• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2016

This study was conducted to estimate carbon stock and uptake for Larix kaempferi Lamb., the single species, which is the most widely distributed one following Pinus densiflora, using data from 6th national forest inventory and forest type map of 1:5,000. Overall distribution area of Larix kaempferi in South Korea was shown as 272,800ha, in detail, Gangwon-do was the most widely distributed region with 39.6% (108,141 ha) of the whole forest area, and Gyeongsangbuk-do was 18.6%(50,839 ha), Chungcheongbuk-do was 15.1%(41,205ha) in order. As the results of analysis in carbon stock and uptake for each province, the values were high with Gyeonggi-do 109.0 tC/ha, $10.3tCO_2/ha/yr$, Gangwon-do 349.1 tC/ha, $9.7tCO_2/ha/yr$ in order, and Jeollabuk-do was the lowest with 78.3 tC/ha, $7.6tCO_2/ha/yr$. Also, the results of estimation in total carbon stocks and uptakes by year (1989~2015) were turned out that total carbon stocks and uptakes were 24,891 thousand tC, $2,428thousand\;tCO_2$ in 2015, increasing about 4.8 times and 3.8 times each compared with 5,238 thousand C/ha, $640thousand\;CO_2$ in 1989. Although forest area was decreased 26.6% with 371,884 ha in 1989 to 272,800 ha in 2015, carbon stocks and uptakes were increased in 2015 in that forest stock was increased 126% compared to 1989.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.4
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• pp.527-535
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• 2015

With results from previous Korean studies on forest thinning, we conducted a meta-analysis on the effect of thinning on diameter at breast height (DBH) growth and carbon (C) stocks (tree, litter layer, coarse woody debris (CWD), and soils) in Korean forests. Thinning increased the DBH growth and the C stocks in soils by 39.2% and 12.8%, respectively, while it decreased the C stocks in tree by 30.9%. In contrast, thinning had no significant effect on the C stocks in litter layer and CWD. The DBH growth and the C stocks in tree showed significant correlations with thinning intensity and recovery time. The C stocks in litter layer correlated with recovery time while those in CWD and soils did not show significant correlation neither with thinning intensity nor with recovery time. Regression models of the DBH growth and the C stocks in tree were developed to quantify the effect of thinning intensity and recovery time. An integration of the regression model of the tree C stock into forest carbon models is expected to be essential to quantify the effect of thinning on the C stocks in litter layer, CWD, and soils. We also suggested expansion of study species, long-term and frequent monitoring, and investigation on understory vegetation in order to elucidate changes in Korean forests following thinning practices.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2020

This study aimed to compare the organic carbon stocks of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa stands established under a similar-site environmental condition in South Korea. C. japonica and C. obtusa stands adjacent to each other from 13 representative regions were chosen to evaluate the carbon stocks of tree biomass, forest floor, and mineral soils. Mean stand ages were 45 years for C. japonica and 43 years for C. obtusa, respectively. Tree density was significantly lower in C. japonica (989 tree ha^-1) than in C. obtusa (1,223 tree ha^-1) stands, whereas diameter at breast height and dominant tree height values were significantly higher in C. japonica (27.4 cm and 20.4 m, respectively), compared with C. obtusa (23.9 cm and 17.9 m, respectively) stands. The total carbon stocks of tree biomass were linearly related with stand basal area (C. japonica: r² = 0.82; C. obtusa: r²= 0.92; P< 0.05), whereas stand density and site index were not correlated with the carbon stocks of tree biomass (P > 0.05). The carbon stocks of aboveground tree biomass were significantly higher in C. obtusa (117.7 Mg C ha^-1), compared with C. japonica (95.5 Mg C ha^-1) stands, whereas carbon concentration and stocks of the forest floor and mineral soil layers were insignificantly different between the C. japonica and C. obtusa stands. The results indicated that trees in C. obtusa stands sequestrated more carbon dioxide, compared with C. japonica stands, whereas carbon stocks in the forest floor and mineral soil layers were unaffected by stand development processes of the different tree species.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2015

Tropical forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change, and therefore, an accurate and precise estimation of tropical forest carbon (C) is needed. However, there are many uncertainties associated with C stock estimation in a tropical forest, mainly due to its large variations in biomass. Hence, we quantified C stocks in an intact lowland mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF) in Brunei, and investigated variations in biomass and topography. Tree, deadwood, and soil C stocks were estimated by using the allometric equation method, the line intersect method, and the sampling method, respectively. Understory vegetation and litter were also sampled. We then analyzed spatial variations in tree and deadwood biomass in relation to topography. The total C stock was 321.4 Mg C $ha^{-1}$, and living biomass, dead organic matter, and soil C stocks accounted for 67%, 11%, and 23%, respectively, of the total. The results reveal that there was a relatively high C stock, even compared to other tropical forests, and that there was no significant relationship between biomass and topography. Our results provide useful reference data and a greater understanding of biomass variations in lowland MDFs, which could be used for greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.708-714
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• 2011

Wood store carbon that the forest absorbed until burned or decomposed over a long period. Such materials are most used in houses except in paper and pulp, and the use of wood in houses play an important role in reducing green-house gases. Therefore, we estimated the amount of carbon stocks in Korean houses, and analyzed how much contribution such stocks offers to green-house gas reduction. As the result, the carbon stocks amount of the wood products in Korean houses was 28.4 million $tCO_2$, which is 4.6% of the total annual green-house gas emission in Korea (620 million $tCO_2$ e), and 77.4% of forest sinks (LULUCF). Even though few wooden houses which use most wood in housing exist in Korea, the carbon stocks of wood products in houses in 2010 increased to 4.1 times that in 1975 (21.4 million $tCO_2$) because the carbon stocks increased due to apartment construction, which hit its stride from the last 1980's.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 2022

We compared carbon stocks in tree biomass and soils of Quercus acutissima, Q. mongolica, Q. serrata, and Q. variabilis stands. A total of 531 plots (Q. acutissima: 110 plots, Q. mongolica: 177 plots, Q. serrata: 96 plots, Q. variabilis: 148 plots) were examined between 2016 and 2021 to determine the tree biomass and soil carbon stocks throughout the country. The carbon stocks of tree biomass were significantly higher in Q. mongolica (mean stand age, 57 years, 144.9 Mg C ha^-1) than in Q. variabilis (mean stand age, 43 years, 123.7 Mg C ha^-1), Q. serrata (mean stand age, 43 years, 120.1 Mg C ha^-1), and Q. acutissima (mean stand age, 36 years, 113.2 Mg C ha^-1) stands. The soil carbon concentration was significantly higher in Q. mongolica (A: 43.1 mg C g-1) than in Q. serrata (31.0 mg C g-1), Q. variabilis (25.31 mg C g-1), and Q. acutissima (24.4 mg C g-1) stands. The soil carbon stocks were significantly higher in Q. mongolica (116.8 Mg C ha^-1) than in Q. acutissima (49.3 Mg C ha^-1) stands. Total carbon stocks of tree biomass and soil were highest in Q. mongolica (262 Mg C ha^-1), followed by Q. serrata (218 Mg C ha^-1), Q. variabilis (211 Mg C ha^-1), and Q. acutissima (163 Mg C ha^-1) stands. Multiple linear regressions were performed to estimate the total carbon stocks of the four Quercus spp., and results showed that total carbon stocks increased with increasing elevation, mean diameter at breast height, and basal areas. Basal area and elevation of Quercus spp. stands were important explanatory variables based on multiple linear regressions for estimating carbon stocks.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2013

The carbon-offset mechanism based on forest management has been recognized as a meaningful tool to sequestrate carbons already existing in the atmosphere. Thus, with an emphasis on the forest-originated carbon-offset mechanism, the accurate measurement of the carbon stock in forests has become important, as carbon credits should be issued proportionally with forest carbon stocks. Various remote sensing techniques have already been developed for measuring forest carbon stocks. Yet, despite the efficiency of remote sensing techniques, the final accuracy of their carbon stock estimations is disputable. Therefore, minimizing the uncertainty embedded in the application of remote sensing techniques is important to prevent questions over the carbon stock evaluation for issuing carbon credits. Accordingly, this study reviews the overall procedures of carbon stock evaluation-related remote sensing techniques and identifies the problematic technical issues when measuring the carbon stock. The procedures are sub-divided into four stages: the characteristics of the remote sensing sensor, data preparation, data analysis, and evaluation. Depending on the choice of technique, there are many disputable issues in each stage, resulting in quite different results for the final carbon stock evaluation. Thus, the establishment of detailed standards for each stageis urgently needed. From a policy-making perspective, the top priority should be given to establishinga standard sampling technique and enhancing the statistical analysis tools.

• Forest Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.181-191
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• 2018

This study was carried out in the teaching and research forest of the University of Dschang in Belabo, with the aim of analysing land-cover and land-use changes as well as carbon stocks dynamic. The databases used are composed of three Landsat satellite images (5TM of 1984, 7ETM + of 2000 and 8OLI of 2016), enhanced by field missions. Satellite images were processed using ENVI and ArcGIS software. Interview, focus group discussion methods and participatory mapping were used to identify the activities carried out by the local population. An inventory design consisting of four transects was used to measure dendrometric parameters and to identify land-use types. An estimation of carbon stocks in aboveground and underground woody biomass was made using allometric models based on non-destructive method. Dynamic of land-cover showed that the average annual rate of deforestation is 0.48%. The main activities at the base of this change are agriculture, house built-up and logging. Seven types of land-use were identified; adult secondary forests (64.10%), young secondary forests (7.54%), wetlands (7.39%), fallows (3.63%), savannahs (9.59%), cocoa farms (4.28%) and mixed crop farms (3.47%). Adult secondary forests had the highest amount of carbon ($250.75\;t\;C\;ha^{-1}$). This value has decreased by more than 60% for mixed crop farms ($94.67\;t\;C\;ha^{-1}$), showing the impact of agricultural activities on both forest cover and carbon stocks. Agroforestry systems that allow conservation and introduction of woody species should be encouraged as part of a participatory management strategy of this forest.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.128-140
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• 2021

Tropical dry forests are one of the most threatened, widely distributed ecosystems in tropics and estimation of forest biomass is a crucial component of global carbon emission estimation. Therefore, the present study was aimed to quantify the biomass and carbon storage in trees on large scale (10, 1 ha plots) in the dry mixed evergreen forest of Javadhu forest of Eastern Ghats. Biomass of adult (≥10 cm DBH) trees was estimated by non-harvest methods. The total biomass of trees in this tropical dry mixed evergreen forest was ranged from 160.02 to 250.8 Mg/ha, with a mean of 202.04±24.64 Mg/ha. Among the 62 tree species enumerated, Memecylon umbellatum accumulated greater biomass and carbon stocks (24.29%) more than the other species in the 10 ha study plots. ANOVA revealed that there existed a significant variation in the total biomass and carbon stock among the three plant types (Evergreen, brevi-deciduous and deciduous (F (2, 17)=15.343, p<0.001). Basal area and density was significant positively correlated with aboveground biomass (R² 0.980; 0.680) while species richness exhibited negative correlation with above ground biomass (R² 0.167). Finding of present study may be interpreted as most of the trees in this forest are yet to be matured and there is a net addition to standing biomass leading to carbon storage.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.236-256
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• 2011

Forest carbon stocks change due to land use change is an important data required by UNFCCC(United Nations framework convention on climate change). Spatially explicit estimation of forest carbon stocks based on IPCC GPG(intergovernmental panel on climate change good practice guidance) tier 3 gives high reliability. But a current estimation which was aggregated from NFI data doesn't have detail forest carbon stocks by polygon or cell. In order to improve an estimation remote sensing and GIS have been used especially in Europe and North America. We divided research trends in main countries into 4 categories such as remote sensing, GIS, geostatistics and environmental modeling considering spatial heterogeneity. The easiest way to apply is combination NFI data with forest type map based on GIS. Considering especially complicated forest structure of Korea, geostatistics is useful to estimate local variation of forest carbon. In addition, fine scale image is good for verification of forest carbon stocks and determination of CDM site. Related domestic researches are still on initial status and forest carbon stocks are mainly estimated using k-nearest neighbor(k-NN). In order to select suitable method for forest in Korea, an applicability of diverse spatial data and algorithm must be considered. Also the comparison between methods is required.