• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.465-474
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• 2004

Due to the rapid increase of human population and economic development, the natural ecosystem has been severely degraded. To restore the degraded ecosystem is extremely urgent and an important task in China. High biodiversity status in the natural ecosystem in tropical and subtropical regions in China has given high attention to the conservationists. The recent trends to the ecological restoration on degraded ecosystem in the tropical and subtropical regions of China were discussed for four different ecological recovery types: watershed ecosystems, wetlands, mining wastelands and mountain forests. The successful restoration case studies in tropical and subtropical regions of China were also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.97-110
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data and evidence for the habitat improvement of wild birds in urban stream by analyzing changes in habitat characteristics of wild birds by riparian forest construction in Yangjae stream in Seoul. In Gangnam-gu, the multi layered riparian forest consisting of landscape trees and shrubs was formed on the slope. In Seocho-gu, the vertical vegetation structure of woody and herbaceous wetland plants was good. In Gangnam-gu, the vegetation area of the slope increased and the vertical stratification structure affected the species diversity of the forest birds. The number of species and individuals of plovers, sandpipers and wagtails decreased due to the impact of bicycle roads and trails. The poor forests on the levee slope in Seocho-gu affected the habitat selection and migration of the forest birds. The willows and amur silver-grasses formed in the riverside have been developed into the riparian forest, thus stabilizing the habitat of water birds by blocking disturbances from the influence of the trails.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.188-191
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• 2008

The Tonle Sap, Cambodia, is a huge lake and periodically flooded due to monsoon climate. The incoming water causes intensive flooding that expands the lake over vast floodplain and wetland consisting mainly of forests and shrubs. Monitoring the water-level change over the floodplain is essential for flood prediction and water resource management. A main objective of this study is flood monitoring over Tonle Sap area using ALOS PALSAR. To study double-bounce effects in the lake, backscattering effect using ALOS PALSAR dual-polarization (HH, HV) data was examined. InSAR technique was applied for detection of water-level change. HH-polarization interferometric pairs between wet and dry seasons were best to measure water level change around northwestern parts of Tonle Sap. The seasonal pattern of water-level variations in Tonle Sap studied by InSAR method is similar to the past and altimeter data. However, water level variation measured by SAR was much smaller than that by altimeter because the DInSAR measurement only represents water level change at a given region of floodplain while altimeter provides water level variation at the central parts of the lake.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.659-668
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to propose a ventilation corridor management plan to improve the thermal environment for Busan Metropolitan City. To this end, the characteristics of hot and cool spots in Busan were identified by conducting spatial statistical analysis, and thermal image data from Landsat-7 satellites and major ventilation corridors were analyzed through WRF meteorological simulation. The results showed the areas requiring thermal environment improvement among hot spot areas were Busanjin-gu, Dongnae-gu, industrial areas in Yeonje-gu and Sasang-gu, and Busan Port piers in large-scale facilities. The main ventilation corridor was identified as Geumjeongsan Mountain-Baekyangsan Mountain-Gudeoksan Mountain Valley. Based on the results, the ventilation corridor management strategy is suggested as follows. Industrial facilities and the Busan Port area are factors that increase the air temperature and worsen the thermal environment of the surrounding area. Therefore, urban and architectural plans are required to reduce the facility's temperature and consider the ventilation corridor. Areas requiring ventilation corridor management were Mandeok-dong and Sajik-dong, and they should be managed to prevent further damage to the forests. Since large-scale, high-rise apartment complexes in areas adjacent to forests interfere with the flow of cold and fresh air generated by forests, the construction of high-rise apartment complexes near Geumjeongsan Mountain with the new redevelopment of Type 3 general residential area should be avoided. It is expected that the results of this study can be used as basic data for urban planning and environmental planning in response to climate change in Busan Metropolitan City.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2015

Gotjawal areas have the unique ecosystem and we need to approach as the inhabit of animals to conserve Gotjawal. This study was conducted in Hangyeong-myeon Cheongsu-ri located in the western part of Jeju Island belonging to Hangyeong Andeok Gotjawal Zone and Jocheon-eup Seonheul-ri located in the eastern part of Jeju Island belonging to Jocheon Hamdeok Gotjawal Zone. Survey on advent of the birds was done twice a month from February 2013 to December 2014. A total of 66 species and 4,140 individuals in two Gotjawals were observed during the survey period. In Seonheul Gotjawal area, 53 species and 1,907 individuals were observed while it was 49 species and 2,233 individuals in Cheongsu Gotjawal area. The number of species between two Gotjawal areas was not significantly different, but the number of individuals between two Gotjawal areas was significantly different. Thirty-six species were found in both Gotjawal areas as common species and the index of similarity was 0.7. A total of 23 species were classified as the residents, 15 species as the winter visitors, 16 species as the passage migrants, 11 species as the summer visitors, and 2 species as the vagrant. Twelve species as legally protected birds including the natural monument and the endangered species were found and 8 species were found in Seonheul Gotjawal area while it was 10 species in Cheongsu Gotjawal area. The species that directly using a wetland or food resources related to water were 12 in the Seonheul and 6 species were observed in the Cheongsu Gotjawal area, but there is no significant difference between two Gotjawal areas. However, the number of individuals in Seonheul Gotjawal area was significantly higher than in that of in Cheongsu Gotjawal area. We need to research the wetlands and micro climatic condition existing in Gotjawal forests to find the cause of difference of two areas and this difference must be considered as an important indicator for the protection of Gotjawal forests.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.331-344
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• 2022

