• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2019

This study suggested a vegetation restoration plan for a coastal area where the ecosystem conservation fund return project, targeting the whole area of Dalmaji-gil, located in Haeundae, Busan. After distinguishing if it would be a proper site for the operation of the ecosystem conservation fund return project by analyzing the ecological environment, human environment, and the current status of land owners, the target species for vegetation restoration was determined, and the facilities and programs were selected in accordance with the spatial division of the biosphere reserve. The basic direction is as follows. First, is the expansion of green space and the securement of life habitats downtown. Second, is the conservation of core areas by separating the conserved area from the space for use. Third, is the establishment of ecological resting space and the reinforcement of an ecological educational programs. The significance of this study is to suggest a vegetation restoration plan of a coastal area, fully utilizing the existing vegetation of the subject area, by suggesting the land use and flow planning, environmental improvement (vegetation restoration) plan, life habitats establishment plan, planting plan, and hydrologic plan, facilities, maintenance, and monitoring plan based on the basic direction. This study would provide useful basic data for ecosystem conservation and restoration in the Korean Peninsula, surrounded by the ocean on three sides.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.218-227
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• 2021

Background: Artificial light at night has recently been identified as a major factor adversely affecting global insect diversity. Here, we compared the insect diversity in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve, specifically in the Korea National Arboretum (with no artificial light at night), with that of three nearby urban sites with a gradient of artificial light at night (five locations at each site). We analyzed the effects of the artificial night lighting index, mean annual temperature, and field light intensity (lux) at night on the insect community structure. Results: The urban sites generally exhibited higher species richness and abundance as well as clear indicator species compared with the control site. The size distribution of the collected insects markedly differed between the control and the three urban sites. The abundance of herbivorous and omnivorous insects increased and decreased, respectively, with the increase in light intensity. Species richness of herbivorous and omnivorous insects was likely correlated with the field light intensity at night and artificial night lighting index, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the association between nighttime environment and marked changes in insect community structure and revealed consequent transition of ecosystem services by changes in trophic group composition.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.241-247
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• 2015

A participatory approach of local stakeholders is important to create a balance between nature protection and the sustainable use of natural resources in a nature reserve and its vicinity area. The zoning and management policy of biosphere reserves (BRs) is a good example of this idea, especially for island reserves. Yakushima was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage (WH) in 1993. Almost all of its residents did not remember that Yakushima was a BR. In addition, Yakushima has some problems in nature reserve management. Overabundance of the deer population is a critical threat to both agriculture and natural vegetation in the world heritage site. There are too many tourists visiting the WH site and Nagata-hama beach. The beach is a Ramsar site and one of the most important spawning grounds of sea turtles in the north Pacific. Now, residents and the municipality have decided to reactivate the Yakushima BR. Although the Ministry of the Environment of Japan has an initiative to manage the WH and the Ramsar site, the BR is managed by the municipality and local stakeholders. Local activities of both nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources are encouraged in the BR site. The islanders willingly included all areas of the island into the BR site. Scientists who have participated in the Society of Yakushimaology have played a significant role to build trust between local stakeholders and to seek feasible policies on the nature reserves. The concept of the "Yakushima Environmental Culture Village" is a good model for the extension plan of the Yakushima and Kuchinoerabujima BRs.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2012

Biomass changes, net primary production and transfer dynamics of dry matter in four subtropical humid montane grasslands at Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), the Western Ghats, India, were investigated. Despite the early report of a higher density and dominance of $C_4$ species over $C_3$ species in these grasslands, no functional study of matter production had previously been carried out. Therefore, in order to determine the roles played by these two groups of species, the present study was attempted. The study revealed that the dry matter and net primary production contributed by $C_4$ species were much greater than those of its $C_3$ counterpart in all the grasslands. The turnover rate of aboveground dry matter for both $C_3$ and $C_4$ species was generally rapid, whereas it was slow for belowground parts, and litter components of $C_3$ and $C_4$ species together. In all grasslands, generally about 60% and 10% of the input were channeled to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively, by the $C_4$ species, whereas the $C_3$ species transferred only about 22% and 8% of dry matter to aboveground and belowground parts, respectively. The total disappearance of dry matter was 2.73, 2.10, 3.19, and $1.96\;g\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ in Ebbenadu, Korakundah, Thiashola and Wenlockdown grasslands, which was 48.83%, 44.30%, 54.81%, and 41.09% of the total input, respectively, in these grasslands. This resulted in a considerable surplus dry matter production in all the grasslands studied. This balance sheet of dry matter in community function indicates that all the four studied grasslands were supporting the existing wild animals adequately in terms of pasture supply. The study further revealed that the stronger establishment of $C_4$ species rather than their $C_3$ counterparts, in terms of higher density and dominance, has driven them to play major roles in matter dynamics and system transfer functions in all the four grasslands studied. This fact evidenced that pasture from $C_4$ species for wild animals was determined to be higher in comparison to that of $C_3$ species.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2018

