• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.3-19
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• 2014

Large-scale unband development resulted from the rapid economic growth in the Republic of Korea has brought about the habitat destruction for the native animals and plants living in forest and farmland. In order to resolve this problem, it is necessary to consider the natural ecosystem as an organism and to preserve the natural ecosystem by managing ecologically significant habitat consistently. Especially, the local governments should be able to establish regional ecologic networks in consideration of the ecological connectivity and the environmental and ecological excellence, and to reflect them into the local development plans. In regard to this, the methods of the regional ecological network establishment was presented, making use of the results including the national ecological network which assessed the ecological connectivity of the nation and the environmental and ecological assessment results of the Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map which was designed to analyze and assess the national environmental and ecological values quantitatively. Making use of the case of Gyeongsangnam-do; the results presented that the existing national ecological network in the core region has expanded from $2,986km^2$ to $4,049km^2$ and the existing national ecological network in the buffer region has expanded from $2,940km^2$ to $3,006km^2$. Referring to the regional ecological network in the process of the local development plans could contribute to the increase in biodiversity and the integrated local environmental management including the ecosystem preservation.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1278-1295
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• 2014

The Sixteenth Meeting of the Conferences of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which was held in March 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, listed five shark species and one genus, and uplisted one sawfish species. All new species listings will be come into force of the eighteen months delay, on the fourteenth of September, 2014. The purpose of the delay is to support the preparation of the domestic measures on shark trade by the parties, as there has been no previous experience in trading the commercially exploited aquatic species in the CITES. The CITES Secretary-General has visited several potential shark trade countries to encourage and facilitate the implementation of the new CITES listings. The newly listed sharks have been caught as a target or non-target species by Korean distant water fisheries and introduced into Korea. So the establishment or change of the domestic laws, regulations, and measures for the implementation of the new CITES species must be prepared before the effective entry date. This paper is prepared to assess the effects of the trade of the CITES listed shark species, and to suggest effective government service measures for the management of Korean distant water fisheries. The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is the general Management Authority of the CITES, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is in charge of the medical trade of CITES listed species in Korea. By law, all imported medicines and medical materials must be inspected by the MFDS during the customs examination; this kind of authority sharing is reasonable and effective way of providing government service. Similarly, the designation of new CITES Management Authority for the trade of commercially exploited aquatic CITES species is critical and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), which is now in charge of the trade of fisheries products, is the most appropriate governing body for this purpose in Korea. The revision of the National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks, initially submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2011 as a practical guideline for shark conservation in all Korean fisheries, could be a effective measure to achieve unification of conservation of endangered species and sustainable use of fisheries stocks. The proper CITES measures for the trade of listed species, such as the establishment of the documenting system for Non-detriment Findings, domestic measures suitable for the "Introduction from the Sea" clause, species specific Harmonized System Codes for the customs service, and an effective shark catch data reporting system should be in place prior to the fourteenth of September 2014.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2020

