• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-44
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• 1973

Needless to say, the management of national forest in all countries is very important in view of the national mission and management purposes. Korean national forest is also in particular significant in promoting national economy for the continuous increasing of the demand for wood, conservation of the land and social welfare. But there's no denying the fact that the leading aim of the Korean forest policy has been based upon the conservation of forest resources and recovery of land conservation function instead of improvement of the forest productive capacity. Therefore, the management of national forest should be aimed as an industry in the chain of the Korean national economy. And the increment of the forest productive capacity based on rationalized forest management is also urgently needed. Not only the increment of the timber production but also the establishment of the good forest in quality and quantity are to bring naturally many functions of conservation and other public benefits. In 1908 Korean national forest was historically established for the first time as a result of the notification for ownership, and was divided into two kinds in 1911-1924, such as indisposable national forest for land conservation, forest management, scientific research and public welfare, and the other national forest to be disposed. Indisposable forest is mostly under the jurisdiction of national forest stations (Chungbu, Tongbu, Nambu), and the tother national forests are under custody of respective cities and provinces, and under custody of the other government authorities. As of the end of 1971, national forest land is 19.5% (1,297,708 ha) of the total forest land area, but growing stock is 50.1% ($35,406,079m^3$) of the total forest growing stock, and timber production of national forest is 23.6% ($205,959m^3$) of the year production of total timber in Korea. Accordingly, it is the important fact that national forest occupies the major part of Korean forestry. The author positively affirms that success or failure of the management of national forest controls rise or fall of forestry in Korea. All functions of forest are very important, but among others the function of timber production is most important especially in Korea, that unavoidably imports a large quantity of foreign wood every year (in 1971 import of foreign wood-$3,756,000m^3$, 160,995,000 dollars). So, Korea urgently needs the improvement of forest productive capacity in national forest. But it is difficult that wood production meets the rapid increase of demand for wood to the development of economy, because production term of forestry is long, so national forest management should be rationalized by the effective investment and development of forestry techniques in the long view. Although Korean national forest business has many difficulties in the budget, techniques and the lack of labour due to outflow of rural village labour by development of national economy, and the increase of labour wages and administrative expenses etc. the development of national forest depends on adoption of the suitable forest techniques and management adapted for social and economical development. In this view point the writer has investigated and analyzed the status of the management of national forest in Korea to examine the irrational problems and suggest an improvement plan. The national forestry statistics cited in this study is based on the basic statistics and the statistics of the forest business as of the end of 1971 published by Office of Forestry, Republic of Korea, and the other depended on the data presented by the national forest stations. The writer wants to propose as follows (seemed to be helpful in improvement of Korean national forest management). 1) In the organization of national forest management, more national forest stations should be established to manage intensively, and the staff of working plan officials should be strengthened because of the importance of working plan. 2) By increasing the staff of protection officials, forest area assigned for each protection official should be decreased to 1,000-2,000 ha. 3) The frequent personnel changes of supervisor of national forest station(the responsible person on-the-spot) obstructs to accomplish the consistent management plan. 4) In the working plan drafting for national forest, basic investigations should be carefully practiced with sufficient expenditure and staff not to draft unreal working plan. 5) The area of working-unit should be decreased to less than 2,000 ha on the average for intensive management and the principle of a working-unit in a forest station should be realized as soon as possible. 6) Reforestation on open land should be completed in a short time with a debt of the special fund(a long term loan), and the land on which growing hardwood stands should be changed with conifers to increase productivity per unit area, and at the same time techical utilization method of hardwood should be developed. 7) Expenses of reforestation should be saved by mechanization and use of chemicals for reforestation and tree nursery operation providing against the lack of labour in future. 8) In forest protection, forest fire damage is enormous in comparison with foreign countries, accordingly prevention system and equipment should be improved, and also the minimum necessary budget should be counted up for establishment and manintenance of fire-lines. 9) Manufacture production should be enlarged to systematize protection, processing and circulation of forest business, and, by doing this, mich benefit is naturally given for rural people. 10) Establishment and arrangement of forest road networks and erosion control work are indispensable for the future development of national forest itself and local development. Therefore, these works should be promoted by the responsibility of general accounting instead of special accounting. 11) Mechanization of forest works should be realized for exploiting hinterlands to meet the demand for timber increased and for solving lack of labour, consequently it should promote import of forest machines, home production, training for operaters and careful adminitration. 12) Situation of labour in future will grow worse. Therefore, the countermeasure to maintain forest labourers and pay attention to public welfare facilities and works should be considered. 13) Although the condition of income and expenditure grows worse because of economical change, the regular expenditure should be fixed. So part of the surplus fund, as of the end of 1971, should be established for the fund, and used for enlarging reforestation and forest road networks(preceding investment in national forest).

