• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.135-159
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• 2014

Industrial insect is defined as the insect utilized in industries that creates added value. Most of the industrial insects used in Korea are exotic species that are introduced through artificial means. Despite the rapid expansion of market for industrial insects, the system for risk assessment of industrial insects is not being adequately conducted. Although Korea carries out a risk assessment for the species designated as disease and insect pest by Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, far too little consideration is being given to overall ecosystem, as the control system is covered in the Plant Quarantine Law. To solve this problem, we analyzed the Korean risk assessment system and looked at systems in other countries. The results show that it is essential for stakeholders to reach an agreement to set up fundamental directions for the system. Unless the integration system of taxonomical and ecological information is prepared, the ecological risk assessment should be conservative to protect ecosystems and should also follow the precautionary principle. It also requires cooperation among the ministries. In addition, the results indicated that a differentiation between risk assessment and screening is urgent. Several solutions such as setting up clear objectives in both assessment and screening stages, target species, steering organization and assessment criteria assessment systems from were proposed as practical institutional strategies. Among many foreign countries the assessment system from Ireland equally considers various factors such as economical, ecological safety and management aspects, It is also based on precautionary principle to fulfil its original purpose. It was suggested that the Ireland system would be the best reference that can be modified and applied into the Korean system by considering distinct characteristics of the industrial insects.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2021

This study targets the city of Paju, Gyeonggi-do, where many challenges are facing ecological assets management due to the increase in recent development. Using the survey data provided by the National Institute of Ecology in Korea, the study analysed the differences in the local residents' perception of local ecological assets. The Q methodology, which is useful for revealing differences in opinions, was applied to classify the narrative groups, which had different points of view in evaluating each asset. Next, the study compared the differences in perceptions of the vulnerability of ecological assets. As a result of the analysis, the city of Paju was divided into two main narrative groups: a 'Nature Conservation Group' and a 'Heritage Conservation Group'. The Nature Conservation Group wanted to prioritize ecologically valuable assets, such as wetlands, brackish zones, and forests. The Heritage Conservation Group preferred preserving ecological assets having a cultural contexts, such as royal tombs, graves, and the surrounding landscape. Evaluating the ecological assets, the two groups identified 23 ecological sites under threat from development among the 25 ecological sites considered. The Nature Conservation Group noted the importance of sites such as the Sannam Wetlands, Gongneungcheon, Gongneungcheon Brackish Zone, and Simhak Mountain. These were considered to be the most vulnerable ecological assets in the city. The study found differences in the perceived values for each ecological asset by residents. The results can serve as useful data for decision-making on ecological asset management in the city of Paju.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.15-26
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• 1998

In order to assess the present status of the fragmentation of ecosystem and the building of ecological corridor, 79 EISs(Environment Impact Statements) which were conducted in Kyunggido and Kangwondo have been reviewed using 36 analysing factor. The results obtained from this study were as follows: a. The most frequently appearing type of ecosystem fragmentation was 'mountain vs. mountain type in topography' and '2 vs. 2 grades in the degree of green naturality.' b. The most frequently listed fauna in EISs included squirrels and wild rabbits for mammals, grass snake and pit viper for reptiles, and tree frog and true tree frog for amphibians. c. Among the EISs for 50 projects, the construction of ecological corridor mentioned in only 4 projects and other structures such as drainage duct and closed conduit in 14 projects were suggested as ecological corridor. There were no corridors suggested in 32 projects. Thus, in case of using other structures for wildlife animals but ecological corridors, it should be accompanied by incidental facilities for including animal movement.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.251-269
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• 2018

