• Title/Summary/Keyword: Forest degradation

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Isolation of cellulosic biomass degrading microorganisms from different sources for low cost biofuel production

  • Sheikh, M. Mominul Islam;Kim, Chul-Hwan;Lee, Ji-Yong;Yeasmin, Shabina;Park, Hyeon-Jin;Kim, Gyeong-Chul;Kim, Sung-Ho;Kim, Jae-Won
    • Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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    • 2011.04a
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    • pp.81-91
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    • 2011
  • Current fuel ethanol research and development deals with process engineering trends for improving biotechnological production of ethanol. Recently, a large amount of studies regarding the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a good feedstock for producing fuel ethanol is being carried out worldwide. The plant biomass is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The main challenge in the conversion of biomass into ethanol is the complex, rigid and harsh structures which require efficient process and cost effective to break down. The isolation of microorganisms is one of the means for obtaining enzymes with properties suitable for industrial applications. For these reasons, crude cultures containing cellulosic biomass degrading microorganisms were isolated from rice field soil, cow farm soil and rotten rice straw from cow farm. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xylan and Avicel (microcrystalline cellulose) degradation zone of clearance on agar platefrom rice field soil resulted approximately at 25 mm, 24 mm and 22 mm respectively. As for cow farm soil, CMC, xylan and Avicel degradation clearancezone on agar plate resulted around at 24mm, 23mm and 21 mm respectively. Rotten rice straw from cow farm also resulted for CMC, xylan and Avicel degradation zone almost at 24 mm, 23 mm and 22 mm respectively. The objective of this study is to isolatebiomass degrading microbial strains having good efficiency in cellulose hydrolysis and observed the effects of different substrates (CMC, xylan and Avicel) on the production of cellulase enzymes (endo-glucanase, exo-glucanase, cellobiase, xylanase and avicelase) for producing low cost biofuel from cellulosic materials.

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Spatio-Temporal Changes and Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in North Korea (북한 산림의 시·공간 변화와 황폐화 추동)

  • Yu, Jaeshim;Kim, Kyoungmin
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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    • v.18 no.6
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    • pp.73-83
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    • 2015
  • The objective of this study is to establish implications for forest restoration planning in North Korea by analyzing spatio-temporal forest changes and detecting bio-physical factors driving forest degraded. We measured the relationship and spatial distribution between shifting cultivation and sparse forest. We also analyzed between degraded forest land and ecological variables by binary logistic regression to find biophysical drivers of forest degradation and deforestation in North Korea. Between the sparse forest and the shifting cultivation, a positive relationship is found (r=0.91) and scattered discontinuously throughout the country (Moran's I = -1, Z score = -13.46 (p=0.000)). The sparse forest showed a negative relationship with the warmest month(bio 9), the coldest month(bio10), and the minimum of soil water contents (swc_min), while the shifting cultivation had a negative relationship with the warmest month(bio 9) and the minimum of soil water contents(swc_min). However, the most critical drivers convert forests into sloping farmland were the three months rainfall in summer(bio8) and the yearly mean of soil water contents. Such results reflect the growth period of crops which overlaps with the rainy season in North Korea and the recent land reclamation of uplands where the soil water contents are maintained with a dense forest. When South Korea aids forest restoration projects in North Korea, in consideration of food shortage due to North Korea's cropland deficiency, terrace farmlands where soil water contents can be maintained should be excluded from the priority restoration area. In addition, an evaluation method for selecting a potential restoration area must be modified and applied based on multiple criteria including altitude and socio-economic factors in the respective regions.

