• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.236-256
• /
• 2011

Forest carbon stocks change due to land use change is an important data required by UNFCCC(United Nations framework convention on climate change). Spatially explicit estimation of forest carbon stocks based on IPCC GPG(intergovernmental panel on climate change good practice guidance) tier 3 gives high reliability. But a current estimation which was aggregated from NFI data doesn't have detail forest carbon stocks by polygon or cell. In order to improve an estimation remote sensing and GIS have been used especially in Europe and North America. We divided research trends in main countries into 4 categories such as remote sensing, GIS, geostatistics and environmental modeling considering spatial heterogeneity. The easiest way to apply is combination NFI data with forest type map based on GIS. Considering especially complicated forest structure of Korea, geostatistics is useful to estimate local variation of forest carbon. In addition, fine scale image is good for verification of forest carbon stocks and determination of CDM site. Related domestic researches are still on initial status and forest carbon stocks are mainly estimated using k-nearest neighbor(k-NN). In order to select suitable method for forest in Korea, an applicability of diverse spatial data and algorithm must be considered. Also the comparison between methods is required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.113 no.1
• /
• pp.40-50
• /
• 2024

Pine forests are continuously declining due to competition with broadleaf trees, such as oaks, as a consequence of changes in the natural dynamics of forest ecosystem. This natural decline creates a risk of losing the various benefits pine trees have provided to people in the past. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare future forest management directions by considering the state of pine tree decline in each region. The goal of this study is to understand the characteristics of pine forest changes according to forest dynamics and to predict future regional changes. For this purpose, we evaluated the trend of change in pine forests and extracted various variables(topography, forest stand type, disturbance, and climate) that affect the change, using time-series National Forest Inventory (NFI) data. Also, using selected key variables, a model was developed to predict future changes in pine forests. As a results, it showed that the importance of pine trees in forests across the country has decreased overall over the past 10 years. Also, 75% of the sample points representing pine trees remained unchanged, while the remaining 25% had changed to mixed forests. It was found that these changes mainly occurred in areas with good moisture conditions or disturbance factors inside and outside the forest. In the next 10 years, approximately 14.2% of current pine forests was predicted to convert to mixed forests due to changes in natural forest dynamics. Regionally, the rate of pine forest change was highest in Jeju(42.8%) and Gyeonggi(26.9%) and lowest in Gyeongbuk(8.8%) and Gangwon(13.8%). It was predicted that pine forests would be at a high risk of decline in western areas of the Korean Peninsula, including Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeonnam. This results can be used to make a management plan for pine forests throughout the country.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.111 no.3
• /
• pp.435-449
• /
• 2022

Forest canopy height is an indispensable vertical structure parameter that can be used for understanding forest biomass and carbon storage as well as for managing a sustainable forest ecosystem. Plot-based field surveys, such as the national forest inventory, have been conducted to provide estimates of the forest canopy height. However, the comprehensive nationwide field monitoring of forest canopy height has been limited by its cost, lack of spatial coverage, and the inaccessibility of some forested areas. These issues can be addressed by remote sensing technology, which has gained popularity as a means to obtain detailed 2- and 3-dimensional measurements of the structure of the canopy at multiple scales. Here, we reviewed both international and domestic studies that have used remote sensing technology approaches to estimate the forest canopy height. We categorized and examined previous approaches as: 1) LiDAR approach, 2) Stereo or SAR image-based point clouds approach, and 3) combination approach of remote sensing data. We also reviewed upscaling approaches of utilizing remote sensing data to generate a continuous map of canopy height across large areas. Finally, we provided suggestions for further advancement of the Korean forest canopy height estimation system through the use of various remote sensing technologies.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.485-500
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to inventory the vascular plant flora in Oenarodo Island, Jeollanam-do, South Korea in 2011. The vascular plants collected from the survey sites consisted of 574 taxa in total; 7 forms, 62 varieties, 2 subspecies, 503 species, 342 genera and 117 families. Among them, 8 taxa of Korean rare plants were found distributed in the sites, including Peucedanum hakuunense Nakai, Cymbidium macrorrhizum Lindl. and Bupleurum falcatum L. 6 taxa of Korean endemic plants such as Hepatica insularis Nakai and Carex okamotoi Ohwi were collected. In addition 101 notable taxa designated by the Ministry of Environment were collected as well. 46 taxa of naturalized plants, such as Paspalum distichum var. indutum Shinners and Veronica hederaefolia L. were recognized widely distributed in the sites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.112 no.1
• /
• pp.71-82
• /
• 2023

