• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 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 Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.402-411
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• 2018

This study was conducted to develop ingrowth estimation equations on Pinus densiflora found in Gangwon Province and in the center of Korean Peninsula, based on the National Forest Inventory (NFI)'s permanent sampling plot data. For this study, identical sampling plots in $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ NFI data were collected in order to identify ingrowth amounts for the last 5 years. Following two-stage approaches in developing the ingrowth estimation equations, the logistic regression model was used in the first stage to estimate the ingrowth probability. In the second stage, regression analysis on sampling plots with ingrowth occurrence was used to estimate the ingrowth amount. A candidate model was finally selected as an optimal model after a verification based on three evaluation statistics which include mean difference (MD), standard deviation of difference (SDD) and standard error of difference (SED). In results, a logistic regression model based on the number of sampling plot which did not result in ingrowth (model VI), was selected for an ingrowth probability estimation equation and exponential function including the species composition (SC) variable was optimal for an ingrowth estimation equation (model VII). The ingrowth estimation equations developed in this study also evaluated the estimation ability in various forest stand conditions, and no particular issue in fitness or applicability was observed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 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 Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2010

Since 2006, the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (NFI) has been implemented to provide forest resources statistics at the national level and at the county level as well. However, it needs a small-area estimator for estimating forest statistics at the county-level due to a small number of samples collected within a county. This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of a geographical-based synthetic estimator for estimating forest growing stock volumes at the county level. The NFI-field plots surveyed were post-stratified into three forest cover types. In the synthetic estimator, field plots within a geographical-based super-county for each county were used to estimate stratum weights and stratum mean volumes. It was resulted that estimated stratum weights using the synthetic estimation were significantly differ from forest cover maps. The standard errors of estimated mean by the synthetic estimation that ranged from ${\pm}3.5\;m^3$/ha to ${\pm}7.7\;m^3$/ha were more smaller than those (${\pm}7.8\;m^3/ha{\sim}{\pm}24.7\;m^3/ha$) by the direct estimation. This means that the synthetic estimation is possible to provide more precise estimates of mean volumes.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2011

Global warming causes the climate change and makes severe damage to ecosystem and civilization Carbon dioxide greatly contributes to global warming, thus many studies have been conducted to estimate the forest biomass carbon stock as an important carbon storage. However, more studies are required for the selection and use of technique and remotely sensed data suitable for the carbon stock estimation in Korea In this study, the aboveground forest biomass carbon stocks of Danyang-Gun in South Korea was estimated using $k$NN($k$-Nearest Neighbor) algorithm and regression model, then the results were compared. The Landsat TM and 5th NFI(National Forest Inventory) data were prepared, and ratio images, which are effective in topographic effect correction and distinction of forest biomass, were also used. Consequently, it was found that $k$NN algorithm was better than regression model to estimate the forest carbon stocks in Danyang-Gun, and there was no significant improvement in terms of accuracy for the use of ratio images.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2017

This study was conducted to estimate carbon stocks of Pinus densiflora with drawing volume of trees in each tree height and DBH applying the suitable stem taper equation and tree specific carbon emission factors, using collected growth data from all over the country. Information on distribution area, tree age, tree number per hectare, tree volume and volume stocks were obtained from the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (2006~2010) and Statistical yearbook of forest (2016), and method provided in IPCC GPG was applied to estimate carbon stock and uptake. Performance in predicting stem diameter at a specific point along a stem in Pinus densiflora by applying Kozak's model, $d=a_{1}DBH^{a_2}a_3^{DBH}X^{b_{1}Z^2+b_2ln(Z+0.001)+b_3\sqrt{Z}+b_4e^z+b_5(\frac{DBH}{H})}$, which is well known equation in stem taper estimation, was evaluated with validations statistics, Fitness Index, Bias and Standard Error of Bias. Consequently, Kozak's model turned out to be suitable in all validations statistics. Stem volume table of P. densiflora was derived by applying Kozak's model and carbon stock tables in each tree height and DBH were developed with country-specific carbon emission factors ($WD=0.445t/m^3$, BEF = 1.445, R = 0.255) of P. densiflora. As the results of analysis in carbon uptake for each province, the values were high with Gangwon-do $9.4tCO_2/ha/yr$, Gyeongsandnam-do and Gyeonggi-do $8.7tCO_2/ha/yr$, Chungcheongnam-do $7.9tCO_2/ha/yr$ and Gyeongsangbuk-do $7.8tCO_2/ha/yr$ in order, and Jeju-do was the lowest with $6.8tC/ha/yr$. Total carbon stocks of P. densiflora were 127,677 thousands tC which is 25.5% compared with total percentage of forest and carbon stock per hectare (ha) was $84.5tC/ha/yr$ and $7.8tCO_2/ha/yr$, respectively.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2015

