This study was conducted to support for determining an efficient sampling design for forest resources assessments in South Korea with respect to statistical efficiency. For this objective, different systematic sampling designs were simulated and compared based on an artificial forest population that had been built from field sample data and satellite data in Yang-Pyeong County, Korea. Using the k-NN technique, two thematic maps (growing stock and forest cover type per pixel unit) across the test area were generated; field data (n=191) and Landsat ETM+ were used as source data. Four sampling designs (systematic sampling, systematic sampling for post-stratification, systematic cluster sampling, and stratified systematic sampling) were employed as optimum sampling design candidates. In order to compute error variance, the Monte Carlo simulation was used (k=1,000). Then, sampling error and relative efficiency were compared. When the objective of an inventory was to obtain estimations for the entire population, systematic cluster sampling was superior to the other sampling designs. If its objective is to obtain estimations for each sub-population, post-stratification gave a better estimation. In order to successfully perform this procedure, it requires clear definitions of strata of interest per field observation unit for efficient stratification.

Hyoscyamus species is sources of the hypnotic and sedative drugs hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Single cells of Hyoscyamus niger were dissociated from suspension cultures and adventitious roots obtained from single-cell clones which were cultured on B5 medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose, 0.1 mg/L IBA and 0.4% (w/v) gelrite. H. niger adventitious root lines showed wide variation in tropane alkaloids production and growth. An effective selection of 200 root lines was made possible by the application of the 'Dragendorff's reagent' for qualitative detection of the alkaloids from root. A high correlation coefficient (r=0.9390) was observed between the values obtained with the two methods based on HPLC and Dragendorff's reagent analysis. Among the selected roots, the highest scopolamine content was 16.64 mg/g DW (Hn-59), which was 8.82-fold more productive than the lowest alkaloid producing line (Hn-25). Here, we established an efficient selection method on tropane alkaloids production and suggest that the Dragendorff's reagent is of great practical value in selection of invisible compounds.

The objective of this study is to know market structures of softwood logs being imported to South Korea from log producing countries. Import demand of softwood logs imported to South Korea from America, New Zealand and Chile is fixed as a function of log prices, the lagged dependent variable and output. On the basis of the adaptive expectations model, linear regression models that the explanatory variables included and the lagged dependent variable were estimated by Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equations (SURE). The short-run and long-run own price elasticity of America's softwood log import demand is -1.738 and -4.250 respectively. Then long-run elasticity is much higher than short-run elasticity. Short-run and long-run crosselasticity of New Zealand's softwood log import demand with respect to American's softwood log import price are inelastic at 0.505 and 0.883 respectively. Short-run and long-run cross-elasticity of Chile's softwood log import demands with respect to American's softwood log import prices were highly elastic at 2.442 and 4.462 respectively. Long-run elasticity was almost twice as high as short-run elasticity.

Nebkhas are widely distributed in farming-pastoral zones, typical grassland and desert margins. In the southeast of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, it is mainly distributed at the leeward of cultivated land and alluvial fan, severe deterioration rangeland and around residential points. Through the field measurement and statistical analysis of Caragana microphylla Lam. Nebkhas morphological parameters (length, width and height of Nebkhas are included), the results show that there were close correlations between the Nebkhas morphological parameters. The ranges of height and width of Nebkhas changed dramatically and have reached up to 11.44 m and 7.97 m respectively, however, the change range of height was relatively smaller and just 1.09 m. The morphological parameters change of the same type Nebkhas in the same region was large ranging from 0.56 m in height, 3.56 m in width to 6.96 m in length, while the morphological characteristics of the same type Nebkhas in different regions were much similar. A correlation between length and width was significantly positive, but the correlations between height and length, and between height and width were much more complicated. It can be concluded that the Nebkhas in Zhengxiangbai Banner and Taipusi Banner were at the initially growing stage, while the Nebkhas in Huade County belonged to a transitional stage from the growing phase to the stabilizing phase. The changing regularity of distance between Nebkhas in along-wind direction was not consistent.

This study examines the relationships between visitors' environmental attitudes as measured by the new environmental paradigm (NEP) and their recreational motivations based on data collected from a national park in South Korea. The data analysis indicated that visitors' environmental attitudes and motivation were multi-dimensional structures. The NEP composed of three factors named 'Humans over Nature', 'Balance of Nature', and Limit to Growth'. Visitors' motivation also composed of four factors representing 'Achievement and Stimulation', 'Escape and Enjoying Nature', 'Social and Leadership', and 'Family'. However, there were significant correlations among the factors, suggesting they were independent each other. There were also significant differences in visitors' motivation due to their level of environmental attitudes.

There are remarkable differences in growth and morphological characters of roots between mountain and field cultivated Panax ginseng. Growth of root in mountain cultivated ginseng was much slower than that of field cultivated ginseng. However, the factor affecting the retarded growth in mountain ginseng was not known. Soil analysis revealed that phosphorus (P) content of mountain soil was exceptionally low at least ten-fold lower compared to that of field soil. Thus, we suggest that low availability of P in mountain soil may be one of the limiting factors for growth of ginseng in mountain soil environment. We had monitored the growth of ginseng plants after one and three years of phosphate fertilizer application. Three kinds of phosphate fertilizers: fused magnesium phosphate, fused superphosphate, and single superphosphate were applied to mountain soil. Application of phosphate fertilizers increased the fresh-, dry weight, and diameter of ginseng roots and resulted in increased P accumulation in roots. These results demonstrate that slow growth of ginseng in mountain soil environment might be attributed to the low P content in mountain soil. Thus, analysis of P amount in mountain soil will be a good indicator for the selection of suitable site the ginseng cultivation in forest.

