• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.586-594
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• 2017

This study was carried out to identify the potential protected areas recognized by experts to conform to the international definition of protected areas for effective implementation of CBD Aichi Target-11. A policy forum of 13 experts on the protected area was formed and conducted four forums, two surveys, and examination in the context of international perspective to identify four potential protected areas including the water source protection area, riparian buffer zone, fishery resources protected area, and urban natural park area. Excluding the existing protected areas, the total size of the potential protected areas was about $5,643.9km^2$ composed of the terrestrial areas of $3,117.9km^2$ and the marine areas of $2,526km^2$. As such, we can expect the expansion of coverage of national protected areas by up to 3.11% of the terrestrial land and up to 0.67% of the terrestrial marine area. This study is meaningful in that it provides the fundamental information to achieve the national target of protected areas in response to CBD Aichi Target-11. Further research on improving the protected areas qualitatively and quantitatively and identifying and linking with other effective regional OECM are required to enhance the national protected area system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

This study compared and reviewed the recognition determinants by applying the OECMs criteria, focusing on old big trees, plant of natural monument that are natural heritage under the national heritage system of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and the results are as follows. First, among the protected areas designated and managed by government agencies according to each protection purpose, it is necessary to actively introduce new conservation measures, OECMs, to fulfill the Biodiversity strategy for 2030 while the land area is already saturated. Second, the OECMs are geographically defined areas(CBD, 2018), not currently recognized as a protected areas, governed and managed in a way that achieves positived sustained and effective contribution to in situ conservation of biodiversity. Since the selection of term, the scope of application criteria, and the context of interpretation are inevitably different, it is necessary to separately legislate and establish related laws of the OECMs suitable for each country's situation. Third, as a result of reviewing the OECMs criteria for plant of natural monument, the final 58 potential resources were recognized. Important elements among the OECMs criteria are that buffer zones should be spaced apart from designated zones to secure a certain area, and that economic activities through commercial production should not occur and meet biodiversity standards. Among the potential candidates, 23 areas were analyzed to be geographically isolated and independent, such as Forest of Oriental Arborvitae in Do-dong, Daegu, and forest types such as Carstor Aralia of Gungchon-ri, Samcheok and Forest of Common Camellias in Maryang-ri, Seocheon. As a result of reviewing the application of OECMs criteria for plant of natural monument, it was confirmed that the functions as a traditional uses were specialized among the values of biodiversity, and ecosystem services and cultural and spiritual values were inherited through Korea's unique culture of old big trees and Dangsan ritual. In terms of biodiversity criteria, it can be used as an important factor in connecting human and natural ecosystem networks without the discovery of new species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.601-609
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• 2020

This study aims to draw suggestions for establishing the Post-2020 national policy direction and goals related to protected areas in Korea by analyzing the trends of major discussion issues on protected areas in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and reviewing the achievement progress of the Aichi target-11. Regarding the CBD decisions on protected areas, two decisions (Decisions II/7 and II/8) were adopted in 1995, and then the Program of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA), which presented an ideal blueprint for protected areas, was adopted at the 7th Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2004. At the 10th COP in 2010, the "Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Target" (Decision X/2) was adopted along with the Decision X/31, which presented ten key issues related to protected areas. The global outcomes of the Aichi Target-11 include 15% of the earth's land area and 7.4% of the ocean being designated as protected areas. In Korea, 16.63% of the land and 2.12% of the ocean have been designated as protected areas. However, the outcomes of the effective and equitable management, protection of areas important to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and identifying "Other effective area-based conservation measures" (OECMs) and linking them with protected areas have been found to be significantly short of global goals. The first draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Post-2020 GBF) prepared in January 2020 presented multi-step objectives. They included protecting at least 60% of particularly important sites for biodiversity through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, at least 30% of the entire land and sea areas, and at least 10% of them under strict protection by 2030. The Updated Zero drafted in August 2020 concisely set out one quantitative goal of at least 30% of the globe by 2030, adding qualitative goals that these areas should be protected and conserved through "well connected and effective system of protected areas and OECMs at least 30 % of the planet with the focus on areas particularly important for biodiversity." Based on the draft Post-2020 GBF's targets related to protected areas and Korea's national targets reflecting the current state of Korea and established national plans, we suggest the national targets "to protect and conserve at least 30% of the land area and 10% of the marine area and to strengthen the means of qualitative achievement by establishing sub-targets through an effective system of protected areas and OECMs by 2030.".

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2022

This study was conducted to perform efficient conservation and management by classifying the types of wetlands distributed in forests of Korea and assigning grades according to the evaluation system from 2015 until 2019. From 2005 to 2014, 1,264 sites derived from the first national forest wetland survey and 16 additional excavated sites were classified and also evaluated 455 out of a total of 1,280 forest wetlands. Forest wetlands are divided into four types: natural type, abandoned paddy field type, man-made type, and modified type, and by reclassifying them in detail, a total of 11 detailed wetland types could be distinguished. Based on this, evaluation was performed according to various items such as plants and ecology, hydrology and hydrology, humanities and society, and the degree of disturbance was graded. As a result, the forest wetland value was sorted at 30 A- grade sites, high-value B-grade 201 sites, moderate C-grade 184 sites, and low-value D-grade 40 sites. Forest Genetic Resource Reserve (FGRR) and other effective area -based conservation measures (OECMs) were designated for 231 sites that received a high grade of A or B, and a long-term monitoring system should be established to systematically conserve forest biodiversity hotspot. It is judged that wetlands need to be managed more effectively and at the national level.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.27-46
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• 2023