An Identification of Project Sites for Lowering Carbon Emissions and Saving Forests in DPR Korea (북한의 탄소저감과 산림보존을 위한 사업대상지 선정방법 연구)

  • Kim, Oh Seok;Youn, Yeo-Chang
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.49 no.2
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    • pp.264-274
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    • 2014
  • The main purpose of the current research is to analyze DPR Korean carbon emissions due to forest loss and to identify potential project sites for REDD implementation. REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is a global environmental policy that is geared towards lowering carbon emissions in developing and least developed countries through saving forests that are vulnerable to future deforestation. DPR Korea is known for its underdevelopment as well as its serious environmental degradation, but limited research exists regarding these issues. The research employs remotely sensed global data and forest carbon stock information from the existing literature to quantify carbon emissions in DPR Korea. It turns out that the country may have had emitted about 82.6 to 149.3 $MtCO_2e$ due to forest loss between 2005 and 2009. A few administrative districts are delineated as prospective REDD sites, of which the outcomes of Local Moran's I represent high rates of deforestation. In brief, it appears there is a great possibility to lower carbon emissions in DPR Korea via REDD implementation.

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Anti-Proliferative Activity of Ethanol Extracts from Taxilli Ramulus (Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser) Through Cyclin D1 Proteasomal Degradation in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

  • Park, Gwang Hun;Song, Hun Min;Park, Su Bin;Park, Ji Hye;Shin, Myeong Su;Son, Ho-Jun;Um, Yurry;Jeong, Jin Boo
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.640-646
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    • 2017
  • In this study, we elucidated anti-cancer activity and potential molecular mechanism of 70% ethanol extracts from Taxilli Ramulus (Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser) (TR-E70) against human colorectal cancer cells. Anti-cell proliferative effect of TR-E70 was evaluated by MTT assay. The effect of TR-E70 on the expression of cyclin D1 in the protein and mRNA level was evaluated by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. TR-E70 suppressed the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. Although TR-E70 decreased cyclin D1 expression in protein and mRNA level, decreased level of cyclin D1 protein by TR-E70 more dramatically occurred than that of cyclin D1 mRNA. Cyclin D1 downregulation by TR-E70 was attenuated in presence of MG132. In addition, TR-E70 phosphorylated threonine-286 (T286) of cyclin D1. TR-E70-mediated cyclin D1 degradation was blocked in presence of LiCl as an inhibitor $GSK3{\beta}$ but not PD98059 as an ERK1/2 inhibitor and SB203580 as a p38 inhibitor. Our results suggest that TR-E70 may downregulate cyclin D1 as one of the potential anti-cancer targets through $GSK3{\beta}$-dependent cyclin D1 degradation. From these findings, TR-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemoprevention or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer.

Thermal Stability of Polypropylene-Based Wood Plastic Composites by The Addition of Ammonium Polyphosphate (폴리인산염 첨가에 의한 폴리프로필렌 기반의 Wood Plastic Composites 열안정성)

  • Chun, Sang-Jin;Lee, Sun-Young
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.682-690
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    • 2014
  • In order to improve the thermal stability of wood plastic composites (WPC), thermal degradation behavior of WPC in this study was investigated by the addition of wood flour and fire retardant after hybridization of wood flour and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) into polypropylene (PP) matrix. Thermal degradation behavior of all formulations was analyzed with thermogravimetric analyzer under nitrogen environment at heating rate of $10^{\circ}C/min$. As the thermal degradation temperature of wood flour is lower than that of PP, char layer formed by the wood flour decreases the speed of heat transfer to PP. In addition, the char layer increases the 2nd thermal degradation temperature and decreases the 2nd thermal degradation speed. The WPC treated with APP increases the 1st and 2nd degradation temperatures. In the case of WPC with high loading level of wood flour, the 1st thermal degradation temperature and 2nd thermal degradation rate were increased by the addition of APP, and then the amount of remnants at high temperature was increased by the increase of the APP loading level. In the case of WPC treated with APP, the amount of the remnants at high temperature was increased with the increase of wood flour content from 10 wt% to 50 wt%, indicating that char formation of the APP and wood flour occurred at the same time, resulting in high thermal stability effect by the increase of wood flour content.

