• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.43-60
• /
• 2019

Background: Tropical montane forests played an important role in the provision of ecosystem services. The intense degradation and deforestation for the need of agricultural land expansion result in a significant decline of forest cover. However, the expansion of agricultural land did not completely destruct natural forests. There remain forests inaccessible for agricultural and grazing purpose. Studies on these forests remained scant, motivating to investigate biomass and soil carbon stocks. Data of biomass and soils were collected in 80 quadrats ($400m^2$) systematically in 5 forests. Biomass and disturbance gradients were determined using allometric equation and disturbance index, respectively. The regression modeling is employed to explore the spatial distribution of carbon stock along disturbance and environmental gradients. Correlation analysis is also employed to identify the relation between site factors and carbon stocks. Results: The result revealed that a total of 1655 individuals with a diameter of ${\geq}5cm$, representing 38 species, were measured in 5 forests. The mean aboveground biomass carbon stocks (AGB CS) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at 5 forests were $191.6{\pm}19.7$ and $149.32{\pm}6.8Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. The AGB CS exhibited significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation with SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks, reflecting that biomass seems to be a general predictor of SOCs. AGB CS between highly and least-disturbed forests was significantly different (P < 0.05). This disturbance level equates to a decrease in AGB CS of 36.8% in the highly disturbed compared with the least-disturbed forest. In all forests, dominant species sequestrated more than 58% of carbon. The AGB CS in response to elevation and disturbance index and SOC stocks in response to soil pH attained unimodal pattern. The stand structures, such as canopy cover and basal area, had significant positive relation with AGB CS. Conclusions: Study results confirmed that carbon stocks of studied forests were comparable to carbon stocks of protected forests. The biotic, edaphic, topographic, and disturbance factors played a significant variation in carbon stocks of forests. Further study should be conducted to quantify carbon stocks of herbaceous, litter, and soil microbes to account the role of the whole forest ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.33 no.5_3
• /
• pp.835-854
• /
• 2017

Government regulations and policies are important means of restraining the indiscreet expansion of urban areas. According to the standards from those means, it is clear that the fluctuation of forest green proportion encroached by the increase of urban space is obvious. In this study, we interpreted the changes of urban areas as well as the green ones owing to the urban expansion by the decades from 1996, with focusing on the cities of Seoul and Daegu highly developed in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to analyze the spatial expansion and morphological characteristics of urban land cover using not only satellite imageries (1996, 2006, 2016). but also the urban expansion intensity index (UEII) and GUIDOS program. Ultimately, this study is to compare the changes in the rate of forests due to urban expansions annually analyzed based on areas of forest elevation, slope, and the area of single forest patch. In Seoul, the expansion begun from urban space to suburban areas was comparatively rapid, which led the forest fragmentation and the gradual decline of the single patch. However, when it comes to DEM (Digital elevation model) and slope above a certain standard, by the development regulations, there was little decrease in area by anthropogenic developments. The city of Daegu has increased at a slow speed since 1996 in urban and suburban areas, whereas green forests have greatly increased through green forest conservation campaigns. In this way, as to the government policies and regulations, the quantitative and morphological expansion of cities owing to development could be controlled and forest spaces could be preserved as well. Therefore, regulations and policies by the government should be appropriately utilized for sustainable cities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.145-153
• /
• 2002

Reforming land is an important foundation for benefit of society as well as national development. A correct investigation and information acquirement as to land must go first to establish land management and plan. Land investigation by remote sensing is one of the most reasonable methods that doesn't need lots of time and manpower. In this study, Image classification on land use from Landsat data was carried out, which were respectively in 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000, covering southern Han river and then land use changes were detected. In addition, an available information was reported, which could be used in the control of southern Han river. As a result, there is an obvious change in land use, especially the increase of water and decrease of forest and agriculture. Those are caused by the industrialization and the construction of dam.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.223-236
• /
• 2021