This study examines the possibility of applying Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to natural heritage sites that are not designated as protected areas for the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Firstly, the study investigated the ecological and cultural characteristics associated with a natural heritage site, specifically the natural monument known as Dangsanmok, and synthesized the collected information to assess its conservation value. Subsequently, the study examined the possibility of designating Dangsanmok as an OECM that reflects local communities through the criteria of the IUCN's individual assessment tools. The research findings indicate that Dangsanmok and the associated Dangsanje system are positively evaluated as potential OECMs. Additionally, initiatives such as the "Dangsan Tree Grandfather Program" and the "National Heritage Folk Event Grant Program," implemented by the Cultural Heritage Administration, are seen to have a positive impact on engaging local communities voluntarily. Consequently, based on these results, it is expected that natural heritage sites like Dangsanmok, serving as national indicators, will contribute to the 2030 goals for biodiversity conservation and the 2050 goals for harmonious coexistence with nature as part of NBSAPs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.93-105
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• 2017

This study aims to establish the integrated system of national protected areas by identifying OECMs which are not officially recognized as protected areas, but effectively and enduringly deliver the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem service to expand them up to the level recommended by the international community. In order to identify them, candidates for OECMs were listed and it was developed a three-step systematic screening tool based on preconditions, essential characteristics, and sustainable means for conservation outcome of them. As a result of using the tool that considers domestic conditions, seven areas which included Development Restriction Zones, Urban Natural Park Areas, Fishery Resources Protection Zones, Riparian Zones, Natural Recreation Forest Zones, Water Source Protection Areas, and Buffer Zones for Korea National Arboretum were selected as OECMs. And the system of national protected areas was built by integrating them with national protected areas(NPA). Compared with the NPA, the system has been expanded by them and has reached to 17.88%, exceeding the target of 17% for terrestrial and inland water protections. It was proven that they were very effective in enlarging these protections. However, it failed to contribute to the target for marine protections. The expansion of marine protected areas requires different approaches, such as discovering new types of marine protected areas or linking them to biologically important marine areas all over the world.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2022

This study aims to systematically review the candidate types for OECMs suitable for domestic conditions in areas related to the Korea Forest Service in order to achieve the goal of establishing the protected areas and OECMs system required by Post-2020 GBF, and to provide basic data for the establishment of the national protected areas system. As a result of the study, the selection criteria for OECMs were presented, and it was found that arboretums·botanical gardens, Natural Recreation Forests, and air holes may correspond to the Candidate Types for OECMs. As a result of evaluating the possible areas for OECMs based on the OECMs selection criteria, in the case of arboretums·botanical gardens, it is judged that only conservation areas can be designated as OECMs, except for areas mainly used by visitors of arboretums·botanical gardens that fall under the BGCI conservation type among national and public arboretums·botanical gardens. However, private and school arboretums·botanical gardens have personal property ownership, so it was judged to have no effective measures to control activities that may adversely affect biodiversity, which showed limitations in designation of OECMs. Natural Recreation Forests was found to meet the OECMs selection criteria. However, private forests have personal property ownership, which limits the designation of OECMs. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the function of in-situ conservation in order to meet the OECMs for private and school arboretums·botanical gardens, and private forests that have personal property ownership. To this end, effective measures are needed to achieve biodiversity conservation outcomes, and it is judged that legal control and corresponding support policies (incentives) are needed. In the case of air holes, for sustainable conservation, the management boundary of air holes should be clearly defined based on the preparation of laws and guidelines related to air holes. In addition, it is judged that it is desirable to designate the competent local forest office as the management authority and conduct periodic detailed surveys of air holes, establish and implement the conservation plans based on those.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

By delivering effective, in-situ conservation of biodiversity, OECMs can contribute to sustaining existing biodiversity values and improving biodiversity conservation outcomes. In this study, for the reporting of OECMs required by Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the site-level assessment of the Korea National Arboretum and Buffer Zones were conducted using the assessment tool of IUCN. The site-level assessment was carried out in three steps(step 1: screening, step 2 : consent for full assessment, step 3 : the full assessment). It was found that the criteria were satisfied except for the consent for full assessment, sustainability of governance and management arrangements, and the equity of governance and management. Although the governing authority, rights-holders or any other stakeholders could be identified, the step of acknowledging and agreeing to the full OECM assessment was not possible because the governance was not established. As a result of the assessment of equitable governance and management in the aspect of recognition, procedure, and distribution based on criterion(the equity of governance and management), it is judged that more specific measures are needed in the aspect of recognition. And in the aspect of procedure, there is no legal basis for participation in governance and collection of opinions, so it is judged that there is a limit to listening and reflecting the opinions of stakeholders. In the aspect of distribution, it is necessary to further confirm whether it provides direct benefits to rights-holders such as landowners in the region. And it is necessary to prepare specific criteria to assess the important biodiversity values. Therefore, in order to promote OECM reporting in the future, it is necessary to conduct detailed research on various types of governance establishment and operation plans that can establish the basis for recognizing and agreeing to OECM assessment, specific criteria and reasonable measures to judge equity, and important biodiversity value.