A new mixed-effects model was developed that predicts individual-tree total height for Pinus densiflora trees in Gangwon province as a function of individual-tree diameter (cm). The mixed-effects model contains two random-effects parameters. Maximum likelihood estimation was used to fit the model to 560 height-diameter observations of individual trees measured throughout Gwangwon province in 2007 as part of the National Forest Inventory Program in Korea. The new model is an improvement over fixed-effects models because it can be calibrated to a local area, such as an inventory plot or individual stand. The new model also appears to be an improvement over the Forest Resources Evaluation and Prediction Program for the ten calibration trees used in this study. An example is provided that describes how to estimate the random-effects parameters using ten calibration trees.

It is necessary to determine the amount of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) absorbed by plants and released from forest floor into atmosphere, to gain a better understanding how forests participate in the global carbon cycle. Soil $CO_2$ efflux, litter production, and decomposition were investigated in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora stands in the vicinity of Gwangju, Chonnam province. Soil $CO_2$ efflux was measured using Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA) at midday of the 10th day at every month over 12-month period, to quantify seasonal and annual budgets of soil $CO_2$ efflux. Soil temperature and soil moisture were measured at the same time. Seasonal soil $CO_2$ efflux in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora were the highest in summer season. In August, maximum soil $CO_2$ efflux in Q. variabilis and P. densiflora was 7.49, $4.61CO_2{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. Annual $CO_2$ efflux in each stand was 1.77, $1.67CO_2kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$ respectively. Soil $CO_2$ efflux increased exponentially with soil temperature and related strongly in Q. variabilis ($r^2$=0.96), and in P. densiflora ($r^2$=0.91). Litter production continued throughout the year, but showed a peak on November and December. Annual litter production in the Q. variabilis and P. densiflora stands were $613.7gdw{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ and $550.5gdw{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$.$yr^{-1}$, respectively. After 1 year, % remaining mass of Q. variabilis and P. densiflora litter was 48.2, 57.1%, respectively. The soil $CO_2$ efflux rates in this study showed clear seasonal variations. In addition, the temporal variation in the $CO_2$ efflux rates was closely related to the soil temperature fluctuation rather than to variations in the soil moisture content. The range of fluctuation of soil $CO_2$ efflux and litter decomposition rate showed similar seasonal changes. The range of fluctuation of soil $CO_2$ efflux and litter decomposition rate was higher during summer and autumn than spring and winter.

This study was conducted to evaluate spatial distribution pattern and spatial association of crowns (${\geq}10m$ of height) and saplings (<10 m of height and ${\geq}2cm$ of DBH) for four major tree species (Pinus koraiensis, Abies nephrolepis, Acer mono, and Tilia amurensis) in the mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest of Xiaoxing'an Mts. Vegetation data were collected in the 9 ha permanent sample plot, and the analysis adopted the point pattern analysis method. Main results are as follows; 1) crowns and saplings of major species showed clumped distribution pattern in small scale, became random distribution as the scale was increased. 2) Saplings of Pinus koraiensis performed poor regeneration under the crowns of Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis; Saplings of Abies nephrolepis did good regeneration under the crowns of Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis; and crowns of Acer mono and Tilia amurensis had little effect on the distribution of saplings of Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis. Saplings of Acer mono and Tilia amurensis made good regeneration under the crowns of Pinus koraiensis and Tilia amurensis; and the crowns of Acer mono and Abies nephrolepis had little effect on the distribution of saplings of Acer mono.

We studied bird communities among in rice field (46 plots), short grallland (47plot), and tall grass mixed shrub (21 plots) during dry season, January 2007 in Boeung Prek Lapouv (BPL) Important Bird Area, Mekong Delta, Cambodia using the point-count method. Water depth, vegetation height and shrub density were significantly different among the three study areas. We recorded, 60 bird species, of which 13 differed significantly among habitats. Landbirds such as Grey-breasted Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii) and Oliver-black Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) were much more abundant (P<0.0001) in the tall grass mixed shrub, whereas the Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), herons and egrets were more abundant in the short grass (P<0.05). Bird species richness and species abundances were not significantly different among habitats. Bird species diversity (H') was higher in grasslands than in rice fields. Mosaic habitat matrix, such as rice field, short grass, and tall grass mixed shrub, should be maintained for the extend and quality of wetlands, and the prevailing human-land use patterns, appear adequate and conductive for waterbirds in the Mekong Delta, Cambodia.

The study was conducted to examine consumers' awareness and perceptions on forest certification and their willingness to buy and pay price premium for certified wood products especially for selected four wood products. A total of 136 residents in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were interviewed in the autumn of 2008. Although only 24.3 percent of the consumers are aware of forest certification, 82.4 percent of the respondents recognized the need and significance of forest certification. In general, 77.2 percent of the respondents were willing to buy certified wood products. Majority of the respondents, 84 out of 136 respondents (61.8%) expressed their willingness to pay (WTP) from more than 0 percent to less than 10 percent. Consumers' average WTP for certified wood products was estimated to be 5.6 percent. From the results of the study, lower priced wood products, such as copier paper (WTP=9.8%) and wood frame (WTP=11.6%), have higher price premiums than high priced products, such as wood table (WTP=6.8%) and wood flooring (WTP=7.6%). In conclusion, there could be feasible markets for certified wood products in South Korea as four out of five consumer are willing to pay more for such products. For the forest certification system to be adopted and widely accepted, the perceptions of forest stakeholders including consumers should be further increased.