This study analyzed the characteristics of the soil and hydrological environment of abandoned paddy wetlands examined the changes in land cover type in the ecological affect area, analyzed the environmental factors of abandoned paddy wetlands, and examined the changes in land cover type in the ecological impact area. The ecological environment characteristics of the reference abandoned paddy wetlands were investigated through literature research, environmental spatial information service, and preliminary exploration of the abandoned paddy wetlands, and the basic data for the restoration of abandoned paddy wetlands ware provided by examining the changes in land cover type in the ecological impact area for 40 years. Through this study, it will be possible to manage the rapidly increasing number of abandoned farmland to be converted into wetlands so that it can perform functions equivalent to or greater than that of natural wetlands. In particular, as we checked the clues that abandoned paddy wetlands could spread to surrounding ecological influences through land cover changes, the study sites are highly likely to be reference wetlands, and if the topography, soil, water circulation system, and carbon reduction performance are analyzed carefully, it will be possible to standardize the development process. In addition, through the change in land cover, clues were confirmed that the abandoned paddy wetlands could spread to the surrounding ecological affect areas. The land cover type in the ecological impact area, forests was mainly distributed, but generally decreased rapidly in the last 10-20 years, and forests were changing from coniferous forests to broad-leaved forests, mixed forests, or grassland. It has not yet been fully called to the wetland, and it is found that it has maintained the form of barren or grassland, and as can be seen in the case of natural wetlands after more than 30 years after abandoned, it is expected that the transition will gradually proceed to wetlands that are structurally and functionally similar to natural wetlands.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2023

As climate change gets severe, the ecosystem acts as an important carbon sink, therefore efforts are being made to utilize these functions to mitigate climate change. In this study, we inventoried and analyzed the previous studies related to carbon storage and flux by ecosystem type (forest, cropland, wetland, grassland, and settlement) and carbon pool (aboveground and belowground biomass, dead wood, Litter, soil organic carbon, and ecosystem) in Korean ecosystems. We also collected the results of previous studies and calculated the average value of carbon storage and flux for each ecosystem type and carbon pool. As a result, we found that most (66%) of Korea's carbon storage and fluxes studies were conducted in forests. Based on the results of forest studies, we estimated the storage by carbon stock. We found that much carbon is stored in vegetation (aboveground: 4,018.32 gC m^-2 and belowground biomass: 4,095.63 gC m^-2) and soil (4,159.43 gC m^-2). In particular, a large amount of carbon is stored in the forest understory. For other ecosystem types, it was impossible to determine each carbon pool's storage and flux due to data limitations. However, in the case of soil organic carbon storage, the data for forests and grasslands were comparable, showing that both ecosystems store relatively similar amounts of carbon (4,159.43 gC m^-2, 4,023.23 gC m^-2, respectively). This study confirms the need to study carbon in rather diverse ecosystem types.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.272-287
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• 2019

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.275-289
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• 2011

We investigated the hydrological and geomorphological characteristics of small irrigation ponds in civilian control zone of Paju city in Korea. Among 85 small irrigation ponds, water level of 52 ponds changed seasonally and that of 33 was constant. Water sources of 12 ponds were surface water, 29 surface water and ground water, and 44 ground water. 4 ponds locate in the edges of forests, 33 in flat-lands, and 48 in valleys. Water in 45 ponds was exchanged with paddy fields and 40 ponds were isolated from paddy fields. Endangered or endemic species were inhabited in 26 ponds, which have ground water as water source and constant water level. Based on these characteristics, we suggested 4 types of small irrigation ponds: spring, water exchanging, stagnant/spring, stagnant water. This classification system will help ecosystem managers to investigate ponds systematically and manage them based on pond type.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2013

This study examined the status of the vegetation around Gangcheonsan provincial park located in Sunchang-gun in Jeollabuk-do and Damyang-gun in Jeollanam-do from June 4 to October 12, 2011. Gangcheonsan vegetation was arranged 9 plant communities in accordance with data of 28 releves. Major forest vegetation included Quercus variabilis communityand Quercus variabilis-Quercus serrata community, Pinus densiflora community, and Pinus densiflora-Quercus variabilis community (evergreen coniferous forest in all), and Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis community (plantation). Wetland vegetation included Salix gracilistyla community (riverbank forests), Phragmites japonica community, and Polygonia thunbergii community. Gangcheonsan Provincial Park has beautiful scenery that is in harmony with fantastically-shaped rocks, waterfalls, and valleys and conserves a specific plant community habitat distributed through the forest wetlands including its valleys. It is necessary to conduct long-term monitoring with its focus on Pinus densiflora community, Lycoris koreana community, and Lycoris squamigera community in the provincial park to grasp the characteristics of ecological inhabit changes in major communities and provide active methods for conservation, restoration, and publicity.