• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.117-128
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• 2019

Background: Cliffs are a major plant habitat around the coastal area, but in contrast to sand dunes and salt marshes, they have been little investigated in Korea. There are simple descriptions of cliff vegetation in studies on island vegetation, but there is no published paper, which addressed sea cliff vegetation synthetically. Furthermore, the coastal area where this study was carried out was designated as a conservation reserve. Even though, this area is exposed to intense recreational use such as trekking in these days. This study aims to clarify spatial distribution and structure of vegetation along the environmental gradient on coastal cliff and plateau in the Janggi peninsula (Homigot) located on southeastern Korea. Further, this study has also another objective to prepare a restoration plan to protect this conservation reserve from intense human disturbance. Results: Landscape elements were arranged in the order of sea cliff risen directly on the sea, seashore, coastal cliff, and plateau covered with relatively deep soil in a coastal area of the Janggi peninsula (Homigot), southeastern Korea. Vegetation was sampled at 59 plots arranged from the sea cliff through the seashore and coastal cliff to plateau. The sea cliff, seashore, and coastal cliff, which compose the coastal landscape, were dominated by the seashore spatulate aster (Aster spathulifolius Maxim.) community, dwarf sand sedge (Carex pumila Thunb.) community, and seashore spatulate aster (Aster spathulifolius Maxim.) community. On the plateau corresponding to the ridge of the coastal cliff, black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) community, golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata Laxmann) community, east Asian hackberry (Celtis sinensis Pers.) community, sawleaf zelkova (Zelkova serrata Makino) community, and Korean oak (Quercus dentata Thunb.) community were established in the mentioned order along distance from the sea. Stand ordination showed a vegetation sequence from the seashore through the cliff to the plateau, consistent in its overall pattern among sites. This was dominated by topography. There is evidence for the importance also of salinity, drought and of soil depth. Conclusion: The lack of scientific interest in cliffs to date is in striking contrast to the commonness of cliffs around the whole national territory and to the attraction cliffs have had for humans throughout history. Cliffs provide a unique habitat, rarely investigated from an ecological viewpoint. Cliffs may represent an invaluable type of ecosystem, consisting of some of the least disturbed habitats on earth and contributing more to the biodiversity of a region than their surface coverage would indicate. Although this coastal area where this study was carried out was designated as a conservation reserve, this area is in danger of severe disturbance due to excessive recreational use. We recommended a restoration plan to protect this area from such a disturbance.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.264-274
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• 2020

This study aims to clarify the diversity and distribution characteristics of plant communities in four small mountain wetlands located in the high altitude area of Cheonchuk Mountain within the Wangpicheon Basin Ecological Landscape Conservation Area in Seomyeon, Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. A total of 26 vegetation data were collected according to the Z.-M. school's phytosociological vegetation survey method considering the homogeneity of habitat type and species composition. Four physiognomic vegetation types composed of 9 syntaxa was confirmed through vegetation classification according to dominant correlation and vegetation type classification considering species composition. The Iris ensata var. spontanea-Molinia arundinacea community is a dominant plant community representing the research area. After human use, vegetation is developing through natural transition in a homogeneous location left unattended, but the distribution of other plant communities was rarely observed due to the narrow wetland area. The microtopography and hydrological environment of each wetland were identified as key factors affecting the diversity and distribution of vegetation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.171-183
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• 2023

Estuarine wetlands, which form a distinctive brackish water zone, serve as important habitats for organisms that have adapted to and thrive in this environment. Nonetheless, excessive development and utilization result in artificial disruptions that alter the distinctive functions and attributes of estuarine wetlands. To collect the basic data for the conservation of estuarine wetlands with excellent ecosystems, we investigated the vegetation distribution characteristics and biota status of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland. Data from vegetation surveys have shown that 25 plant communities of six physiognomic vegetation types, including willow vegetation, lotic and lentic herbaceous vegetation, floating/submerged vegetation. In the upper reaches, where topographical diversity was high, various types of wetland vegetation were distributed. In terms of biodiversity, a total of 696 species, including 7 endangered wildlife species, were identified. Due to good ecological connectivity, tidal rivers are formed, brackish water species including various functional groups are distributed around this section. The inhabitation of various water birds, such as diving and dabbler ducks, were confirmed according to the aquatic environment of each river section. The collection of ecological information of the Taehwagang River Estuarine Wetland can be used as a framework for establishing the basis for conservation and management of the estuarine ecosystem and support policy establishment.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.265-274
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• 1997