In 1997, the environmental score (Q) corresponding the tolerance value of Korean benthic macroinvertebrate species and the related biotic score, the ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrates (ESB) were proposed; ESB was similar to Beck's biotic index or Chandler's biotic score. This study was carried out to revise the Q values of individual species and the assessment scheme of ESB based on the taxonomic performance and ecological information accumulated since then. The original ESB was renamed as TESB (total ESB), and AESB (average ESB) was newly proposed. AESB is calculated by dividing the TESB (for a given station) by the number of species present in the sample. In this study, TESB showed a positively skewed distribution, while AESB showed a negatively skewed distribution. The correlation between TESB and the concentration of $BOD_5$ was a little stronger than that of the original ESB. TESB showed a very strong correlation (correlation coefficient r = 0.98) with Margalef's species richness, of which correlation coefficient was higher than that of AESB (r = 0.85). AESB showed a strong correlation (r = -0.79) with the concentration of $BOD_5$, while TESB showed a weaker correlation (r = -0.67). Applying TESB and AESB together in an assessment of the environment may be comprehensive because the physical and chemical states of the environment can be evaluated together. AESB is less dependent on the sample size, while TESB tends to increase as the sample size increases. In the evaluation of the environment using TESB, it is necessary to standardize the methods on monitoring.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.18-33
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect that consumption patterns of human affect the ecosystem using analysis of ecological footprint(EF) and assessment of ecosystem service value in Daegu Metropolitan Area. The data for analysis were constructed from statistical yearbook of each city and average of public land price on land category. According to the EF analysis on city, total EF of Goryeong was showed the highest by 3.3052gha in 2007. However, total EF of Daegu was assessed the lowest by 2.0134gha among 8 cities. In the results of ecological deficit, 7 cities except Gunwi were assessed by condition of ecological deficit and had exceeded environmental capacity until 2007. Specially, it was analyzed that Daegu may need additional area more than about 30 times to maintain the present consumption patterns. On the one side, the results of analysis of ecosystem service value in Daegu were assessed that citizens of Daegu have borrowed about 1,078.6 million wons to ecosystem per year and one person.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.237-254
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• 2021

Background: Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and manage alien species that pose a risk to the environment. Moreover, 2160 alien species have been introduced in South Korea, of which 1826 animals and 334 plants are designated. The inflow of IAS can have negative effects such as ecosystem disturbance, habitat destruction, economic damage, and health damage to humans. To prevent damage caused by the inflow of IAS in advance, species that could potentially pose a risk to the environment if introduced in South Korea were designated as alert alien species (AAS). Results: The designation criteria were in accordance with the "Act on the Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity" and the "Regulations on the Ecological Risk Assessment of AAS and IAS" by the National Institute of Ecology. The analysis result of risk and damage cases indicated that mammals affect predation, competition, human economic activity, virus infection, and parasite infection. Birds have been demonstrated to affect predation, competition, human economic activity, and health. It was indicated that plants intrude on the ecosystem by competing with native species with their high-population density and capacity to multiply and cause allergic inducement. Interestingly, 300 species, including 25 mammals, 7 birds, 84 fishes, 28 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 1 insect, 32 spiders, 1 mollusk, 1 arthropod, and 99 plants, are included in the list of AAS. Conclusions: AAS designation plays a role in preventing the reduction of biodiversity by IAS in South Korea and preserving native species. Moreover, it is determined to provide considerable economic benefits by preventing socio-economic losses and ecological damage.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2010

There is a host of habitat assessment systems available to evaluate and grade tidal flat ecosystems in Korea. Nevertheless, we recognize the need to develop a better ecological scheme to improve reliability and accuracy given the importance of using an empirical approach in assigning grades to indicators and the limitation of current systems which evaluate tidal flats on a regional basis. A preferable system would be one that enables habitat mapping within a tidal flat, provides a diagnosis of ecological stress/health, has a high level of ecological relevance, communicability, and statistical robustness, and enables evaluation of diverse habitats within a tidal flat. The following points should be considered in framing such a system. Indicators should discriminate habitat quality into five to seven grades accomodating diverse characteristics and conservation value of a habitat, and the grading should be made from frequency distribution of indicators based on nationwide data.We suggest the following tasks in crafting such a system: i) The decision on selection of indicators should be made based on accuracy of assessment and practical application; ii) effects of physical habitat conditions on variability of indicators should be reflected; and, iii) further works on stress/health indicators should be addressed for adopting a multiple-indicator approach which reduces misdiagnosis.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.509-523
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• 2012