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.391-396
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• 2021

In this study, items for forest policy and forest resource research in Austria, Japan, New Zealand, and Indonesia, which are major forest advanced countries, were investigated, and the applicability of point cloud data acquired through laser scanning was identified. Through the study, it was found that forest policies in developed countries are being pursued for the purpose of sustainable forest conservation and management, job creation, and timber productivity improvement, and that new technologies are being researched and applied to actual projects. Korea has a high proportion of forests compared to the national land area compared to major forestry developed countries, but the accumulation of trees is relatively low, so it is a time for scientific forest management to improve the accumulation of trees. To understand the applicability of laser scanning technology, a forest resource survey using point cloud data was conducted, and the diameter of breast height, height, number of trees per unit area were calculated, and the shape of the crown was identified. If field experiments and accuracy evaluations applying various laser scanning technologies are carried out in the future, it will be possible to present the quantitative improvement of forest resource survey using foil cloud.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.99-112
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• 2020

This study aims to propose biotope field datasheet and biotope type classification based on habitat-based by analyzing the German biotope system. The German system began in 1976 and has established a habitat-based national biotope classification system. On the other hand, Korea institutionalized in 2018 to build a classification system based on land use and land cover, which is a classification system that does not fully reflect ecosystem in Korea. Germany operates 44 biotope classification systems and 40 biotope field datasheet. Korea uses a single biotope field datasheet regardless of the biotope type. This classification system may not reflect the characteristics of Korea's biotope ecological habitat. The biotope classification system of Korea was proposed by dividing it into five categories: mountain ecology, freshwater ecology, land ecology, coastal ecology, and development area to reflect ecosystem habitat. The biotope type was designed as a system of large-classification-middle-small classification and subdivided into medium-classification and subdivided in each biotope system. The major classifications were classified into 44 categories according to the mountainous biotope(11), freshwater biotope(8), terrestrial biotope (12), coastal biotope(6), and development biotope(7). Unlike Germany, Korea's biotope field datasheet was proposed in five ways according to the classification of major ecosystem types. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the policy suggestion and the utilization of ecosystem conservation because the biotope classification system is classified to reflect the characteristics of ecosystem habitats.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2016

Remote sensing is an efficient technology for observing and monitoring the land surfaces inaccessible to humans. This research proposes a methodology for improving the accuracy of the land cover classification using the Landsat-8 operational land imager(OLI) image. The proposed methodology consists of the following steps. First, the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) and normalized difference water index(NDWI) images are generated from the given Landsat-8 OLI image. Then, a new image is generated by adding both NDVI and NDWI images to the original Landsat-8 OLI image using the layer-stacking method. Finally, the maximum likelihood classification(MLC), and support vector machine(SVM) methods are separately applied to the original Landsat-8 OLI image and new image to identify the five classes namely water, forest, cropland, bare soil, and artificial structure. The comparison of the results shows that the utilization of the layer-stacking method improves the accuracy of the land cover classification by 8% for the MLC method and by 1.6% for the SVM method. This research proposes a methodology for improving the accuracy of the land cover classification by using the layer-stacking method.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.3
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• pp.431-438
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• 2014