This study characterized the spatial and seasonal patterns of light pollution in the Deogyusan National Park and examined the potential effects of light pollution on ecosystems in the park using light intensities derived from VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) DNB (Day and Night Band) nightlight images collected in January and August 2018. Results showed that the Muju Deogyusan resort had the greatest light intensity than other sources of light pollution in the park, and light intensity of the resort was much higher in January than in August, suggesting that artificial lights in ski slopes and facilities were the major source of light pollution in the park. An analysis of an urban-natural light pollution gradient along a neighboring urban area through the inside of the park indicated that light radiated from a light pollution source permeated for up to 1km into the adjacent area and contaminated the edge area of the park. Of the legally protected species whose distributions were reported in literature, four mammals (Martes flavigula, Mustela nivalis, Prionailurus bengalensis, Pteromys volans aluco), two birds (Falco subbuteo, Falco tinnunculus), and nine amphibians and reptiles (Onychodactylus koreanus, Hynobius leechii, Karsenia koreana, Rana dybowskii, Rana huanrenensis, Elaphe dione, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Gloydius ussuriensis, Gloydius saxatilis) inhabited light-polluted areas. Of those species inhabiting light-polluted areas, nocturnal species, such as Prionailurus bengalensis and Pteromys volans aluco, in particular, were vulnerable to light pollution. These results implied that protecting ecosystems from light pollution in national parks requires managing nighttime light in the parks and surrounding areas and making a plan to manage nighttime light pollution by taking into account ecological characteristics of wild animals in the parks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.4
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• pp.493-512
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data necessary for establishing a vegetation management plan for the Yeongcheon River area by presenting a better understanding of the distribution and characteristics of naturalized plants through an investigation of the flora present in the Yeongcheon riverside, in Jinju, South Korea. Vascular plants were investigated for a total of 470 taxa, including 90 families, 282 genera, 425 species, one sub-species, 38 varieties, and six forms. Together, these accounted for 9.62% of the vascular plants (4,881 species) in Korea. Gramineae was the most abundant at 77 taxa (16.38%), followed by Cyperaceae at 56 taxa (11.91%), Leguminosae at 33 taxa (7.02%), Cyperaceae at 25 taxa (5.32%), and Rosaceae at 22 taxa (4.86%). Thirty species of indicator plants were surveyed and, among them, annual plants and hemicryptophytes accounted for a significantpercentage. Among ground plants, trees, shrubs, and sub-shrubs were surveyed to include 23 (4.89%), 17 (3.61%), and 14 taxa (2.97%), respectively. Furthermore, 36 aquatic plant taxa were found. Six rare plant taxa were surveyed including Penthorum chinense, Melothria japonica, Aristolochia contorta, Acorus calamus, Millettia japonica, and Magnolia kobus. Floristic special plants comprised 35 taxa,including 26 families, 34 genera, 34 species, and one variety. Plants endemic to Korea included six species. Naturalized plant species comprised 71 taxa, including 18 families, 53 genera, 68 species, and three varieties. The naturalization rate and urbanization index were 15.1% and 22.1%, respectively. Ecological disturbance species in Korea comprised nine taxa, including four families, eight genera, eight species, and one variety. These groups accounted for 64% of the ecological disturbance species in Korea. Ecological disturbance species in Korea tended to increase toward the downstream of Yeongcheon River. In particular, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Sicyos angulatus, which cause human allergies and disrupt the habitats of plants and animals, must be removed artificially.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2012

After having announced legislation for threatened or endangered species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants in 2005, the Korea Ministry of Environment proposed (in June 2011) amending the list, thereby delisting or reclassifying endangered species using new quantitative criteria for two levels (I and II), as well as status reviews. The new legislation included 40 species remained in their original endangered status, but 19 species were delisted, 5 species were proposed as candidates for delisting, 29 species were given a new endangered listing, and 3 species were proposed for an endangered listing in Korea. We assessed the threatened status of 98 plants using the IUCN Red List Criteria (version 3.1) at the global level, and compared the Ministry's revised criteria with the IUCN Red List Criteria and ESA criteria used in the USA. Most species proposed by the Ministry do not qualify as threatened and one of the major difficulties found in applying IUCN Red List Criteria at the global scale was a lack of knowledge on the status of species at broader geographic scales and the perceived difficulty this causes. Under the current classification process, many endangered species, such as Abeliophyllum distichum, Leontice microrhyncha, Echinosophora koreensis, Leontopodium coreanum, Iris odaesanensis, and Corylopsis coreana at global level were excluded here. Knowledge gaps and uncertainties mean that the number of taxa at high risk of extinction may be substantially greater than is currently understood. Due to a lack of information on its taxonomic status, currently there is controversy over the Red List status of Physocarpus insularis. Also, Caragana koreana, which was an invalidly published name, should be excluded here. Although the Korea Ministry of Environment insisted this procedure was conducted by applying the modified IUCN threat categories and definitions, this evaluation has been carried out based only on subjective views and misapplication of the IUCN Red List Criteria. The current listings by the Korea Ministry of Environment should be challenged. We suggest that broad species concepts on endemic species are applied and also criteria that adequately address the proper quantitative knowledge should be used. It is suggested that the highest priorities for the Red List should be given to endemic species at least in the Korean peninsula first at global scale.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.694-706
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to offer the raw data for conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystem by surveying and analysing a water quality, sediment, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish and hydrophyte in Junam reservoir. In the result of analysing the water quality, pH was 8.2~8.4, 6.0~7.5mg/${\ell}$ in COD, 10.0~10.3mg/${\ell}$ in SS, 8.3~11.5mg/${\ell}$ in DO, 0.1mg/${\ell}$ in T-P and 1.2~1.3mg/${\ell}$ in T-N. In case of the sediments, Cd was 0.47~0.52mg/kg, 7.08~7.43mg/kg in Cu, 0.22~0.32mg/kg in As, 0.02~0.03mg/kg in Hg, 6.20~7.45mg/kg in Pb, 32.80~39.70mg/kg in Ni, 513.0~543.0mg/kg in F and 137.0~140.0mg/kg in Zn. $Cr^{6+}$ was not detected. The benthic macroinvertebrates were 432 individuals including 3 phyla, 5 classes, 9 orders, 26 families, 33 genera and 39 species, and the ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrate community(ESB) was 25. The fishes were 8 families and 14 species, and the invasive alien species were 2 taxa including Micropterus salmoids and Lepomis macrochirus. The hydrophytes were 63 taxa including 28 families, 42 genera, 56 species, 1 subspecies and 6 varieties. The emergent plants were 38 taxa(60.3%), 5 taxa(7.9%) in floating-leaved plants and each 10 taxa(15.9%) in free-floating plants and submerged plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.498-511
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• 2012