An analysis of year-to-year change of degraded forest land in Mongolia nature reserve Mt. Bogdkhan in Ulaanbaatar (몽골 울란바토르 복드한산 자연보호지역의 산림훼손지 경년변화 분석)

  • Ganzorig, Myagmar;Lee, Joon-Woo;Kweon, Hyeong-Keun;Choi, Sung-Min;Lee, Myeong-Kyo
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.205-211
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    • 2014
  • Focused on Mt. Bogdkhan nature reserve in Mongolia, this study was conducted as a fundamental research to discover a tendency and characteristics of forest damage and to draw up measures for proper plans of forest restoration through an analysis of year-to year change using satellite images. In specific, land cover mapping was conducted by using Landsat images from 1994 to 2011, and then year-to year change was analyzed to investigate the features of forest damage in Mt. Bogdkhan. The results showed that the whole area of a reservation in Mongolia in 2011 was about $416.89km^2$; among them, forest area was $167,87km^2$, accounting for about 40.3%, followed by bare patch and grassland area (58.6%) and urban dry area (1.1%). In particular, compared in 1994, the area of forest in 2011 has increased by $6.12km^2$; while bare patch and grassland area has decreased by $10.81km^2$. Primary causes of forest degradation occurred in Mt. Bogdkhan nature reserve included illegal logging for fuel, forest and grassland degradation caused by domestic animals grazing, man-made forest fire, and disaster caused by insect pest.

Species identification and microscopic structure of ancient wood excavated from the remains( II ) -Degradation of ancient woods- (출토고목재의 수종과 조직구조에 관한 연구( II ) -출토고목재의 부후형태-)

  • KANG, A. K.;PARK, S. J.
    • Journal of Conservation Science
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    • v.2 no.2 s.2
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    • pp.15-24
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    • 1993
  • To understand the morphological change of ancient woods, samples classified by cell type, burial environment and species were collected and observed using microscopy. Decay of wood by cell type could classified into two types. First, degraded secondary wall was formed granular residues in $S_2$ layer and was remained $S_3$ layer and compound middle lamella. Second, the cell wall was slightly degraded and cracked in secondary wall. A gradual thinning of cell wall was occured. The compound middle lamella was separated from secondary wall. The resistance of degradation is increased at vessels, parenchyma, and tracheid and wood fiber in the order named. The type of degradation by species could be classified into four types. Overall degradation type; the degradation of cell wall is usually heavy and the extent of degradation Varies by part of the same sample. Partial degradation type ; this type shows severely different decay type by part of the sample. Nondegraded cells were mixed with degraded cells on the same sample. Erose degradation type ; thinning of the cell wall was occoured and the degradation type was different by part. Slight degradation types ; secondary wall was slightly degraded, cracked and separated from compound middle lamella. Considering different type of burial environment, dry wood was similiar to sound wood and slightly decayed. Waterlogged and peat burial wood was heavilydecayed. Between species of under the same environment, decay type and extent were diferentiated from each other.

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The applicable evaluation of biodegradable polymer coated-mulching paper for afforestation seedlings (생분해성 고분자 코팅 조림묘목용 mulching mat 원지의 적용성 평가)

  • Lee, Geum-Ja;Yoo, Yeong-Jeong;Ko, Seung-Tae;Kim, Hyoung-Jin
    • Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.54-63
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    • 2010
  • Recently, as the function of largest supplier of biomass for "low carbon green growth", the necessity for systematic management of afforestation areas is emphasizing. The forestation of seedling, besides the afforestation cost itself, is required some additional follow-up management costs, like mowing and fertilizing of forestation area, and removal of bindweed. The mulching mat for afforestation seedlings is available for rooting of little seedlings as well as initial forestation expenses. Mulching technique is also used to control soil temperature and moisture by covering the surface of ground. In this study, the paper based-mulching film coated with biodegradable polymer and functional additive was specially produced using laboratory bar coater, and analyzed for its degradable behavior. Coating colors were prepared by dissolving PE (polyester) 80 % and PLA(polylactic acid) 20 % in chloroform and finally applied to handsheet prepared by preceding study conditions. Base paper and polymer-coated paper were artificially aged by 2 kinds of degradation methods, which are soil degradation by microorganism and light degradation by 257 nm UV wavelengths. Strength property, oxidation index and morphological property were evaluated by reduction rates of tensile strength, FTIR spectra ratio of carboxyl and carbonyl group and SEM micrograph. As these results, polymer coated-paper was superior to base paper in degradation behaviors, having results with lower reduction rate of strength properties.