This study was conducted to estimate carbon stocks of Quercus serrata with drawing volume of trees in each tree height and DBH applying the suitable stem taper equation and tree specific carbon emission factors, using collected growth data from all over the country. Information on distribution area, tree number per hectare, tree volume and volume stocks were obtained from the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (2006~2010), and method provided in IPCC GPG was applied to estimate carbon storage and removals. Performance in predicting stem diameter at a specific point along a stem in Quercus serrata by applying Kozak's model,$d=a_1DBH^{a_2}a_3^{DBH}X^{b_1Z^2+b_2ln(Z+0.001)+b_3{\sqrt{Z}}+b_4e^Z+b_5({\frac{DBH}{H}})}$, which is well known equation in stem taper estimation, was evaluated with validations statistics, Fitness Index, Bias and Standard Error of Bias. Consequently, Kozak's model turned out to be suitable in all validations statistics. Stem volume tables of Quercus serrata were derived by applying Kozak's model and carbon stock tables in each tree height and DBH were developed with country-specific carbon emission factors ($WD=0.65t/m^3$, BEF=1.55, R=0.43) of Quercus serrata. As a result of carbon stock analysis by age class in Quercus serrata, carbon stocks of IV age class (11,358 ha, 36.5%) and V age class (10,432; 33.5%) which take up the largest area in distribution of age class were 957,000 tC and 1,312,000 tC. Total carbon stocks of Quercus serrata were 3,191,000 tC which is 3% compared with total percentage of broad-leaved forest and carbon sequestration per hectare(ha) was 3.8 tC/ha/yr, $13.9tCO_2/ha/yr$, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2009

Forest biomass estimation is essential for greenhouse gas inventories and terrestrial carbon accounting. Remote sensing allows for estimating forest biomass over a large area. This study was conducted to estimate forest biomass and to produce a forest biomass map for Muju county using forest biomass conversion table developed by field plot data from the 5th National Forest Inventory and Landsat TM-5. Correlation analysis was carried out to select suitable independent variables for developing regression models. It was resulted that the height class, crown closure density, and age class were highly correlated with forest biomass. Six regression models were used with the combination of these three stand variables and verified by validation statistics such as root mean square error (RMSE) and mean bias. It was found that a regression model with crown closure density and height class (Model V) was better than others for estimating forest biomass. A biomass conversion table by model V was produced and then used for estimating forest biomass in the study site. The total forest biomass of the Muju county was estimated about 8.8 million ton, or 128.3 ton/ha by the conversion table.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2014

The main purpose of this study is to measure spatio-temporal variation of forest tree volume based on the RCP(Representative Concentration Pathway) 8.5 scenario, targeting on Pinus densiflora forests which is the main tree species in South Korea. To estimate nationwide scale, $5^{th}$ forest type map and National Forest Inventory data were used. Also, to reflect the impact of change in place and climate on growth of forest trees, growth model reflecting the climate and topography features were applied. The result of the model validation, which compared the result of the model with the forest statistics of different cities and provinces, showed a high suitability. Considering the continuous climate change, volume of Pinus densiflora forest is predicted to increase from $131m^3/ha$ at present to $212.42m^3/ha$ in the year of 2050. If the climate maintains as the present, volume is predicted to increase to $221.92m^3/ha$. With the climate change, it is predicted that most of the region, except for some of the alpine region, will have a decrease in growth rate of Pinus densiflora forest. The growth rate of Pinus densiflora forest will have a greater decline, especially in the coastal area and the southern area. With the result of this study, it will be possible to quantify the effect of climate change on the growth of Pinus densiflora forest according to spatio-temporal is possible. The result of the study can be useful in establishing the forest management practices, considering the adaptation of climate change.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.793-801
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• 2022

This study was carried out to provide basic data for logical forest management by developing a site index curve reflecting the current growth characteristics of Cryptomeria japonica stands in Korea. The height growth model was developed using the Chapman-Richards, Schumacher, Gompertz, and Weibull algebraic difference equations, which are widely used in growth estimation, for data collected from 119 plots through the 7th National Forest Inventory and stand survey. The Chapman-Richards equation, with the highest model fit, was selected as the best equation for the height growth model, and a site index curve was developed using the guide curve method. To compare the developed site index curve with that on the yield table, paired T-tests with a significance level of 5% were performed. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between the site index curve values at all ages, and the p-value was smaller after the reference age than before. Therefore, the site index curve developed through this study reflects the characteristics of the changing growth environment of C. japonica stands and can be used in accordance with the site index curve on the current yield table. Thus, this information can be considered valuable as basic data for reasonable forest management.