The riparian area plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The Korean government has recognized the importance of protecting riparian areas and has taken steps to purchase land and create ecobelt to reduce non-point source pollutants(NSPs) that can negatively impact water quality. However, selecting the catchment area and calculating the pollution load can be challenging due to the small area of the purchased land and the limitations of low-resolution DEMs. To address these challenges, this study proposes the use of unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) to create a high-resolution DEM and calculate the pollution load through land cover analysis. This approach can provide a more accurate representation of the land use status and help to identify areas that are contributing to NSPs. The quantitative comparison of the difference in water quality improvement ecosystem services according to the scenarios of additional catchment areas shows that even land purchased for the same amount of money may have different ecosystem service values, and this was quantitatively calculated. This can be used to prioritize future land acquisition. Overall, this study's approach could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of ecobelt in reducing NSPs and inform future efforts to protect riparian areas in Korea and beyond.

This study was conducted to select the restoration priority of forest damage sites in Gangwon Province. We first identified the status of damaged areas. We then selected restoration evaluation indicators through a literature review. We then set weights for these indicators through expert surveys. We next acquired data that can represent these indicators and spatially mapped them. Finally, we prioritized the restoration target sites by taking the weights. The results of the study showed that disaster sensitivity and ecologicality are important criteria for selecting the restoration priority of damage sites. The analysis showed that damage sites in Doam, Jeongseon, Samcheok and Inje are in urgent need of restoration. The results of this study are significant in that they selected the restoration priority of damage sites in Gangwon Province based on the restoration priority evaluation criteria selected based on expert surveys. However, the priority restoration areas derived from the results of this study are not actually implementing restoration projects at present. Therefore, it is judged that it would be efficient in various aspects to establish the restoration priority area based on scientific analysis techniques and carry out the project for efficient implementation of the restoration project. In this study, it can be pointed out that the priority of restoration of damage sites was derived based on data from the past due to the limitation of data acquisition. However, the fact that the priority restoration area inferred based on past data has been restored over time has improved the reliability of the study by verifying the usefulness of the priority extraction technique. In the future, if the priority of damage sites is extracted by extracting the restoration target area boundary through the latest data based on the methodology applied in this study, it is considered that it will be available as a result that can be applied to the field.

The coastal dune ecosystem is one of the ecosystems under the most development pressure in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to study the ecological location and related ecological phenomena of coastal dune plants, but related studies are lacking. Through this study, we intend to conduct research on the structure and restoration of dune plants, focusing on the coastal dunes in Jeju Island, which are affected by artificial development pressure and the continuous increase in tourists among many coastal dunes in Korea. Ecosystems of coastal sand dunes for vegetation survey in Jeju Island are selected based on naturalness and preservation. In this study, 23 major coastal dunes on Jeju Island including Udo were selected. In the coastal dunes of Jeju Island, a whole species survey and quadrat survey were carried out. The vegetation survey at study sites were conducted on May to September 2022, when the vegetation is clearly visible. At the survey site, the dune area was identified at the beginning and the plant species were recorded until no more new species appeared. Vegetation survey in the field was performed by 103 quadrat establishments and was conducted using Braun-Blanquet method. A total of 277 species appeared, and the most common species were Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella. The frequency of both Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella was approximately over 90%. The proportion of woody and herbaceous in all emerging species was 7.2% and 92.8%, respectively. The total number of species found in the quadrat survey was 98. As a result of classifying plant communities based on species dominance in the quadrats, it was analyzed into 30 plant communities. The plant communities that appeared with a frequency of 2 or more on the main island of Jeju were Vitex rotundifolia, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Ischaemum antephoroides, Wedelia prostrata, Elymus mollis, Calystegia soldanella, Artemisia scoparia, and Tetragonia tetragonoides. The DCCA(detrended canonical correspondence analysis) based on the vegetation and environment factor matrix showed that the height and covers of the dominant plant species explain significantly the variation and distribution of coastal sand dune species on Jeju island. Thus, we may propose a plan to restore the coastal dunes of Jeju island as helping colonization and establishment of mainly sand dune native perennials and trees, preserving native plant communities that are declining and preserving present tree strips of Pinus thunbergii, Litsea japonica, Pittosporum tobira and Vitex rotundifolia.

This study developed a model to evaluate the co-benefits and trade-off effects between biodiversity and carbon storage capacity based on the implementation locations of nature-based solutions. The model aims to propose optimal implementation locations by using the conceptual idea of edge effects for carbon storage and connectivity for biodiversity. The co-benefits were considered by simultaneously taking into account two effects rather than a single effect. Trade-off effects were observed among optimal plans through a comparison of benefits. The NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm was utilized, confirming the identification of Pareto-optimal solutions. The implementation patterns of Pareto-optimal solutions for green areas were examined. This study holds significance in proposing optimal locations by evaluating various co-benefits and trade-off effects of nature-based solutions. By advancing models based on this evaluation framework, it is anticipated that the assessment of co-benefits and trade-off effects among various benefits of nature-based solutions, such as climate change mitigation, enhancement of biodiversity, and provision of ecosystem services, can be accomplished.

The loss of biodiversity poses a significant threat not only to business sustainability and investment risk but also to societal well-being. Nature serves as a crucial driver for long-term business viability and economic prosperity. The Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), established in September 2023, mandates that companies assess and disclose their impacts on nature. Despite this, many businesses lack a full understanding of their reliance on and impact upon natural capital and ecosystem services, leading to insufficient disclosures. This study evaluates the applicability of TNFD's assessment methodologies and indicators within a domestic context, highlighting the condition of nature and ecosystem services, and exploring potential synergies with national biodiversity policies. Our analysis suggests that TNFD necessitates a unique approach to the spatial and temporal data and methodologies traditionally employed in environmental impact assessments. This includes assessing the reciprocal influences of corporate activities on natural capital and ecosystem services via the LEAP framework. Moreover, in industries where the choice of specific indicators depends on unique sectoral traits, developing a standardized strategy for data and assessment indicators-adapted to local conditions-is crucial due to the variability in the availability of assessment tools and data. The proactive engagement of the private sector in ecosystem restoration projects is particularly promising for contributing towards national biodiversity objectives. Although TNFD is in its nascent phase, its global adoption by numerous companies signifies its potential impact. Successful implementation of TNFD is anticipated to deepen businesses' and financial institutions' understanding of natural capital and ecosystem services, thereby reinforcing their commitment to sustainable development.