• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.1
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• pp.33-48
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• 2009

Forests store carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), one of the major factors of global warming, in vegetation and soils through photosynthesis process. In addition, woods deposit $CO_2$ for a long term until the harvested wood is decomposed or burned, and deforested areas could be expanded the carbon sinks through reforestation. Forests are a lso able to decrease temperature through transpiration and contribute to control the micro climate in global climate systems. Consequently, forests are considered as one of major sinks of greenhouse gases for mitigating global warming. It is very important to develop a Korea specific forest carbon flux model for preparing adaptation measures to climate change. In this study, we compared the climate change impact models in forests developed in foreign countries and analyzed the applicability of the models to Korean forest. Also we selected models applicable to Korean forest and suggested approaches for developing Korean specific model.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 1993

Pinus koraiensis is one of the most important reforestation species which had widely been planted around the country. Therefore, there are great research needs on the fundamental properties of wood to extend the frequency of uses and adequate availabilities. Research results on the characteristics of anatomical wood properties and changes are summarized as follows: 1. At a horizontal direction of tree trunk, the tracheid length at outer wood gradually becomes shorter as it reaches to pith. The tracheid length having between 32 and 42 annual rings showed over 2.5 times longer than that of pith, and also its length increases from the bottom to the top of the stem. 2. The tracheid diameters in latewood showed a little fluctuations, and the shortest near to the pith in earlywood. The tracheid diameters in earlywood are more than 2 times those of latewood, and the differences between the mature and juvenile wood in earlywood are less than 10${\mu}m$. 3. The tracheid wall thickness in early wood showed a little fluctuations. On the contrary, tracheid wall thickness in latewood rapidly increases from the pith to the bark. The tracheid wall of mature wood showed 10 to 20% thicker than that of juvenile wood. 4. The fibril angle at the secondary walls of tracheid within an annual ring showed higher degree in earlywood than that of latewood. The highest tracheid fibril angle was observed at around the pith of both earlywood and latewood. Then, fibril angle slowly decreased toward outer wood, and was stabilized after 15 years. 5. Structural boundaries between mature and juvenile wood from Pinus koraiensis are divided by 13 to 19 annual ring and distance of 5 to 8cm from the pith.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.47-58
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• 2011

The forest of Korea had been severely degraded since early 1900s until 1950s. Korean Government has successfully accomplished the reforestation works since 1960s. However, some plantations showed poor survival and growth caused by ignoring site characteristics in selecting plantation species and lack of tending works such as thinning. The natural regeneration of indigenous species, such as Quercus species and Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc., were examined in the plantations of Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc. and Larix kaempferi Fortune ex Gordon. Quercus species regenerated mainly by sprouting while P. densiflora regenerated naturally from a few mother trees that remained in the plantations. P. koraiensis showed poor survival ($IVI{\leq}25%$) and suppressed growth (height ${\leq}3m$ and $DBH{\leq}3cm$ at 20 year-old) by Quercus species or P. densiflora in the plantation areas, however had high survival ($IVI{\geq}70%$) and growth (8 m height and 14.1 cm DBH at 20 year-old) in areas where silvicultural practices were conducted. L. kaempferi showed good survival ($IVI{\geq}40%$) and growth (17.2 m height and 16.3 cm DBH at 30 year-old) mostly in valley areas, while it was nearly dead ($IVI{\leq}10%$) in ridge or ridge-slope areas and was replaced by indigenous species such as Quercus species ($IVI{\geq}25{\sim}55%$) or P. densiflora ($IVI{\geq}18{\sim}50%$).