This study aims to provide basic data for the systematic conservation and efficient management of forest ecosystems by analyzing changes in understory vegetation of temperate broad-leaved deciduous forests. One-hectare permanent survey plot, consisting of 100 subplots sized 10 × 10 meters, was installed in Gwangneung forest in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do in 2003. The state of stands and the understory vegetation in the permanent survey plot were examined at a 5-year interval from 2003 to 2018. The vascular plants found in the survey area were 56 families, 128 genera, 176 species, 18 variants, 4 varieties, and 1 subspecies, for a total of 199 taxa. The number of species in both the shrub layer and the herbaceous layer showed a tendency to decrease with time. The MRPP-tests showed a significantly differing species composition of the shrub layer in all years except 2008-2013, whereas significant differences were found in all years concerning the herbaceous layer. As for the average importance value, Euonymus oxyphyllus (18.23%), Acer pseudosieboldianum (16.48%), and Callicarpa japonica (13.85%) were dominant in the shrub layer, while Ainsliaea acerifolia (23.41%), Disporum smilacinum (9.45%), and Oplismenus undulatifolius (5.62%) were dominant in the herbaceous layer. In the shrub layer, the richness of Smilax china, Lonicera subsessilis, and Philadelphus schrenkii was high when the basal area and the stand density of an upper layer were high. By contrast, smaller basal area and stand density were associated with the richness of Acer pseudosieboldianum, Deutzia glabrata, Morus bombycis, and Cornus kousa. Furthermore, it was found out that the impact of the basal area and the stand density on the herbaceous layer decreased over time, while the herb layer's species composition was greatly affected by cover degrees of Euonymus oxyphyllus and Acer pseudosieboldianum in the shrub layer. In conclusion, the number of species in the understory vegetation in Gwangneung forest is continuously decreasing, thus implying that species diversity, basal area, and stand density of an upper layer can influence the species composition in understory vegetation.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.204-216
• /
• 2024

Understanding the trade-off effect in ecosystem services and measuring the interrelationships between services are crucial for managing limited environmental resources. Accordingly, in this study, we identified the dominant trends and increases and decreases in ecosystem services derived from changes in land cover over about 30 years and tracked changes in the relationships between ecosystem services that occurred over time. Through it, we determined the relationship between land cover changes and ecosystem service changes, as well as the distinct characteristics of service changes in different areas. The research primarily utilized the InVEST model, an ecosystem service assessment model. After standardizing the evaluation results between 0 and 1, it went through principal component analysis, a dimensionality reduction technique, to observe the time-series changes and understand the relationships between the services. According to the research results, the area of urbanized regions dramatically increased between 1989 and 2019, while forests showed a significant increase between 2009 and 2019. Between 1989 and 2019, the national ecosystem service supply witnessed a 13.9% decrease in water supply, a 10.5% decrease in nitrogen retention, a 2.6% increase in phosphorus retention, a 0.9% decrease in carbon storage, a 1.2% increase in air purification, and a 3.4% decrease in habitat quality. Over the past 30 years, South Korea experienced an increase in urbanized areas, a decrease in agricultural land, and an increase in forests, resulting in a trade-off effect between phosphorus retention and habitat quality. This study concluded that South Korea's environment management policies contribute to improving ecosystem quality, which has declined due to urbanization, and maximizing ecosystem services. These findings can help policymakers establish and implement forestry policies focusing on sustainable environmental conservation and ecosystem service provision.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.31 no.7
• /
• pp.698-707
• /
• 2010

The Late Pleistocene pollen record from the Poil-dong, Uiwang, Kyunggi-do, reveals that mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forests were spread along with herb and fern understory. Palynofloral changes reflect climate fluctuations. From ca. 43,100 to 41,900 cal. yr BP, a mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forest combined with open grassland occupied the study area, which indicates cooler condition than today. During the period of ca. 41,900-41,200 cal. yr BP, along with fern understory a decrease in subalpine conifers and an increase in temperate deciduous broadleaved trees suggest a climatic amelioration. A climatic deterioration, as evidenced by an increase in subalpine conifers and a decrease in the density of vegetation cover, occurred from ca. 41,200 to 39,700 cal. yr BP.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2013

Land-use/cover changes not only amplify or alleviate influence of climate changes but also they are representative factors to affect environmental change along with climate changes. Thus, the use of land-use/cover changes scenario, consistent climate change scenario is very important to evaluate reliable influences by climate change. The purpose for this study is to predict and analyze the future urban growth considering social and economic scenario from RCP scenario suggested by the 5th evaluation report of IPCC. This study sets land-use/cover changes scenario based on storyline from RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenario. Urban growth rate for each scenario is calculated by urban area per person and GDP for the last 25 years and regression formula based on double logarithmic model. In addition, the urban demand is predicted by the future population and GDP suggested by the government. This predicted demand is spatially distributed by the urban growth probability map made by logistic regression. As a result, the accuracy of urban growth probability map is appeared to be 89.3~90.3% high and the prediction accuracy for RCP 4.5 showed higher value than that of RCP 8.5. Urban areas from 2020 to 2050 showed consistent growth while the rate of increasing urban areas for RCP 8.5 scenario showed higher value than that of RCP 4.5 scenario. Increase of urban areas is predicted by the fact that famlands are damaged. Especially RCP 8.5 scenario indicated more increase not only farmland but also forest than RCP 4.5 scenario. In addition, the decrease of farmland and forest showed higher level from metropolitan cities than province cities. The results of this study is believed to be used for basic data to clarify complex two-way effects quantitatively for future climate change, land-use/cover changes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.68-75
• /
• 2017