An Analysis of Indonesia Forest Moratorium: With particular reference to Forest Governance (인도네시아 산림 모라토리엄 분석: 산림 거버넌스를 중심으로)

  • JANG, SangKyung;BAE, Jae Soo
    • The Southeast Asian review
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.49-92
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    • 2013
  • In May 2010, Indonesia and Norway signed a Letter of Intent on "Cooperation on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD)." In the LoI, Norway agreed to offer Indonesia a sum of USD 1 billion with a view to encourage Indonesia to significantly contribute to the successful implementation of REDD+. On 20 May 2011, correspondingly, Indonesia announced the 2011 'Forest Moratorium' (the Presidential Instruction No. 10/2011) which was valid for the following consecutive two years. By means of the 2011 'Forest Moratorium', Indonesia aimed at significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, forest degradation and peatland conversion. In so doing, it also sought to improve forest governance. Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders also raised various questions about the effectiveness of the 'Forest Moratorium'. As an extension of the 2011 'Forest Moratorium', Indonesia announced the 2013 'Forest Moratorium'(the Presidential Instruction No. 6/2013) for another two-year period on 13 May 2013. Indonesia's 'Forest Moratorium' is concerned with stakeholders at various levels, who may play a role of significant 'agent' in the process of implementing the 'Forest Moratorium'. This mechanism of the 'Forest Moratorium' should be understood in the light of forest governance. Employing stakeholder approach, therefore, this article attempts to analyze Indonesia's 'Forest Moratorium' in the light of forest governance. In this regard, it analyzes the detailed contents of the 'Forest Moratorium', the process of making the 'Forest Moratorium', current development of the Indicative Moratorium Map for suspension of new concessions on forest land, and contesting views of various stakeholders. At the same time, it also talks about how 'weak' forest governance had influence upon Indonesia's 'Forest Moratorium'. In so doing, this article consequently attempts to evaluate Indonesia's 'Forest Moratorium' and also put it into perspective in terms of improving forest governance. The 2013 'Forest Moratorium' fundamentally represents a radical policy that is designed to suspend new concessions on forest conversion for another two-year period and its detailed contents attempt to reflect on various stakeholders from related industries and environmental NGOs. However, there are challenging factors in the process of implementing the 'Forest Moratorium', that is, 'weak' forest governance and also a discrepancy between forest planning maps designated by central and regional governments. The announcement of the 2013 'Forest Moratorium', as an extension of the 2011 'Forest Moratorium', may functionally strengthen and improve Indonesia's forest governance. However, at the same time, there is a practical limit due to the fact that it is merely a Presidential Instruction that lacks legal binding.

An Overview to the History of Social Forestry in Overcoming Poverty and Forest Conservation in Java's Colonial Period

  • Hum, Warto M.
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.38 no.1
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    • pp.1-11
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    • 2022
  • The Dutch colonial government introduced social forestry at the end of the 19th century with a commitment to controlling forest resources in the Dutch East Indies. This program was a response to the rampant deforestation which had resulted in forest degradation and poverty of the population around the forest. This study examined the practice of social forestry in the late colonial period which had not been done much. From a historical perspective, social forestry practices in Indonesia before independence could be explained more comprehensively. This study uses a historical method which includes four stages: heuristic, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography (composing historical stories). Sources of information were explored through studies of archival documents and contemporary artefacts, especially official colonial government reports and contemporary newspapers/magazines. Data from various sources are then compared and tested for validity to obtain data validity. The next stage is to build facts based on data obtained and then interpreted using the social science theories. Finally, compiling a historical (historiographical) story about social forestry during the late colonial period. The results showed that colonial forestry during the colonial period was still limited in terms of area and method, namely in the area of teak forest and involving villagers through the intercropping system. Farmers involved in these activities are called pesanggem who earn income from forest land being rejuvenated. However, the relationship between pesanggem and the forestry service has not been well institutionalized, consequently the pesanggem is often disadvantaged. Including certainty of ownership and ownership of forest land never gained clarity and even became a source of conflict.