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.193-205
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• 2021

The importance of forests and trees in climate change mitigation and soil nutrient cycling cannot be overemphasized. This study assessed the above-ground carbon stock of two exotic and two indigenous tree species - Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Khaya grandifoliola and Nauclea diderrichii and their litter impact on soil nutrient content of an arboretum within the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data were collected from equal sample plots from the four species' compartments. Tree growth variables including total height, diameter at breast height, crown height, crown diameter and merchantable height were measured for the estimation of above-ground carbon stock. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-30 cm from each compartment and analyzed for particle size distribution, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, pH, Manganese, Iron, Copper and Zinc. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significant difference (p<0.05) in the carbon contents of the four species and the soil nutrient contents of the different species' compartments. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationships between the carbon contents, growth parameters and soil parameters. The highest and lowest carbon stock per hectare was observed for G. arborea (151.52 t.ha^-1) and K. grandifoliola (45.45 t.ha^-1) respectively. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation were highest and lowest for soil under G. arborea and K. grandifoliola respectively. The pH was highest and lowest for soil under G. arborea and T. grandis respectively. Carbon stock correlated positively with dbh, crown diameter, merchantable height and Zn and negatively with base saturation. The study revealed that G. arborea and N. diderrichii can effectively be used for reforestation and afforestation programmes aimed at climate change mitigation across Nigeria. Therefore, policies to encourage and enhance their planting should be encouraged.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 2016

This study aims to evaluate the effect of shortened final cutting age by estimating future $CO_2$ absorption in each different scenarios based on each final cutting ages before and after shortening. We used $5^{th}$ Forest Type Map and Forest Yield Table to obtain information to estimate $CO_2$ absorption of forest. We also designed a simulated future scenarios from 2010 to 2100 which repeats cutting and reforestation according to respected each final cutting ages. As the result, number of cuttings and total amount of $CO_2$ absorption of forest were increased with shortened final ages. Total cutting times increased up to 2 in both minimum and maximum amount for Quescus spp. and Larix kaempferi. Maximum number of cutting of Pinus densiflora and minimum number of Pinus koraiensis increased by 1. Total $CO_2$ absorption increased 12％ for Quercus spp. which had the largest number of increase in cutting times, while total $CO_2$ absorption of Pinus koraiensis only increased by 1％. The result could be used to evaluate the changes in forest management plans and policies and then develop optimal final age for efficient sustainable forest management plans.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.951-962
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• 2020

One hundred ninety-five countries reached agreement on a new climate treaty in Paris, France to reduce the carbon emissions. South Korea has been selected as a target country for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) obligations since 2020. In this context, the Korean government developed several GHG emissions reduction programs using forests called the "Forest carbon offset scheme (FCOS)." The forest management method is one of the tools to implement FCOS. Most of the participants registered forest management as the preferred methodology to participate in the FCOS. For a successful implementation of the FCOS, it is necessary to explore the optimal methods by considering the cost-effective aspect of conducting the forest management as a tool to increase carbon absorption. In this context, this study investigated the value optimized FCOS projects based on the forest management methodology in South Korea. Three forest management scenarios, 1) extending the final age of maturity of Pinus densiflora stands (S1), 2) extending the final age of maturity of Quercus acutissima stands (S2), and 3) reforestation with new species (Pinus densiflora to Quercus acutissima) (S3), were examined and evaluated to identify the optimal carbon absorption and value optimized economic perspective. The results of the scenario-based modelling indicated that S3 showed value optimized from an economical perspective, and S2 was the most effective method to absorb carbon among the scenarios. It is anticipated that this paper will contribute to provide valuable information by presenting innovative approaches as a value optimized FCOS implementing tool in a GHG reduction program in South Korea.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.212-221
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• 2020

Background: Rapid industrialization has caused various impacts on nature, including heavy metal pollution. However, the impacts of industrialization vary depending on the types of industrializing activity and surrounding environment. South Korea is a proper region because the rapid socio-economical changes have been occurred since the late nineteenth century. Therefore, in this study, we estimate the anthropogenic impacts on an ecosystem from a sediment core of Yonghwasil-mot, an irrigation reservoir on the western coast of Korea, in terms of heavy metal concentrations, nutrient influx, and pollen composition. Results: The sediment accumulation rate (SAR) determined by 210Pb geochronology showed two abrupt peaks in the 1930s and 1950s, presumably because of smelting activity and the Korean War, respectively. The following gradual increase in SAR may reflect the urbanization of recent decades. The average concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) during the twentieth century were > 48% compared to those before the nineteenth century, supporting the influence of smelting activity. However, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the As, Cu, and Pb concentrations decreased by 19% compared to levels in the twentieth century, which is coincident with the closure of the smelter in 1989 and government policy banning leaded gasoline since 1993. The pollen assemblage and nutrient input records exhibit changes in vegetation cover and water level of the reservoir corresponding to anthropogenic deforestation and reforestation, as well as to land-use alteration. Conclusions: Our results show that the rapid socio-economic development since the twentieth century clearly affected the vegetation cover, land use, and metal pollutions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.698-707
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• 2011

