• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.199-213
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• 2016

This study aimed to analyze the vegetation characteristics of the coastal forests and to figure out if there is possibilities to develop the forests into mixed stand multistory forests and to suggest some sound management practices. The vegetat- ion structure and flora of four sites; Kijipo, Chunjangdae, Janghang and Kusipo in the west coastal forests in Korea were investigated and analyzed in the present study. In the every site, Pinus thunbergii was dominating the tree layer in the forests. And P. densiflora, Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus serrata, Prunus sargentii var. sargentii, Q. acutissima and Castanea crenata were dominating the subtree layers in some sites. P. thunbergii stands in four sites would maintain for a while since the populat- ion density of middle aged group is higher than those of young and old groups. According to the geographical location conditions, there is a possibility that the coastal forests in Kusipo site would progress into oak tree stands in the long run. The biodiversity was quite high to have 205 taxa in the study sites. To induce the coastal forests into multistory forests, P. thunbergii stands need to be thinned. And then creating the environment including making some pathways and site usage rest-riction is needed to let new diverse plants could come in and grow for a success-ful multistory forests.