• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.25-56
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• 2006

We reviewed and compared nationwide surveys conducted in advanced countries (i.e., Japan, Germany, USA, and UK) with those in Korea, including the third Nationwide Survey of Natural Environments, which began in 2006 and will proceed until 2010. Based on this comparative analysis, we suggest alternatives to the nationwide survey of natural environments that are suited to Korea. Given the focus on species abundances and distributions in previous nationwide surveys in Korea, surveys of habitats, ecosystems, and ecoregions are required to more effectively protect biological resources in Korea. Furthermore, their spatial distributions should be mapped using periodical satellite images and aerial photographs. In particular, satellite images can be used to survey species, habitats, and ecosystems. Natural resources monitoring and management specialists are needed to collect various data and improve survey results. The participation of community volunteers is also important to develop an awareness in local residents of natural environment conservation. Independent survey institute (i.e., a 'National Ecosystem Institute') should be established to develop a database and survey scheme for species, habitats, and ecosystems throughout Korea. Moreover, the survey institute could develop natural environmental policy through the data analysis to meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The establishment of a survey institute will allow the completion of a natural environment survey that considers various factors, including physical habitat conditions. This will allow us to detect subtle changes in species abundance and spatial distributions and provide accurate and timely information on natural environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.19-29
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to suggest improvements of Eco-Natural map preparation guideline by presenting assessment methods that can be applied to the result of river ecosystem health survey and assessment, using the Geographic Information System. The area for studying is the main stream of the Hwang River where is easy to collect data and available to compare before and after of river assessment. It was reevaluated by reflecting the result of river ecosystem health assessment of the Ministry of Environment. As the result, Eco-Natural map of the study area reflecting the river assessment, the changes in the area ratio by grade have been increased from 1.14% to 14.03% in the first-grade and from 24.64% to 43.91% in the second-grade. It is considered to present more realistic grade due to the assessment of the rivers that have not been reflected in the meantime. Consequently, the result of this study will be useful for establishing the development projects on the rivers, providing the foundation for more realistic and active protection.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2001

This research is primarily intended to develop a decision-making support system about the natural environment in the country by integrating various formats of spatial data into a comprehensive GIS database. The first part of the research is to design GIS database as a means of combining thematic cartographic data with field survey records. Ecosystem records acquired by a field sampling have been reproduced as digital thematic maps. The database also included various natural environment related data (map for forestry, soil, national park etc.) collected from many other agencies. The second part of the research is devoted to the design of efficient man-machine interfaces. A key concern in the GUI (graphic user interface) design process was to address the need to handle and to manage large databases by non-GIS experts. The system has been checked experimentally, enabled the users to quarry the data required simply and execute spatial analysis accommodating versatile alternatives in decision-making process. Detailed visual maps can be generated over large areas quickly and easily. The system will serve to increase the scientific and objective decision-making by overcoming serious constraints suffered from the past non-GIS-based approach. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference in building a nationwide natural environment GIS-DB (database) in the central and local governments.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.652-661
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• 2021

Xanthomonas citri pv. glycines (Xcg) is a major pathogen of soybean (Glycine max) in South Korea, despite the availability of soybean varieties with some resistance. We conducted a nationwide survey of the incidence and severity of bacterial pustule caused by Xcg. The percentage of infected fields was 7% to 17% between 2015 and 2017. We characterized the diversity of a nationwide collection of 106 Xcg isolates based on avrBs3 banding patterns. The isolates fell into 11 groups, each represented by a type strain; only two of these were similar to isolates collected from 1999 to 2002. The diversity of Xcg strains increased and the dominant strains changed between 1999 and 2017, with three new type strains comprising 44% of the isolates examined in 2012 to 2017. Pathogenicity tests did not show evidence for a shift in the races or aggressiveness of Xcg strains. Korean soybean cultivars, including the widely-grown Daewon cultivar, were susceptible to the 11 new type strains. The cultivar CNS, which carries the rxp resistance gene, was susceptible to most type strains, including two representing 83% of the Korean Xcg strains. In contrast, Williams 82, which also carries rxp, showed resistance to at least five type strains. Collectively, these results suggest that Williams 82 has resistance loci in addition to rxp. The widespread distribution of Xcg, the high virulence of the current endemic strains, and the low resistance of most Korean soybean cultivars collectively favor widespread disease in Korea in years that are favorable to pustule development.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2015

The occurrence of wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus) and reports of wildlife-vehicle conflicts (i.e., road-kill) involving them have increased in natural forest regions of Korea. In the past few decades, many wildlife passages have been constructed to reduce vehicle collisions involving wildlife species. However, few studies have assessed the habitat suitability of target wildlife species when locating the construction sites of wildlife passages. Target species rarely use wildlife passages if built in an inappropriate location. Therefore, a quantitative habitat model is required to find suitable sites for wildlife passages that can connect the fragmented forest patches of wildlife habitats in Korea. In this study, the wild boar was selected as the target species, and six environmental variables (percentage of Quercus forest, slope aspect, distance to roads, water accessibility, forest stand age and density) were measured. The habitat model for wild boars was developed with a Delphi survey, and habitat suitability maps were delineated for the provinces of Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do. In this study, 298 and 64 boars were observed in Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do, respectively. Observations of wild boars derived from the second nationwide natural environmental survey were used to evaluate the habitat model. Habitat suitability maps that superimposed existing road networks suggested that wild boar habitats were severely fragmented in both provinces, particularly in Gangwon-do. To connect the fragmented habitats and prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions, this study proposes 11 and 5 wildlife passage sites in Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-59
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• 2017