All landscapes are mosaics of habitat patches of different types. Therefore, there are always edged between habitat patches in a landscape. Forest animal has an important role in vegetation development and maintenance by seed dispersal around forest. Movement of animals depends on the spatially heterogeneous structure and pattern of vegetation landscapes because each animal has special habitats in a landscape. Especially, forast edge with high permeability and prey density is one of the important habitats to the animals. Therefore, understanding the ecological characteristics of the forest edges as a corridor connecting mosaic vegetation patches is necessa교 새 establish the strategies for the nature conservation and sustainable vegetation management. Under this idea, we examined the animal influenced on pine seeds as one of the method of monitoring the animal activity in mosaic vegetation. Man-made mosaic vegetations including open, edge and inner forests were carefully selected in the rural landscape. We carried out predation test on pine seeds during one year. A result was that damages on seed was more significant at forest edge than inner and open forest. Pine seed on seedbeds was mainly attacked by squirrels and mice than birds. Pine seed was damaged by squirrels in different types of vegetation by seasons. Rate of seed predation at forest edge was, in special, higher than that of other sites. According to this results, it is suggested that the relationship between animal behavior and spatial vegetation structure relating to human impact such as the distance from settlement to vegetation appeares to be in the rural vegetation landscape.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 1988

The potential natural vegetation of Naejangsan national park area, southwestern Korea, was inferred from the actual vegetation. With the phytosociological classification, ordinatins and field surveys, the actual vegetation map of the area was made in scale 1:25, 000, including ten communities of Pinus densiflora, quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Carpinus laxiflora, Daphnipyllum macropodum, Carpinus tschonoskii, Quercus aliena-Carpinus tschonoskii, Cornus controversa-Lindera erythrocarpa, Torreya mucifera-Zelkova serrate and Acer mono-Zelkova serrata community. The analyses of species richness, age structure and various informations on vegetation changes suggest the three pathways of late stage succession from P. densiflora forest to climatic climax. The first of them is through Q. variabilis forest to Q. monogolica forest in the upper parts of the mountain, the second through Q. variabilis and Q. serrata forest to C. laxiflora forest in the middle parts and the third through Q. aliena forest to C. tschonoskii forest in lower parts. Considering the actual vegetation and informations on the vegetation changes including human activities, the potential natural vegetation of the mountain mainly composed of Q. monogolica, C. laxiflora, C. tschonoskii, P. densiflora and Z. serrata forest as climatic climax and/or edaphic climax was inferred. The present situration of nature conservation in the area was estimated by the examination on the actual vegetation and potential natural vegetation map.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2012

The Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map (ECVAM) is a five grade assessment map created with nationally integrated environmental information and environmental values. The map is made through the evaluation of 65 items, including greenbelt area and naturalness. Naturalness means original state of nature, and it is one of the most important evaluation items for conserving nature. The criteria of naturalness includes the Degree of Green Naturality (DGN) made by MOE. Using the data which has been not updated is a problem of accuracy for ECVAM. Therefore, this study would like to improve the criteria of naturalness. To improve the criteria, the study examined the effectiveness of DGN using field survey. The results of analysis the naturalness without DGN, some area changed grade of naturalness have been already damaged or cleared for agriculture and industrial purposes. The grade of naturalness should be included the concept of vegetation transition like DGN. The study suggested a improved method using vegetation type (natural and planted forest), forest age, and the grade of vegetation conservation. The method was reviewed by experts and field survey. After applying the method in South Korea, the grade of naturalness were distributed evenly like GradeI is 38.87%, GradeII is 37.62%, GradeIII is 23.51%, respectively. From the results of field survey, over 4 grade of forest age in natural forest showed similar pattern of structure and composition in original forests. Therefore, the improved criteria explained the naturalness better than existing criteria, and the accuracy of ECVAM has been improved more.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2006

The flora of vascular plants and the present vegetation status of Minjujisan and its adjacent regions were investigated from 2000 to 2004, total 27 times. The plant taxa of these areas consist of 764 taxa totally; 172 families, 397 genera, 631 species, 3 subspecies, 105 varieties and 25 forms. There were many useful plants such as 35 taxa of Korean endemics, 12 taxa of rare and endangered plants, and 101 taxa of specially designated plants which were determined by the Ministry of Environment. Furthermore, 46 taxa of naturalized alien plants were also investigated in the boundary of developing areas. The vegetation status of investigated area was comparatively well conserved, but the degree of damage was increasing rapidly by development, deforestation, and tramp which were induced by the disturbances of human beings. Therefore, more active conservation strategies such as expanded designation of conservation area. should be established, and carried out continuously based on the results of long-term monitoring studies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.39-52
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• 1994