Forest biomass is used as a representative indicator of forest size, maturity, and productivity. Therefore, quantitative evaluation is important for management and harvest as well as the evaluation of ecosystem functions and services including CO₂ absorption. The allometric equation is a widely used method for estimating the value of each component through the relative growth rate of plants. Recently, studies indicated that the relative growth of trees is changing because of the increased CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere and the resulting climate change, raising the need to review the previously developed relative growth models and coefficients. In this study, the height-diameter at breast height (DBH) relationships of four major tree species in Korea [(Pinus densiflora (PD), Larix kaempferi (LK), Quercus variabilis (QV), and Quercus mongolica (QM)] were analyzed using the 5th-7th National Forest Inventory (NFI) data. Furthermore, these results were compared with the present yield table from the National Institute for Forest Science. This analysis revealed that the expected height for the same DBH increased as the NFI progressed. For example, in model analysis, the expected heights for PD, LK, QV, and QM for DBH of 25 cm were 12.48, 19.17, 14.47, and 13.19 m, respectively, in the 5th NFI data. In the 7th NFI data, these values were estimated as 13.61 (+9.1%), 21.58 (+12.7%), 15.76 (+8.9%), and 13.93 m (+5.6%), respectively. These results indicate that the major tree species in South Korean forests currently are more vigorous in height growth than in diameter growth when compared to the height-DBH development trends by tree species identified through past survey data.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.367-376
• /
• 2016

Urban greenery is an important component of urban environment and is fast gaining prominence especially in the developing countries. The destruction of urban trees has resulted to the degradation of the environment, thus the introduction of green Kumasi project by Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ashanti Region of Ghana. The composition and diversity of urban trees gives rise to adequate management and monitoring, thus an inventory of urban trees of the Metropolis was conducted to document complete information on its density, diversity, composition and distribution. A total tree population of 1,101 was enumerated in the principal roads of the Metropolis. The ten most encountered tree species accounted for 61.04% of all the individual tree populations with Mangifera indica being dominant. The dominant families: Fabaceae, Moraceae and Arecaceae constitute 38.57% of the tree population. Diversity of the tree species was very high. The minimum diversity criteria were met on analysis of the diversity of this population. The proportion of exotic species was high with 65.71% of the trees belonging to the introduced species. It is recommended that greater emphasis should be placed on the planting of indigenous trees in future tree planting exercise.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.119-129
• /
• 2010

