ECOREGION CLASSIFICATION WITH CLIMATE FACTORS AND FOREST FIRE

South Korea is divided into five ecoprovinces and sixteen ecoregions. The criteria for ecoprovince classification are ecosystem connectivity and cultural homogeneity. Ecoregions are classified by cluster analysis. The variables used in the analysis are latitude, longitude, seasonal mean temperature, and seasonal precipitation. The large forest fires occurred in the specific ecoregions including Kangwon coastal ecoregion, WoolYoung coastal ecoregion, Hyungsan Taehwa coastal ecoregion, Upper Nagdong river basin ecoregion and Southeastern inland ecoregion. The largest forest fire in the korean history occurred in Kangwon coastal ecoregion in the year 2000. The fire devastated the forestland over 25,000ha. Korea Forest Service, Ministry of Environment, Province Kangwon and NGO organized an investigation committee for the restoration of the burnt area. The committee suggested restoration principles and also forged a restoration strategy of the Kangwon burnt area.