Existing natural resources were analyzed in regional scale in order to suggest natural park guidelines as a previous step of conservation plan. Results of both existing natural resources and land potentiality in preceding paper were combined to suggest comprehensive and qualitative method for understanding of natural land. Regional characteristics of natural park were, then, analyzed by this method, and specific planning guidelines were discussed. The existing natural resources were analyzed by the degree of location quotient, which were found by comparison of the grade of vegetation naturalness and the bio-physical land unit in preceding paper. Then, allowance of existing natural resources was identified, and importance of protection was described based on this result. The bio-physical land unit on Tokyo Province was found to be composed by smaller land units, which had a variety of relationship with grade of vegetation naturalness: from the specific(1st) to many stages(5th). This meant a characteric of each land unit. By this combined approach, the characteristics and spatial distribution of natural land were discussed in the regional scale, and characteristic of nateral park were analyzed in terms of natural location. National park were located in the land unit where both land capability and importance of portection were the 6th. Quasi national park and 1 province natural park were located in the land unit where land capability was the 6th and importance of protection were the 5th. Seven province natural parks were located in the land unites were both criteria under the 5th were mixed. based on the results of this study, the followings were suggested for specific planning guidelines in the case of Takao quasi nation park: (a) conservative land use within the limit of carrying capacity of this area by the conservation of biotic and abiotic natural resources, (b) conservation of both natural and semi-natural vegetation, (c) utilization of this area as a urban forest.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 1990

This study was executed to investigate the vegetation structure and to propose the vegetation management proposals of the Sansung Nature Park at Cheonju City and the results were as fellows. 1. A damage of vegetation and soil surface around the Namgosa was taken place up to 100m by picnic 2. Pinus rigida forest covered 36.1% of the total area(152.6ha) and total afforested vegetation covered 43.5%, respectively. P. denstflora comm. covered 28.4% arid Carpinus laxiflora Comm. as a climax vegetation in temerate zone covered 0.3%, respectively. 3. 6, 7 and 8 of the degree of human disturbance of vegetation covered 45.3%, 26.6% and 21.4%, respectively and resulted in low quality of naturalness. 4. Physical and chemical properties of soil were pour at high elevation and were poor severely in and around the Namgosa due to human disturbance. 5. Plant community were under rapid succession and had unvalanced structure and heterogeneous composition of species. Rapid vegetational succession from Pinus densiflora and Pf. rigida to Carpinus laxifora, Quercus spp. and Robinina pseudo-acacia were taken place.6. The speeies of Raunkiaer's frequency class I as of high frequency class were Pinus dunsiflora, Carpinus alxiflora, Quercus mmongolica, Sorbus alnifolia, Prunrs sargintii, Rhododendron yedoense, Stephanandra incisa and Lespedeza maxinowiczii. 7. Vegetational management proposals were made for three vegetation zones ; Historic landscape restoration and preservation zone, Afforested vegetation zone, Native vegetation conservation zone and recommanded native species for landcape planting.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.403-413
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• 2005

The environmental conservation-targeted zoning in urban planning process has been functioned as securing a ecological core in urban green spaces management. Hence, the designation of conservation zones in land use planning is considered as a key task to achieve the sustainability of urban planning. The recently introduced pre-environmental review system for the proposed urban plan, by which the conservative measures for urban ecosystem and landscape are suggested in aspect of environmental impact mitigation, has played an active role in enhancing the environmental performance degraded by wide range of development pressure. This study is aimed at drawing out of objective criteria for designation of environmental conservation zones, which can be applied to urban planning establishment and also to environmental assessment process. To achieve this goal, the study adopted the following methods; pre-study review, analysis of existing official opinion statements released by the Ministry of Environment, contents analysis of related laws, and experts' panel discussions on the finally arranged criteria. The results of this research can be summarized as follows: First, the total criteria of 48 are drown out with categorizing into environment-ecological and socio-cultural sectosr. Second, the environment-ecological part is composed of 33 criteria such as vegetation, animal, geomorphology, watershed, environmental land suitability, and etc. Here, the Degree of Ecological Function, Degree of Environmental Land Suitability, and Vegetation Map are mainly utilized. Third, the 15 socio-cultural criteria relating to the history, social ecology and landscape have such components as forest around relics, Seo-won(school), castle, tomb, landmark, skyline, natural landscape, and etc. Forth, these individual criteria can be applied to designation of each conservation zones among total of 11 conservation areas(or districts).