The joint use of remotely sensed data and field measurements has been widely used to estimate aboveground carbon stock in many countries. Recently, Korea Forest Research Institute has developed new carbon emission factors for kind of tree, thus more accurate estimate is possible. In this study, the aboveground carbon stock of Danyang area in South Korea was estimated using k-Nearest Neighbor(kNN) algorithm with the 5th National Forest Inventory(NFI) data. Considering the spectral response of forested area under the climate condition in Korea peninsular which has 4 distinct seasons, Landsat TM seasonal satellite images were collected. As a result, the estimated total carbon stock of Danyang area was ranged from 3542768.49tonC to 3329037.51tonC but seasonal trends were not found.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.97 no.6
• /
• pp.627-633
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to estimate volume growth rates for major Quercus species distributed in Korea, and based on the data collected from the 5th National Forest Inventory. Volume growth rates were estimated by each age class for each species, and their similarity or distinction was statistically analyzed. It was also intended to compare the resulted volume growth rates with the existing growth rates, and to develope a volume growth rate estimation model for the Quercus species. Six major Quercus species were considered in this study; Quercus acutissima, Quercus aliena, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis, Quercus dentata, and Quercus mongolica. Based on the data collected from the 5th National Forest Inventory, the diameter growth rates and the height growth rates were estimated for each species, and then the volume growth rates were estimated with the given diameter and height growth rates. To examine the distinction between species or age classes, statistical analyses such as ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test were applied. The results indicated that the volume growth rate was 10% in the age class II, 6% in the age class III, and lower in the subsequent classes. In addition, the volume growth rates of Quercus acutissima, Quercus aliena, and Quercus serrata were relatively high compared to those of Quercus variabilis, Quercus dentata, and Quercus mongolica. According to their growth rates, the six Quercus species were classified into two groups; high-growth-rate group and low-growth-rate group. Statistical analysis conducted to examine the difference between and within the groups showed that there is no significant difference within groups, while significant between groups. Based on the results, volume growth rate estimation model were finally developed for each group. The classification of the Quercus species suggested in this study was not the same with that of existing volume growth estimation. Thus, it is necessary to improve the existing volume growth rate or its estimation system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.93-108
• /
• 2014

The inventory list of wildlife species inhabiting or distributing in Gyeonggi Province was made by compiling species data from precedent surveys, 10 national level nature surveys, 1 survey that Gyeonggi-do conducted, and 46 local surveys presented in scientific journals. Total 2,913 wildlife species including 2,041 vascular plants, 39 mammals, 304 birds, 34 herptiles, 145 fish, and 350 benthic macro-invertebrates were listed in the inventory. It explains 47% of nationwide total species in vascular plants, 31.5% in mammals, 58.2% in birds, 65.4% in herptiles, 12.2% in fish. The total number of important species including endangered species, national monuments, national red lists, etc. was 628 species, accounting for 21.6% of all listed species in Gyeonggi Province. More than 90% of endangered bird species, almost half of endangered fish and herptile species were found in Gyeonggi Province. In particular, abundant bird diversity and inhabitation of many endangered bird species were identified in Gyeonggi Province. Species diversity was greater in the northern area adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone and the eastern forest area. The distribution of the important species such as national endangered species was more distinct in these areas, especially in Gapyeong and Yeoncheon Counties. The inventory list compiled in this study implicates the level of management for biological resources and can provide information for policy decisions regarding new survey sites, protection management of specific species and areas, management practices by spatial characteristics. It should be more compiled and updated with survey data to be utilized as basic indices for local biodiversity strategies and management of biological resources.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2022.05a
• /
• pp.99-99
• /
• 2022

Jeju island has a humid subtropical climate and this climate zone is expected to migrate northward toward the main land, Korea Peninsula, as temperature increases are accelerated. Vegetation type has been inevitably shifted along with the climatic change, having more subtropical species native in southeast Asia or even in Africa. With the forest composition shift, it becomes more important than ever to analyze the water balance of the forest wihth the ongoing as well as upcoming climate change. Here, we implemented the Ecosystem Demography Biosphere Model (ED2) by initializing the key variables using forest inventory data (diameter at breast height in 2012). Out of 10,000 parameter sets randomly generated from prior distribution distributions of each parameter (i.e., Monte-Carlo Method), we selected four behavioral parameter sets using remote-sensing data (LAI-MOD15A2H, GPP-MOD17A2H, and ET-MOD16A2, 8-days at 500-m during 2001-2005), and evaluated the performances using eddy-covariance carbon flux data (2012 Mar.-Sep. 30-min) and remote sensing data between 2006-2020. We simulated each of the four RCP scenarios (2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5) from four climate forcings (GFDL-ESM2M, HadGEM2-ES, IPSL-CM5A-LR, and MIROC5 from ISIMIP2b). Based on those 64 simulation sets, we estimate the changes in water balance resulting from the forest composition shift, and also uncertainty in the estimates and the sensitivity of the estimates to the parameters, climate forcings, and RCP scenarios.