This study was conducted to assess forest biomass resource which is a carbon sink and a renewable resource in Korea. The total forest biomass resource potential was 804 million tons, and conifers, broadleaved forest and mixed forest accounted for 265 million tons, 282 million tons, and 257 million tons, respectively. Proportionately to regional forest stocks, biomass potential of Gangwon-do had most biomass potential, followed by Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. The woody biomass from the byproduct of sawn timber in commercial harvesting was 707 thousand ton/year, and that from the byproduct of forest tending was 592 thousand ton/year. The amount resulted in about 1,300 thousand ton/year of potential supplies from forest biomass resource into the energy market. It's tonnage of oil equivalent(toe) was 585 thousand ton/year. In this study, we developed a program (BiomassMap V2.0) for forest biomass resource mapping. Used system to develop this program was Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Access ArcGIS and Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. Additionally, This program made use of tool such as ESRI MapObjects2.1 in order to take advantage of spatial information. This program shows the map of total biomass stock, annual biomass growth at forest land in Korea, and biomass production from forest tending and commercial harvesting. The information can also be managed by the program. The biomass resource map can be identified by regional and forest type for the purpose of utilization. So, we expect the map and program to be very useful for forest managers in the near future.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-18
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• 2018

In Korea, 64% of the land is known as mountain area, but the definition and classification standard of mountain are not clear. Demand for utilization and development of mountain area is increasing. In this situation, the unclear definition and scope of the mountain area can lead to the destruction of the mountain and the increase of disasters due to indiscreet permission of forestland use conversion. Therefore, this study analyzed the variables and criteria that can extract the mountain boundaries through the questionnaire survey and the terrain analysis. We developed a mountain boundary extraction algorithm that can classify topographic mountain by using selected variables. As a result, 72.1% of the total land was analyzed as mountain area. For the three catchment areas with different mountain area ratio, we compared the results with the existing data such as forestland map and cadastral map. We confirmed the differences in boundary and distribution of mountain. In a catchment area with predominantly mountainous area, the algorithmbased mountain classification results were judged to be wider than the mountain or forest of the two maps. On the other hand, in the basin where the non-mountainous region predominated, algorithm-based results yielded a lower mountain area ratio than the other two maps. In the two maps, we was able to confirm the distribution of fragmented mountains. However, these areas were classified as non-mountain areas in algorithm-based results. We concluded that this result occurred because of the algorithm, so it is necessary to refine and elaborate the algorithm afterward. Nevertheless, this algorithm can analyze the topographic variables and the optimal value by watershed that can distinguish the mountain area. The results of this study are significant in that the mountain boundaries were extracted considering the characteristics of different mountain topography by region. This study will help establish policies for stable mountain management.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.19-31
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• 2022

The definition of urban forest is described as all forest and trees except the Natural Parks throughout whole territory in Urban Forest Act. But the concept of urban forest in the law differs from general awareness by Korean citizen and from definitions of other countries. For discussing such differences of urban forest definition, it was tested how much urban forest area would be changed according to the various definition of urban area. The urban area was defined to be four scenarios in this study in consideration of "urban area" by National Land Planning and Utilization Act (NLPUA), 300m buffered boundary from the "urban area" proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) and forest watershed area. In the scenario 1, including forest watershed intersected with "urban area" by NLPUA, urban forest area was estimated at 1.83 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 386㎡. In the scenario 2, including forest watershed intersected with 300m buffered boundary from the "urban area" by NLPUA, urban forest area was estimated at 1.92 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 405㎡. In the scenario 3, including forest watershed intersected with "urban area" placed within administration boundary (Eup·Dong districts), urban forest area was estimated at 1.08 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 230㎡. In the scenario 4, including forest watershed intersected with 300m buffered boundary from "urban area" placed within administration boundary, urban forest area was estimated at 1.20 million ha in which urban forest area per person was 256㎡. Therefore, the boundary of urban area should be agreed clearly prior to defining the urban forest area for avoiding unclear area calculated according to different definitions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.31-46
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• 2021

