• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.15-24
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• 2015

The soil ecosystem is a complex system performing particularly complicated and varied functions, such as providing a habitat for organisms, acting as a medium for plant cultivation and growth, and functioning as a buffer against external materials in the environment. To assess whether these important functions of the soil ecosystem are executed appropriately, the concept of soil ecosystem health has been introduced, which is defined as the ability to perform the specific functions of the soil ecosystem. Understanding soil properties and soil indicators related to soil functions is essential to assess the soil health. In this study, systems, the indicators, and evaluation factors for assessing soil ecosystem health employed in a number of countries were investigated and discussed. In particular, it is necessary to introduce a technique for the evaluation of soil ecosystem health in Korea and to develop techniques and indicators appropriate to the soil ecosystem and status in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-110
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• 2002

Ecosystem health assessment is an emerging concept regarded as a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating ecosystems. The stability of ecosystem is the main theme in the assessment. Generally, two components - resilience and resistance - are involved in the mechanism of ecosystem stability. In this study, relative degrees of the resistance and the resilience were quantified for most aquatic Insects Inhabiting running waters in Korea. A total of 34 groups were newly categorized based on previous studies, and a conceptual model has been produced. The model was applied for the aquatic insect communities inhabiting different streams and demonstrated that each stream ecosystem possessed different degrees of stability. This study also indicated that it was possible to compare stabilities of different ecosystems using relative degrees of resilience and resistance. Using the conceptual model, suitable conservation and management strategies could be recommended in ecological assessments. The model can be used as a stepping-stone for developing more comprehensive methodology that objectively diagnoses and evaluates the ecosystem stability.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1997

Vegetation Index(VI) derived from remote sensing data is used to assess ecosystem factor in Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) process. Ecosystem factor has been prepared by Degree of Green Naturality(DGN) mainly in Environmental Impact Statements. But DGN has room for improvement of assessing actual ecosystem situation. The objectives of this study are to define the relationship between field measure DGN and VI, and to develop methodologies to use VI for assessing the status and conditions of natural ecosystem. For verification of DGN and VI, 35 sites using global positioning system are selected and reviewed. Correlation coefficients of DGN and VI shows highly as 0.69. Also VI in EIA found it can be applied to assess ecosystem. It concluded that VI as well as DGN can be applied to assess ecosystem newly and largescale.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1185-1192
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• 2014

Health assessment of aquatic ecosystem was investigated by using LEHA (Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessment) model method with habitat fish population structure analysis in this study. The investigation was two comparison spots (St 1; floating island, St 2; 500 m away site from st 1) in the Habcheon lake of Korea. As results, health evaluation of Habcheon lake ecosystem was fair grade of LEHA scores base on metric values in both place (30 score in st. 1 and 32 score in st. 2).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2016

This study was conducted to develop a technique of ecosystem health assessment on Korea National Parks. The purpose of natural resource monitoring in national parks is to develop scientific information on the current status and long term trends in the composition, structure, and function of park ecosystems, and to determine how well current management practices are sustaining those ecosystems. The evaluation results will reflect in the park conservation and polices and promote the effect and functions of assessment program to the people. Health assessment steps were performed in order the establishing monitoring goals and objectives, development of the conceptual model, frame establishment, determination of indicators, standard and classification and health assessment. Health Indicators were selected the 13 with common, choice and climate indicators. We developed a pictogram and was separated into five colors to health condition, it was divided into three shape for comparison with the past state. Seoraksan, Odaesan National Park has been rated highly but Bukhansan, Kyeryongsan National Park has been underestimated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.117-133
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• 2023

This study assessed the ecological health of border areas using the ecological health index and suggested Indicators for maintaining and promoting ecological values. We analyzed the change trends, pressures, and resilience of ecosystems and services in border areas, and identified their current status and sustainability. The main findings were: (1) ecological assets and ecosystem services in border areas could be compared through ecosystem health assessment; (2) it can be used to set priorities for management and conservation by identifying the relative importance and vulnerability of ecosystems and ecosystem services in each border area; and (3) the index presented in this study can be judged to have explanatory power for the characteristics of border areas and ecosystem health when compared to previous studies. Limitations of this study include the lack of literature and statistical data at the local government level and the resulting limited application of evaluation methods, which limited direct regional comparisons. To overcome the research limitations, further studies are needed, such as establishing ecological information in border areas, mapping and assessment of ecosystem services, and developing and applying assessments that reflect the opinions and participation of various stakeholders. This study was the first attempt to assess the health of ecosystems and ecosystem services in border areas and provided an important baseline for future changes in border areas. In the future, it will be helpful in national and local government policies and ecological assetecosystem management by supplementing insufficient information and presenting clear goals.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

In order to assess the effect of pollution on marine ecosystem, we examined the plankton health assessment at 16 stations during summer season in Jinhae Bay. The organic and inorganic pollutant sources (dissolved organic carbon; DOC, chemical oxygen demand; COD and Chlorophyll a; Chl.a), including planktonic orangism such as enterobacteria Escherichia coli, heterotrophic bacteria (HB), autotrophic nano-flagellates (ANF), heterotrophic nano flagellates (HNF), ciliate and harmful algal bloom species (HABs) were used to characterize marine ecosystem health assessment. Of these, we tentatively selected those items Chl.a, HABs, HB and E. coli for plankton health index (PHI). Also, the scoring criteria for each metric were based on a statistical analysis and then, the grades are rated on four levels. As a result, the ecological assessment of these data reveals that PHI in Jinhae Bay is rated as "Good or fair" for overall conditions. The present study suggests that the PHI might be considered as one of important management tool to assess marine ecosystem health of Jinhae Bay.

• 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.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.169-178
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• 2005

Comprehensive assessment of ecological riparian zone is to analyze and evaluate the status of riparian zone ecosystem. The existing problem of the ecosystem can be found through the assessment. The AHP-FUZZY method used in the assessment is based on the hierarchy model of index, grade model of object, and attribution degree of index. Accordingly, the four models have been discussed and presented from the aspect of the stability, landscape, eco-health and eco-safety of riparian zone.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1995

This study was carried out to find the problems of assessment on terrestrial ecosystem part in environmental impact analysis(EIA) and to suggest the proper amelioration measures by analyzing 19 environmental impact statements(EIS) published during the period from 1991 to 1994. The results obtained from this study were as follows. Field survey for the investigation of fauna and flora in project areas should be conducted at least 3 times a year and name of investigator should be written on the EIS clearly. Increase or decrease in degree of green naturality and productivity cannot be an absolute criteria for expressing the amount of changes in ecosystem. Evaluation for the ecosystems and their composition in project area is more important than presenting merely the increase or decrease in degree of green naturality and productivity. Alleviation measures in 19 EISs analyzed in this study were summarized into 6 types: They are establishment of landscape plan, transplanting of useful trees preservation of big tree and protected species, restoration and preservation of existent vegetation, establishment of soil conservation measures and diminution of the impact on animal. However, they were somewhat insufficient because they wouldn't suggest the alleviation measures in detail. The more positive counter-proposals are needed to decrease the impact of the project on terrestrial ecosystem.