Mountainous wetland have many species such as II grade endangered species of wild flora and fauna(Drosera rotundifolia) and environmental indicator species(Utricularia racemosa, Habenaria linearifolia, Parnassia palustris, Molinia japonica, etc.). Accordingly, the mountainous wetlands is very important. However, most mountainous wetlands will disappear by natural or artificial aridness processes. Thus, it needs to manage mountainous wetland for protecting from aridness. This study has found out the wetland status of the environmental ecology and aridness processes moreover, it has suggested ways of improving wetland conservation plan and wetland aridness management plan. According to the results of topography structure survey, Hwaeom wetland's altitude is ranged within 750~810m(87.4%), and slope is less than $10^{\circ}$. There was ideally suited mountainous wetland. However, the water supply(1.6 meters depth and 0.8 meters wide) was built on under the wetland. For that reason, there was concerned about the aridness processes by sweeping away peat layer and dropping the water level. The distribution area of hygrophyte was narrowed to 6.7% whereas, woody plants and xerophytic plants was achieved a dominant position. If it leaves the situation as it is, the mountainous wetland will be developed next succession as forest ecosystem. Therefore, in order to sustain the mountainous wetland from aridness, it is set to the base direction of conservation and management as main schemes. Moreover, we have suggested that setting the vegetation conservation and management area which considering a ecological vegetation characteristics, managing the ecotone vegetation, setting the buffer zone for protection of ecological core areas, protecting the mountainous wetland indicator species and designating the management vegetation. In conclusion, in order to sustain and maintain a soundly wetland ecosystem, it needs to several management of wetlands damage factors. 1) suppression of the excessive groundwater to basin, 2) stabilization of wetland via hydrologic storage, 3) suppression of changing and transforming wetland into forest by succession via management of xerophytic plants.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.162-181
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the current status of both exotic and naturalized plants in the designated Cultural Preservation Area located in Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do in order to identify traditional cultural places and to provide basic information to prepare a conservation strategy. The vascular plant species was identified as having 114 taxa: 50 families, 93 genera, 94 species, 16 varieties and 4 forms in King Sejong's Prince Taesil. Among them are 15 taxa of the exotic plant species and 16 taxa of naturalized plant species, which resulted in 14.04% of the Naturalization Rate and 5.90% of the Urbanization Index. The vascular plant species was identified as 68 taxa: 40 families, 64 genus, 57 species, 8 varieties and 4 forms in the Seongju Hyanggyo. Among them, the exotic plants recorded 17 taxa with 30 taxa of naturalized plants. The Naturalization Rate was 44.12% and Urbanization Index was 11.07%. The Seongbaksup, which was a grove outside of the Seongju Fortress recorded 61 taxa: 34 families, 58 genera, 55 species, 5 varieties and 1 form. Among them, the exotic plant species consisted of 10 taxa with 17 taxa of naturalized plants, with a 27.87% Naturalization Rate and a 6.27% Urbanization Index. The vascular plant species was recorded as 230 taxa: 92 families, 183 genus, 182 species, 1 subspecies, 32 varieties and 14 forms in Hangae Village. Among them, exotic plants consist of 28 taxa with 85 naturalized plant species, with a Naturalization Rate of 37.12% and Urbanization Index of 31.37%. The vascular plant species in the Seongsan Ancient Tomb is recorded as having 131 taxa: 55 families, 107 genus, 106 species 19 varieties and 6 forms. Among them, exotic plants consist of 18 classifications, and naturalized plants consist of 22 classifications with a Naturalization Rate of 16.79% and an Urbanization Index of 8.12%. The Seongju Hangyo recorded the highest Naturalization Rate among all surveyed sites in Hangae Village. All five of these surveyed sites will require a management plan to eradicate both exotic and naturalized plant species. Hangae Village especially needs to prepare a management plan. The invasion of ragweed in Seongju Hanggyo and Hangae Village, which is one of the most invasive plant species to disturb the ecosystem, is in need of management to eradicate it.