This basic study is to present the methods and raw data for carrying out to objectively assess an ecosystem by developing the plant ecological indices. The results are as follows. The plant ecological indices were 7 units including RI (Rare Index), EI (Endemic Index), SI (Specific Index), NI (Naturalized Index), UI (Urbanized Index), Pte-Q (Pteridophyta Index) and HI (Halophytes Index). The vascular plants in Mt. Waryong, Mt. Bongmyeong and Bito island were summarized as 471 taxa including 104 families, 294 genera, 419 species, 3 subspecies, 41 varieties and 8 forms. We surveyed 5 taxa of rare plants, 7 taxa of endemic plants, 38 taxa of specific plants by floristic region, 40 taxa of naturalized plants, 1 taxa of invasive alien plant, 19 taxa of pteridophyta and 14 taxa of halophytes. Bito island had the highest RI was 1.2%. Mt. Bongmyeong was 1.4% higher than other sites. If the SI of 2.9% was the highest in Bito island. Bito island was the highest NI, and the UI was the hightest in Mt. Waryong. Mt. Bongmyeong was the lowest NI and UI. In Mt. Waryong and Bito island, the highest DI was 9.1%. The Pte-Q of Mt. Waryong was 1.3 higher than the other sites. Bito island, the highest HI was 8.1%. Overall, 1.5% of RI, 1.9% of EI, 2.3% of SI, 8.5% of NI, 14.3% of UI, 9.1% of DI, 1.0 of Pte-Q and 3.0% were analyzed with HI.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.397-401
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• 2005

Acid mine drainage and waste of abandoned mine area have caused serious water pollution and destruction of an ecosystem because of exposing to environment without an appropriate treatment. Gwang-yang mine area also has a serious problem in the nearby residential area and waterway ecosystems. The objectives of this research are to develop the most suitable remediation system for acid mine drainage by using waste materials, and to diagnose stream environments impacted by acid mine drainage through the new ecological health assessment methodology, and thus ultimately providing a restoring methodology to mining regions. In the water system health assessment, the result of ESHI model, RBP and Karr suggested by US EPA is revised by ecological features of our country, come to ESHI score 13; 'Very poor' at some points. Together with pH value and heavy metal concentration, it's the aggravation of ecological health index caused by chemical disturbances. In the acid mine drainage treatment, we apply marine shells and slags to this system. Slags had the best removal ability for heavy metals, but pH value was more than 10 exceeding the standard for drain water. In case of marine shells, pH of treated water maintained 7 to 8, and concentrations of Fe and Zn decreased significantly after treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2020

National parks and other protected areas often do not adequately protect national biodiversity because they were originally created for socio-economic and/or aesthetic values. The Korean government has committed to expanding the extent of protected areas to fulfill its commitments to the Aichi Biodiversity Convention. To do so, it is necessary to quantify the current levels of biodiversity representation within existing protected areas and to identify additional conservation needs for vulnerable species and ecological systems. In this study, we assess the proportion of species ranges found in South Korea's protected areas, for the species documented in the 3^rd National Ecosystem Survey. We modeled the range distribution of 3,645 species in the following taxonomic groups; plants (1,545 species), mammals (35), birds (132), herptiles (35), and insects (1,898) using the MaxEnt species distribution model and calculated how much of each species' range is within protected areas. On average, 17.4% of plant species' ranges are represented in protected areas, while for mammals and insects an average 12.0% is currently conserved. Conservation representation for herptiles averages 9.3%, while it is 8.6% for birds. Although large proportions of species that have restricted distributions should be represented in protected areas, 17 plant species, two insects (Parnassius bremeri and Lasioglossum occidens), and one bird species (Phylloscopus inornatus) with ranges smaller than 1,000 ㎢ have less than 10% of their ranges within protected areas. Establishing specific conservation goals such as the protection of endangered species or vulnerable taxonomic groups will increase the efficiency of the biodiversity conservation strategies. In addition, lowland coastal areas are critical for biodiversity conservation because the protected areas in South Korea are mainly composed of high mountainous areas.