis and Betula costata in west-facing slope were higher than those in east-facing slope. However, the importance percentages of Quercus mongilica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla in the west facing slope were lower than those in east-facing slope. Species diversity of the west-facing slope was 1.415 and that of the east-facing slope was 1.328. Elevation trends were also found for forest structure. As elevation Increased basal area and mean height of the tree layer decreased in both of east-facing slope and west-facing slope. There was a tendency that number of species, species diversity and evenness decreased with increasing elevation. The importance percentage of Quercus mongolica increased with increasing elevation while those of Betula costata and Maackia amurensis decreased. The result of cluster analysis for the tree and subtree layer indicated that the studied forests were classified into the mixed forest community of broad-leaved tree species at west-facing slope and the low and middle elevation belts of east-facing slope and Quercus mongolica community at the high elevation belt of east-facing slope. Quercus mongolica was significantly and positively correlated with Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa, Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes and deutzia glabrata. Betula costata was significantly and negatively correlated with Quercus mongolica and Acer pseudo-sieboldianum.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2018

This study aims to find out the characteristics of the vegetation landscape characteristics and system which led the formation of the urban image in Jeonju in the late Joseon period connected with urban spatial structure, using designated as treasure No. 1586 which was made in the middle of 18C. The vegetation landscape characteristics of Jeonju in the late Joseon Dynasty derived from the analysis of are summarized as follows. Firstly, the vegetation landscape system in Jeonju is composed of the natural vegetation around mountain area of Jeonju-Buseong, the independent vegetation or cluster planting forests linked with the main facilities, the Bibo-Forests connected with topographical characteristics of Jeonju, and the vegetation combined with a private garden. Secondly, planting landscape was specialized using flag species and local species. Thirdly, the garden-type plantation centered on the back yard or front of main facilities, with the background of natural vegetation landscape combined with the mountain area and the vegetation combined with a private garden, dominates vegetation landscape of Jeonju Buseong as objects. Fourthly, in order to overcome the defects of topographical characteristics, the Bibo-Forests were emphasized as an important planting landscape element in addition to the vegetation landscape elements connected with main facilities. Fifth, ecological vegetation landscape technique was taken considering the topographical characteristics. The characteristics of vegetation landscape of Jeonju Buseong, which is derived from , have an important meaning to restore and reproduce Jeonju's historical features. Especially, the vegetation communities of the non-booming concept combined with the geographical features, the ecological landscape harmonizing with the topography, the round house type landscape mixed with the private house, and the specialization of vegetation landscape using local species are important factors in securing the city image based on the historical characteristics and creating a city brand that utilizes vegetation landscape.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.245-265
• /
• 2019

Biotope, which represents the characteristic habitats of living organisms, need to be identified as essential for the efficient creation and sustainable management of urban ecosystems. This study was carried out to provide the basic information for ecological urban planning by analyzing types and attributes of the biotop established throughout the whole area of the Pohang city, a representative industrial city in Korea. The biotop established in Pohang city is composed of 12 types including forests (coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests), agricultural fields (rice paddy and upland field), green facilities, river, reservoir, bare ground, residential area, public facilities, commercial area, industrial area, roads, and schools. As a result of analyzing the properties according to biotop types, industrial, commercial and residential areas, which represent urban areas, was dominated by introduced vegetation. Moreover the introduced vegetation is usually composed of exotic plants or modified forms for landscape architecture and horticulture rather than native plants, which reflects ecological property of both region and site. As the distance from the urban center increases, the agricultural field showed a form of typical farmland, whereas the closer it is, the more form of greenhouse farming. Natural green spaces were divided into riparian vegetation established along the stream and forest vegetation. Forest vegetation is consisted of secondary forests (seven communities) and plantations (three communities). The urban landscape of Pohang city is dominated by the industrial area. Among them, the steel industry, which occurs large amounts of heat pollution and carbon dioxide, occupies a large proportion. On the other hand, green space is very insufficient in quantity and inferior in quality. This study proposed several restoration plans and further, a green network, which ties the existing green spaces and the green space to be restored as a strategy to improve the environmental quality in this area.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.127-139
• /
• 2017

Measurements of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of $CO_2$ based on the eddy covariance technique provide reasonable carbon balance estimates in response to local environmental conditions. In South Korea, the forest ecosystems cover approximately 64% of the total area, thereby strongly affecting regional carbon balances. Cultivated croplands that cover about 17% of the total area should also be considered when calculating the carbon balance of the country. In this study, our objectives were (a) to quantify the range and seasonal variation of NEE at forest ecosystems, including deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, and agricultural ecosystems, including rice paddies and a potato field, in South Korea and (b) to compare NEE at ten Fluxnet sites that have the same or similar ecosystems as found in South Korea. The results showed that the forest and agricultural ecosystems were carbon sinks. In Korea, NEE at the forest ecosystems varied between -31 and $-362gC/m^2/yr$, and NEE at the croplands ranged from -210 to $-248gC/m^2/growing$ season. At the deciduous forest, NEE reached low values in late spring, early summer, and early autumn, while at the coniferous forest, it reached low values in spring, early summer, and mid autumn. The young mixed forest was a much stronger carbon sink than the old-growth deciduous and coniferous forests. During each crop growing season, beet had the lowest NEE value within six crops, followed by wither wheat, maize, rice, potato, and soybean. These results will be useful for designing and applying management strategies for the reduction of $CO_2$ emissions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.108 no.4
• /
• pp.663-674
• /
• 2019

Birds are effective ecological indicators but there is no national protocol in place to monitor population dynamics of forest birds in Korea. To support the establishment of future monitoring protocols, we compared the results of two generally used monitoring methods for forest bird surveys in two temperate mixed forests in central Korea. There was no statistical difference in the number of species and individuals detected per unit survey effort when comparing line transects and point counts. The number of species and individuals were higher in a five-minute count than in a three-minute point count, but the total accumulated number of expected observed species showed no difference between the two count durations. The number of observed species and individuals increased in both methods as plot radius or transect width increased, suggesting that multi-layer or multi-band surveys may be useful for quantitative and qualitative objectives. The decreasing number of observed species and individuals after sunrise suggested that bird monitoring should be conducted earlier in the morning, within four hours after sunrise. To detect 70% of the total number of species, 7.0 to 7.6 survey hours, equivalent to 42 three-minute counts (95% confidence interval [CI]: 26 to 61) or 33 five-minute counts (95% CI: 19 to 53) were needed for unlimited radius point counts. On the other hand, 4.8 survey hours, equivalent to 26 line transect counts (95% CI: 15 to 45) using 200-m transects with unlimited width, were required to achieve the same level of species detection. Therefore, the line transect method may be more effective than the point count method, at least in terms of local species richness assessment. For national forest bird monitoring, our data indicated that one or both survey methods can be selected as a basic protocol, based on the goals and scales of monitoring, forest types, and the conditions of the target areas.