Over the past 10 years, South Korea has implemented various plantation projects including the Pine Restoration Project in Tujiin Nars and the desertification prevention forestation in Lun soum. This study has evaluated the implementation feasibility on the small-scale A/R CDM projects in Mongolia through which carbon emission credits can be secured. Characteristics, pros and cons, economic feasibility, and project execution feasibility were compared among three possible sites, Khyalganat, Tujiin Nars, and Lun soum. Among the three evaluated sites, Tujiin Nars has the better condition in tree growth, economic feasibility, and the applicability of experience than the other two sites. A/R CDM project in Mongolia, which has a great environmental benefit of combating desertification, is expected to have some effectiveness such as lowering costs from credit benefit, sustainable management by villagers, contribution to communities, investor's contribution to society and achievement of green image, and strengthening forestry cooperation between Korea and Mongolia.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2022

Hymenodictyon orixensis (Roxb.) Mabberley (locally known as Bhutum in Bangladesh) is both an ecologically and economically valuable multipurpose tree species for afforestation and reforestation programs in Bangladesh. Seed germination and seedling development study of H. orixense were conducted to find out the response to different growing medium, e.g., polybag (15×10 cm (T₀) and 20×15 cm (T₁)), sand medium in propagator house (T₂), conventional nursery bed (T₃), and root trainer (T₄) in the Nursery. Consequently, germination behavior and seedling morphological parameters of H. orixense were assessed. The results revealed that the sand medium of the propagator house (T₂) provided the highest germination % (58.57±22.30) and the highest germination energy (11.43±2.43) followed by seedlings growing in 20×15 cm polybags (T1) containing forest topsoil and cow-dung at a ratio of 3:1. Except for germination energy, germination values, and germination capacity, other seed biology parameters, particularly imbibition, germination period, germination rate, and plant survival percent in T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ were significantly (p<0.05) different from T₀. Each phenotypic parameter of seedlings and dry matter of shoot and root significantly differed from control except root length (p<0.992). Based on this study, Polybags of 20×15 cm size are regarded as the best medium for quality seedling development of H. orixense. The nursery bed (T₃) had the lowest germination performance and developed more inferior quality seedlings. Thereby, 20×15 cm size of polybags with conventional soil and cow-dung media is recommended for maximum germination and to grow the quality seedlings of H. orixense in the Nursery.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2024

The study investigated species diversity, relative abundance, and decline of flying insects and plants within a fragmented forest in the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria. It is known that habitat fragmentation can reduce biodiversity. Thus, it is important to perform comprehensive assessments to understand implications of the habitat fragmentation for flora and fauna. Species richness and abundance of flying insects and plants across fragmented forest patches were quantified using field surveys and taxonomic identification. This study revealed shifts in species diversity, with fragmented areas exhibiting reduced biodiversity compared to contiguous forest ecosystems. Flying insects crucial for ecosystem functioning and pollination services demonstrated decreased species richness and relative abundance within fragmented habitats. This decline was attributed to habitat loss, altered microclimates, and limited movement pathways known to hinder insect dispersal. Similarly, plant species richness and abundance showed decline in fragmented forest due to disrupted mutualistic interactions with pollinators, altered nutrient cycling, and increased competition among plant species. This study underscores the importance of maintaining intact forest habitats to sustain healthy ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. Effective conservation strategies should focus on habitat connectivity, reforestation efforts, and protection of essential ecological corridors to mitigate effects of fragmentation. In conclusion, this investigation provides empirical evidence for effects of habitat fragmentation on flying insects and plants in a forest ecosystem in FUTA Akure, Nigeria. Findings emphasize an urgency of adopting conservation measures to safeguard these invaluable components of biodiversity and ecosystem stability in the face of ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation.