• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.78-90
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• 2020

We studied forest structure and composition in the vicinity of Srinagar Hydroelectric Power Project in Alaknanda Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India to provide baseline data for the management of forests. Eight sites were selected in the vicinity of power project based on elevation and species composition. Density varied from 650 to 340 ind ha^-1 for trees and from 4,360 to 6,480 ind ha^-1 for shrubs. TBC ranged from 35.02 to 54.02 ㎡ ha^-1 for trees and from 0.875 to 2.628 ㎡ ha^-1 for shrubs. On the basis of density and IVI, Pinus roxburghii was found dominant tree species in most of the sites, whereas among the shrubs, Carissa opaca was dominant. Dominance of Pinus roxburghii in most of the sites is an indication towards possible threat to associated species in the area. The dominance-diversity curve of trees showed a geometric distribution, whereas the shrubs displayed log-normal curves. The forest has rich and diverse species composition however; habitat degradation caused by the construction of Power Project might lead to reduction of plant species from the area. The information obtained from this study will be helpful in predicting possible changes in the forest ecosystem properties in near future after completion of the power project.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.5
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• pp.593-601
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• 2009

Forest disturbances including forest fire, insect pests and diseases, landslides, and forest conversion from 1976 to 2005 were investigated to trace the changes of major forest disturbance agents and their characteristics over time in accordance with changes in natural and social environment in South Korea. While the damaged area by insect pests and diseases continuously decreased for the past 30 years, damaged areas by forest fire and landslide were fluctuating through years. The interval of large forest fires has become shorter with increased tree volume. The precipitation between January and April were significantly correlated with large fire occurrences as Pearson's correlation coefficient -0.400 (P=0.029). The composition of major insect pests and diseases damaging Korean forests has been changed continuously, and become more diversified. While damages by pine caterpillar (Dendrolimus spectabilis) and pine needle gall midge (Thecodiplosis japonensis) decreased, damage by introduced pests has been more serious recently. The change of precipitation pattern that brought more localized heavy rain or powerful typhoon resulted in the recent increase in landslide areas. The major land uses to induce forest conversion have been changed, reflecting the changes in industrial structure in South Korea as agriculture and mining in 1970s, mining and golf ranges classified in pasture in 1980s, and road and housing construction in 1990s and 2000s. Changes in forest disturbance patterns in South Korea show that a country's industrial development is jointly working with global warming on forest stand dynamics. Altering energy structure and land use pattern induced by industrial development accumulates forest volume and reforms microenvironments on forest floor, interacting with climate change, inducing shorter interval of large forest fire and changes in major species composition of forest insect pests and diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.4
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• pp.465-475
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• 2001

Based on the community structural attributes, such as species composition, diameter and height distribution, topographic position, and species diversity in the natural deciduous forest of Mt. Gari area, this study suggested desirable species and composition ratio to achieve ecological management of forests so as to maintain forest stability and enhance economical values. The results are as follows : 1. Twenty-five tree species were growing in the study forest. Of these Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Juglans mandshurica, Quercus serrata, Cornus controversa, Acer mono, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, and Tilia mandshurica were selected for desirable species through the evaluation of dominant and dominant potential. Kalopanax pictus, considered to be highly valuable species, was also included. 2. Taking account of different species composition pattern by topographic positions, we select as desirable species of J. mandshurica, C. controversa, Q. mongolica, A. mono, T. mandshurica, and F. rhynchophylla in the valley area, Q. mongolica, Q. serrata, A. mono, T. mandshurica, F. rhynchophylla, and K. pictus in the mid-slope area, and Q. mongolica, P. densiflora, Q. serrata, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla in the ridge area. 3. Based on the estimation of species diversity index for the overstory components, the reasonable forest stability levels of the indices were estimated at 1.96, 1.68, 1.94, and 1.27 for whole forest, valley, midslope, and ridge, respectively. 4. The recommended species composition ratios in the study forest were suggested Q. mongolica to be 30%, A. mono, F. rhynchophylla, Q. serrata, and T. mandshurica to be 10%~15%, J. mandshurica, P. densiflora, and C. controversa to be 5%~10%, and K. pictus to be 5%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.123-130
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• 2009

Fragmentation due to land developments causes disturbances and changes of composition in forest vegetation. The purpose of the study was to develop the impact assessment model for quantitative distance or degree of disturbance by land developments. This study conducted a survey about structure and composition of forest vegetation to determine degree of impact from land developments. The results of field survey, there was a difference in structure and composition of forest vegetation such as tree canopy, herbaceous cover, and number of vine and alien species the distances from edge to interior area such as 0m, 10m, 20m, 40m, and over 60m. To assess the disturbance of forest vegetation, the factors selected were the rate of vine's cover and appearance of alien species. The impact assessment model about vine species explained by a distance, forest patch size, type of forest fragmentation, and type of vegetation ($R^2$=0.44, p<0.001). The other model about alien species explained by a distance, type of forest fragmentation, type of vegetation, and width of road (85.9%, p<0.005). The models applied to Samsong housing development in Goyang-si, Gyunggi-do. The vines and alien species in the study area have had a substantial impact on forest vegetation from edge to 20 or 40m. The impact assessment models were high reliability for estimating impacts to land developments. The impact of forest vegetation by development activities could be minimized thorough the adoption of the models introduced at the stage of EIA.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.229-255
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• 2017

This study empirically estimates the impacts of climate change on forest composition in Korea using a fractional data regression model, and forecasts the change in forest composition in the 2040s and 2090s based on the IPCC climate change scenarios. Unlike the forest science studies that incorporate mostly only ecological variables as the determinants of forest composition, we take into account regional level socio-economic and forest management variables as well. Our estimation results found that not only environmental factors but also socio-economic and forest management related factors strongly affect the composition of Korean forest. Based on the estimation results and IPCC scenarios on climate change, we predict that the share of currently dominant coniferous forest will decline in the future under all scenarios. About 10% of total forest area is likely to be converted from coniferous forest into broadleaved forest until 2090s under the scenario RCP 8.5. It is also predicted that there will be a substantial regional variation in the effects of climate change on forest composition, and the coniferous forests in the inland regions will decline more dramatically.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify physical and psychological effects of life-oriented forest healing program (LOFH) using urban forests in adults over 40 years of age. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pre-posttest design was used. There were 50 participants in the experimental group and 52 in the control group (a total of 102 individuals). The LOFH was conducted twice a week (3 hours per week) for a total of four weeks. Body composition, psychological states (such as depression and anxiety), and quality of life (QOL) were measured before and after the program. Results: Depression was significantly reduced in the group to which the forest healing program was applied. There was no significant difference in body composition (body mass index, body fat percentage, muscle mass, lean mass), other psychological states (anxiety, mood), or QOL. Conclusion: The LOFH was useful for improving depression in adults over 40 years of age. It is necessary to develop other LOFHs to improve body composition and quality of life.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2020

Poplar trees from the Salicaceae family over the years have been utilized for various reasons which include prevention of deforestation as well as phytoremediation. This study aims to determine the optimal pre-treatment and soil conditions required for propagation of poplar cuttings for increased initial adaptability and survival rate. Five poplar clones (Hanan, 110, 107, DN-34, 52-225) were selected for IBA, soil composition treatments on propagation. IBA pre-treatment of cuttings were utilized 0, 10, and 100 mg l-1 concentrations. Soil compositions were amended with TKS-2+perlite 2:1 (v:v) and sandy clay loam mixed with artificial soil. According to the greenhouse results 10 mg l-1 of IBA showed a significant increase in plant height whereas 100 mg l-1 inhibited plant growth except in clone 110. Soil composition severely affected root growth and hence overall growth of the clones. Sandy clay loam soil had poor to stunted growth compared to TKS-2+perlite.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.90-102
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• 2018

Background: We sought to understand the relationship between the seed bank and vegetation in abandoned rice paddies in South Korea, in order to guide management of these sites. We investigated the floristic composition and species richness of the soil seed bank and ground vegetation in former paddies along three seral gradients (wet meadow, young forest, and mature forest) in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve. Results: Seed bank samples contained 59 species, of which the dominant families were Cyperaceae, Gramineae, and Polygonaceae. Species richness and seedling density (59 taxa and 19,121 germinants from all samples) were high. Carex spp. (11, 921 germinants) were the dominant taxa. The species composition in the seed bank changed gradually as the land transitioned from wet meadow to mature forest. Sørensen's index of similarity between above- and below-ground vegetation was 29.3% for wet meadow, 10.8% for young forest, and 2.1% for mature forest. Germinant density also declined, with 10, 256 germinants for wet meadow, 6445 germinants for young forest, and 2420 germinants for mature forest. Conclusions: Changes in aboveground environment and life history traits such as amphicarpic plants, likely affect the composition of soil seed bank species. Abandoned paddy fields may be good sites for restoration of wetland forest and conservation of wetland habitat. Some intervention may be required to promote the recovery of a natural species assemblage.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2019

Plants are consumed by a myriad of organisms that compete for resources. Direct interactions among multiple plant-feeding organisms in a single host can range for each species from positive to negative. Wood-boring beetle faces a number of biotic and abiotic constraints that interfere with the good prospects from the tree. Biotic factors, including arthropod pests and diseases, and abiotic factors, such as drought and water-logging, are the major constraints affecting the species. The present study aimed to provide basic data for analyzing forest health, identify the kinds of wood-boring beetles in the central part of Korea. Our second goal was to analyze the species composition and diversity of regional communities and to examine. A total of 10,461 individual wood-boring beetles belonging to 8 families and 50 species attracted to trap trees in the pine forests were recorded during the study period on study sites. The results of the analysis of collected species showed that the community structure on all study sites was similar. Seasonal occurrences of dominant wood-boring beetles (5 species) from each study site showed the highest number of all species, except for Siphalinus gigas in May, followed by a gradual decline, and the largest number of Siphalinus gigas appeared in June. The similarity index of species composition was relatively high, ranging from 0.75 to 0.90 for each study site.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

The correlation between disturbance intensity and stand development was evaluated on the basis of natural forest community type classification in areas of Baekhaksan (more disturbed area) and Hwangaksan (less disturbed area). The vegetation data were collected by point-centered quarter sampling method, and they were subjected to cluster analysis for classifying community types and to analysis of species composition and species diversity for reviewing ecological characteristics. By the method of cluster analysis, natural forests of Baekhaksan were classified into Quercus forest community, Pinus densiflora community, Q. variabilis community, and Q. mongolica community. Those of Hwangaksan were divided into P. densiflora community, Q. mongolica community, Q. forest community, and Mixed mesophytic community. It is presumed that more developed and less disturbed forest area shows multiple species community pattern and more diversified structure than less developed and more disturbed forest area. In Korean peninsula, the abundance of red pine may play an important indicator to estimate the developmental pattern of the forest after artificial disturbance. The overall evaluation indicated that less disturbed Hwangaksan area had more developed stand pattern with mixed mesophytic community, more complicated species composition, and higher species diversity than Baekhaksan area.