In South Korea, there is a growing domestic need for a biotope map which contains ecological and environmental geographic information of a city. After the production of a Urban Ecological Maps(biotope map) by the Seoul metropolitan government in 2000, Natural Environment Conservation Act was revised in 2017 to make it mandatory for a local government to draw up its own urban ecological map. The aim of the present study was to find out ways to utilize an urban ecological map as a mean of communication between natural environment planning and urban planning sectors in a preliminary stage before introducing a big framework of 'environmental and ecological planning.' The northern area of Incheon metropolitan city was selected as the target area for this study. The major research content includes a comparative analysis of special-purpose zones, urban planning zones, restricted development zones, and conservation forests with focus on biotope types and Grades 1 of 'Biotope Type Assessment.' Farmland biotopes and forest biotopes within an area designated as an urban zone (residential, commercial and industrial zones) need to be redesignated as a zone which can conserve them. Especially considering a high possibility of damage to a large scale of natural green areas, these areas need to be readjusted immediately. If the entire area designated as an urban planning zone is to be developed, it is likely to cause serious damage to natural biotopes in the area (56.2%), including farmland biotope (30.4%), forest biotope (15.0%) and grassland biotope (10.8%), and thus, readjustment is needed. In case of a conservation forest, as it can possibly be damaged by the designation of special-purpose zones, it is necessary to match the designation of conservation forests or a special-purpose zones with their biotope types. In conclusion, we present a variety of thematic maps for utilization of an urban ecological map and propose a phase-specific environmental and ecological plan. Phase 1 is the establishment of a urban plan in consideration of ecological status; Phase 2 is the independent establishment of an environmental and ecological plan by an environment department; Phase 3 is an integrated management of ecological planning system and urban planning system.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.123-148
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• 2012

Deforestation and forest degradation in Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) accelerated from the mid 1980s through the economic crisis in 1990s and is still happening. DPRK has conducted afforestation and reforestation activities against this trend. However there are not many official documents on achievement of forest rehabilitation in DPRK. "Rodong Shinmun," as an official newspaper published by North Korean Workers Party, represents governmental policies and is one of a few accessible information on DPRK which is available in Republic of Korea (ROK). This paper aims to investigate the national forest policies of the DPRK represented in Rodong Shinmun. Total of 499 articles using the word 'Sanlim (forest)' and 'Rimsan (forest product)' in the title of articles were selected for content analysis. The national forest plans and forest policy instruments contained in the selected articles were analyzed. The subjects of represented forest policies were classified into four groups; forestation, forest management, land management and forest protection or conservation. The focus of forest policy was changed from economic utilization of forest resources such as timber production in the 1990s to forest protection in the 2000s. Rodong Shinmun reported more frequently about regulatory instruments and informational instruments than the economic instruments. Official commendation and awards were the main incentives given to the people who contributed to forestry achievements. In particular, forest policies were emphasized by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and afforestation and forest protection were described as patriotic activities in the Rodong Shinmun. In conclusion, this research revealed that Rodong Shinmun plays a role as a means for introducing, propagating and instigating forest policies in the society of the DPRK. The findings help to understand the forest policies of the DPRK which could be useful when designing development aids for DPRK.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2017

The Hwasan wetland vegetation is observed at mountain basin (644~780 m a.s.l.) where had become a potential land for indigenous people since prehistoric period. We phytosociologically investigated old-growth alder (Alnus japonica) forests using the $Z\ddot{u}rich$-Montpellier School's method and analyzed their spatial distribution pattern by actual vegetation map. Species performance was determined by using coverage and r-NCD. Viburnum opulus var. calvescens-Alnus japonica community syntaxonomically belonging to the Alnetea japonicae was first described and composed of three subunits: Salix koreensis subcommunity, typical subcommunity, and Pyrus ussuriensis subcommunity. Present plant community was compared with vicariant syntaxa such as Molinia japonica-Alnus japonica community, Rhamno nipponicae-Alnetum japonicae, and Aceri-Salicetum koreensis. Hwasan's alder forest, an alluvial terrace vegetation type on valley fan in the montane zone, is evaluated as vegetation class [I], which is a sort of benchmark plant community potentially on mountain wetlands in southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. Simultaneously we suggested an establishment of the national strategy for habitat conservation free from hydrologically radical transform due to military utilization.