The Korean peninsula belongs to the temperate forest biome dominated by many deciduous oaks. We quantitatively and qualitatively studied vertical and horizontal distributions and habitat characteristics on the major oak species such as Quercus mongolica, Q. serrata, Q. variabilis, Q. dentata, Q. aliena and Q. acutissima. A total of 5,278 samples were analyzed with a species coverage and 6 principal environmental variables extracted from public database of nationwide natural environment survey. Correlation analysis was accomplished by the CANOCO using Canonical Correspondence Analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient using PASW Statistics. The hierarchical distribution tendency of six oaks was finalized using the Goodman-Kruskal lambda coefficient of non-metric multidimensional scaling by SYN-TAX 2000. The utmost factor on the distributional segregation of oak species was the elevation, i.e. temperature. Q. serrata and Q. mongolica show clearly a diametrical distribution patterns with zonal distribution. Q. variabilis was determined as a thermophilic and xerophilous species that is a component of not only natural pseudo-climax forest but also secondary forest. The highest frequency of the dominant forest was found Q. mongolica. Whereas, Q. serrata showed the highest frequency of individual tree but the relatively lower frequency of dominant forest, which is resulted from the original habitat loss. By the benefit of the traditional Soopjeong-E, Q. acutissima dominant forests were remained rather largely. Individuals of Q. dentata occurred horizontally nationwide, but its dominant forest was the poorest. Dominant forest of Q. aliena, which is a natural vegetation, was the most rare due to a limited potential habitat.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2009

A habitat model was developed to delineate potential habitat of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a mountainous region of Kangwon Province, Korea. Between 1997 and 2005, 224 leopard cat presence sites were recorded in the province in the Nationwide Survey on Natural Environments. Fifty percent of the sites were used to develop a habitat model, and the remaining sites were used to test the model. Fourteen environmental variables related to topographic features, water resources, vegetation and human disturbance were quantified for 112 of the leopard cat presence sites and an equal number of randomly selected sites. Statistical analyses (e.g., t-tests, and Pearson correlation analysis) showed that elevation, ridges, plains, % water cover, distance to water source, vegetated area, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and distance to paved road differed significantly (P < 0.01) between presence and random sites. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop a habitat model. Landform type (e.g., ridges vs. plains) is the major topographic factor affecting leopard cat presence. The species also appears to prefer deciduous forests and areas far from paved roads. The habitat map derived from the model correctly classified 93.75% of data from an independent sample of leopard cat presence sites, and the map at a regional scale showed that the cat's habitats are highly fragmented. Protection and restoration of connectivity of critical habitats should be implemented to preserve the leopard cat in mountainous regions of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.340-347
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• 2019

The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia) originated from the North America distribute widely as invasive species throughout the world including Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. The red swamp crayfish is also an invasive species in South Korea. We aimed to characterize the occurrence and distribution pattern of the red swamp crayfish, and evaluate the potential distribution of this species in South Korea. In South Korea, the red swamp crayfish was firstly reported in Seoul in 1996, and recently its occurrence is frequently reported at streams or reservoirs at different regions, showing the expansion of its distribution area. The red swamp crayfish has high potential to occur in the nationwide scale in South Korea because of their biological adaptation, effects of climate change, changes of their habitat condition, and various types of human activities. Finally, our results revealed the necessary to conduct an extensive field survey, to keep up a monitoring program for the occurrence of alien species, and to implement a strategy to prevent the dispersal of alien species in the natural ecosystems.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-96
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• 2013

This study collected national secondary and tertiary nationwide natural environment survey data of the National Institute of Environmental Research as well as the National Park's secondary and tertiary natural resource research data executed by the Korea National Park Service. The data collection is aimed at reclassification the geomorphological landscape resources of each park in varying types. The results generated a total of 3,169 geomorphological landscape resources within all the national parks. Among all the geomorphological landscape resources, 794 landscape resources were judged as Level I, which accounts for 36.9%. Next, 546 landscape resources were judged as Level II, or 25.3%, and 459 landscape resources judged as Level III, or 21.3%. Lastly, 191 landscape resources were judged as Level IV, having the lowest conservation level, or 8.9%. The number of Level I landscape resources for each national park includes 207 sites on Seoraksan, 92 sites on Dadohaehaesang Park, 84 sites on Jirisan, and 60 sites at the Taeanhaean, respectively. Dadohaehaesang National Park, Seoraksan National Park, Taeanhaean National Park, Jirisan National Park, Songnisan National Park, and Gyeryongsan National Park were evaluated as national parks having excellent landscape resources. To use these excellent landscape resources, there is a need to increase visitors' satisfaction and increase their interest in and understanding of landscape resources. To achieve this, a landscape viewpoint map must be composed and installed at the entrance or at certain points to provide visitors with useful information regarding the geomorphological landscape resources.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.337-341
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• 2014

The changes in the area and standing crop of forests and the understory vegetation structure of various plantations were investigated by literature survey to predict the changes in the structure of forest ecosystems of the Korean Peninsula in the future. The greater part of forest was severely destroyed in 1950's in the Korean Peninsula. The forest standing crop has been dramatically increasing since the nationwide plantation was actively performed in 1970's and 1980's in the Republic of Korea. The area of forest was incessantly decreased at the rate of $5,500ha\;yr^{-1}$. The results of regression analysis on the changes in forest standing crop of the Republic of Korea showed that the forest might approach to the maturity stage in around 2150. It was predicted that the potential natural vegetation of Quercus mongorica, Fraxinus rhynchophyllus, Prunus sargentii, etc. would establish in the plantations of Larix leptolepsis, Pinus koraiensis and Robinia pseudoacacia in the future.