Demand for dwarf mondo grass (DMG; Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus') as an ornamental garden plant is expected to grow in the future. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of shade tolerance and ground cover by growing DMG under a variety of shade conditions for 18 months (May 2015~October 2016). DMG plants grown in bare ground for 3 years in Jangheung-gun, Jeonnam were used for testing. In an experimental site created in Naju city in Jeonnam, the DMG was planted in planters ($70cm{\times}70cm{\times}24cm$) and covered with a shading curtain to block natural light. Shaded conditions were then arranged under different levels of shade (0%, 55% and 75%). When the plants were grown, growth (leaf size, the number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight) and ground coverage of DMG were analyzed. According to the results, DMG growth in terms of leaf size and the number of leaves was statistically higher under zero shade (full sunlight), when compared to other shaded conditions. DMG's fresh and dry weights were significantly greater under 0% and 55% shade, compared to those under 75% shade. The degrees of shade tolerance required for normal growth of DMG were found in the range of 0~50%, meaning that more than 50% shade may decrease plant growth. There were no statistical differences in ground coverage rates of DMG under different levels of shade. When 220 tillers were planted per $1m^2$ of plot, up to 80% of the area was covered by DMG after 18 months. Since DMG requires nutrient-rich soil to grow, sufficient nitrogen fertilizers are proposed to accelerate the ground cover of DMG. As DMG remained alive over the winter in the experiments, this study also suggests that DMG can be planted in the southern temperate region.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.81 no.4
• /
• pp.337-345
• /
• 1992

In this research, a kinematic wave model was applied for the runoff analysis, Regulation of streamflow was estimated by the calibration of roughness coefficient as a parameter. The data analyzed were obtained from Ananomiya and Shirasaka experimental basins at Tokyo University Forest in Aichi. Estimation methods and characteristics of roughness coefficient as a evaluation method of hydrological function of forest are summarized as follows ; 1. Roughness coefficient($N_s$) indicates the resistance of hillslope to the flowing water of surface runoff. There exists an hypothesis that resistance of hillslope to flowing water increase with the growth forest and development of the $A_o$ layer. 2. Roughness coefficient($N_s$) was estimated by the parameter when the stream direct runoff was calculated by using the kinematic wave. 3. Secular change of '$N_s$' in ananomiya has a curve which has an upper limit and increases exponentially near the limit. The curve quickly increased from 1935 to 1945 when results of afforestation for erosion control were thought to be effective. On the other hand, slight increase of '$N_s$' in Shirasaka indicates that there was not such a big change in the surface of soil layer. 4. The increase of '$N_s$' was related with decrease of direct runoff and increase of base flow. It was recognized that the rate of direct runoff decreased with the improvement of forest physiognomy and the rate of base flow was increased. But absolute value of water runoff per one storm decreased in chronological order.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.89 no.1
• /
• pp.24-32
• /
• 2000

We investigated the patterns of soil horizon evolution and its water distribution on three different forest stands covered with Larix leptolepis, Pinus koraiensis, and Qercus mongolica on the Experimental Forest of Kyunghee University, located in Kwangju, Kyunggi-Do. Compared to the properties of depths of O and A horizons evolved on the Pinus koraiensis stand, the depths of O and A horizons on the forest stands of Larix leptolepis and Qercus mongolica were shallower, indicating that the soil horizon were deeply influenced by geographical characteristics, its erosive and sedimentary distinction, vegetation cover and its population density. And the bulk densities of the sites selected were lower in the high slope gradient than that in the lower slope gradient at the same depth of soil profile. Therefore, the changes of the soil bulk densities were closely related to the soil organic matter and the vertical transport of soil particle throughout soil depths. On the other hand, the bulk density and organic matter content in soil can influence the water transport phenomena, resulting in decrease of the hydraulic conductivity as the increase in the bulk density, while the organic matter can not affect the hydraulic conductivity on the soil surface layer. For a rainfall infiltration characteristics from a lysimeter experiment established on the stand of Larix leptolepis, the bulk density and slope gradient strongly influenced the vertical transport of water, as well as the lateral movement of rainfall. Conclusively, the characteristics of water movement and distribution in the forest stand can be determined not by the geographical factor such as slope gradient but also by the bulk density and organic matter content remained in soils.