Mites in the family Ascidae are soil dwelling predators of small insects which would have potential to be used as biological control agent. In Korea, 10 genera of 24 species were recorded in the family. During the soil acarine biodiversity study, Asca bicornis Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877 was discovered from moss habitat on Muljangori craer lake 936 m alt in Hallasan mountain in Jeju which was designated as UNESCO Biosphere reserve and World herigate site. We reports this as a new record to Korean Mesostigmata fauna, and provide the morphological description. This species has morphologically characteristic as all dorsal setae nude and needle shaped, lateral caudal projection of Z4 shaped, which are different from the con-general species of A. aphidioides.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4265-4271
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• 2022

Determination of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K and ²¹⁰Po in water, bottom sediments and suspended matter of river systems of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam was carried out. The average activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in waters of Ca Gau and Long Tau was 0.89 ± 0.14 and 1.08 ± 0.15 Bq m^-3 and was comparable to the levels of this radioisotope in waters of the East Sea. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in bottom sediments was 2.23 ± 0.81 and 3.63 ± 1.24 Bq kg^-1. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in water and bottom sediments could be characterized as low. So, the water areas of the Ca Gau and Long Tau rivers could be attributed to areas with insignificant pollution by technogenic radionuclides. The ²¹⁰Po activity concentration in bottom sediments of the Ca Gau and Long Tau rivers ranged from 9.2 ± 1.2 to 25.5 ± 2.1 Bq kg^-1, which is typical for river bottom sediments. Such values indicate the absence of anthropogenic enhancement of the entry of this radionuclide into the Can Gio river systems. The ⁴⁰K activity concentration varied within 467 ± 42-651 ± 39 Bq kg^-1 and represented typical values of potassium content in the bottom sediments of coastal water bodies, subject to a significant influence of the lithogenic component of suspended matter.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.134-143
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• 2017

It has been 15 years since Jeju Island first was designated as one of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve areas. Jeju currently holds 5 UNESCO designations and the UNFAO Globally Important Agricultural Heritage (GIAHS). The 5 UNESCO global heritages that Jeju honors are the World Natural Heritage, Biosphere Reserve, Global Geoparks Network, Chilmeoridanggut Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and JejuHaenyeo ICH. The UNFAO GIAHS that Jeju honors is Jeju Batdam Agricultural Heritage System. Those global titles are highly valued and recognized for environmental preservation and those global designations have attracted more visitors to the island. It is essential to see if Jeju global level heritages are recognized as they deserve attentions from home and abroad yet no holistic analysis on those 6 global level designations as a whole has been progressed to see the perception level among residents and visitors. The study aims to see the perception level of Jeju global Heritages, impact of global recognitions and the channels of the perception level. UNESCO World Natural Heritage and Haenyeo ICH have showed the highest perception level due to designation process and the amount of promotion by the managing division of Jeju municipality. The routine survey as per the result of the study regarding the perception level of those global designations could benefit Jeju tourism direction and help to preserve the island and culture.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-359
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• 2024

To conduct ethnobotanical study that grow wild in biosphere reserves or are traded in nearby traditional markets, we collected and analyzed traditional knowledge information on vascular plants that live in Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla. As a result, the ethnobotanical plants investigated in Mt. Seorak consisted of 102 families and 489 taxa. The ethnobotanical plants investigated in Mt. Halla consisted of 118 families and 374 taxa. Both ethnobotanical plants from Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla were most widely used for oriental medicine and treatment, and leaves were the most used organ. Differences in diversity by family of ethnobotanical plants inhabiting Mt. Seorak and Mt. Halla showed significant differences only in other use. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Mt. Seorak consists of 59 species in 34 families and 56 genera. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Mt. Halla consists of 102 species in 49 families and 94 genera. All ethnobotanical plants traded in traditional markets were most often used for oriental medicine and treatment, and stems were used most often in the traditional market near Mt. Seorak, and leaves were used most often in the traditional market near Mt. Halla.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.272-287
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• 2019

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.109-121
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• 2011

There are three natural conservation systems that UNESCO assigns: World Heritage, Biosphere Reserve and Geopark. Geopark is one of three preservation zones that UNESCO conducts. In this paper I will explain the meaning of a Geopark as well as suggest that one should be set up in Korea. Geotourism is one important aspect of Geopark. Geopark's main purpose is not only for sightseeing but also conservation and understanding the value of nature through geological and geographical features. I have analyzed the local guide's interpretations from a Hongdo Island cruise tour and suggested new way of interpretation for the tour with the concept of Korean Geotourism in mind.