• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2016

Forest sequesters large terrestrial carbon which is stored in the biomass of tree and plays a key role in reducing atmospheric carbon. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to assess the growing stock, above ground biomass and carbon in trees of Ponda watershed of Rajouri district (J&K). IRS-P6 LISS-III satellite data of October 2010 was used for preparation of land use/land cover map and forest density map of the study area by visual interpretation. The growing stock estimation was done for the study area as well as for the sample plots laid in forest and agriculture fields. The growing stock and biomass of trees were estimated using species specific volume equations and using specific gravity of wood, respectively. The total growing stock in the study area was estimated to be $0.25million\;m^3$ which varied between $85.94m^3/ha$ in open pine to $11.58m^3/ha$ in degraded pine forest. However in agriculture area, growing stock volume density of $14.85m^3/ha$ was recorded. Similarly, out of the total biomass (0.012 million tons) and carbon (0.056 million tons) in the study area, open pine forest accounted for the highest values of 43.74 t/ha and 19.68 t/ha and lowest values of 5.68 t/ha and 2.55 t/ha, respectively for the degraded pine forest. The biomass and carbon density in agriculture area obtained was 5.49 t/ha and 2.47 t/ha, respectively. In all the three forest classes Pinus roxburghii showed highest average values of growing stock volume density, biomass and carbon.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.304-311
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• 2010

Korea National Forest Inventory System has been adopting different cluster plot design and new equations to estimate growing stock volumes since 2006. These changes have resulted in volume estimations which show some difference from previous ones. This study is to find out the source of such difference. For this, relevant data was collected from 80 plots of 20 cluster samples according to the cluster plot design applied to 4th and 5th National Forest Inventory. Then growing stock volumes were estimated by using current and previous individual tree volume equations respectively. An investigation was made to detect whether such difference in volume estimates was originated from the changes in cluster plot design or from using different volume equations. T-test results showed that the difference from changes in cluster plot design was negligible. Instead, changes in volume equations had statistically significant effects in volume estimation. Since the volume estimation by the 5th National Forest Inventory would bring overestimation by applying different volume equations, all the volume estimations made prior to 2006 would require necessary modifications for international reporting.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.1-24
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• 2022

We investigate how reforestation contributed to stabilization of riverine water levels in South Korea. For the purpose, we estimate an equation capturing dynamic relationships among rainfall, upstream-area tree stock, and downstream water levels in three river systems of Hongcheon, Mangyeong, and Hyeongsan, using daily observations of precipitation and water levels for the period from 1985 to 2005. Simulation based on estimation results shows that increase in the tree stock in a river basin leads to a significantly suppressed peaking in riverine water levels in response to an abrupt and concentrated rain in the upstream area. For instance, an hour-long concentration of 100mm rain results in 0.7m rise in water level if the volume of growing stock is 1 million m³, whereas the rise in water level stays below 0.27m with 5 million m³ in the growing-stock volume.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.4
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• pp.515-522
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate a new stem volume table for estimating the growth, carbon storage, and greenhouse gas (GHG) absorption in Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa stands and to provide suggestions for improving the domestic GHG inventory. Carbon storage and GHG absorption were estimated using growing stock data obtained from invariable sub-sample plots between the 6^th and 7^th national forest inventories. We assessed changes in growing stock using the parameters employed by Kozak (1988) and Versions 1 and 2 of the stem volume table. Version 2 has new stem tables for 16 species, including Cryptomeria japonica, which were unavailable in Version 1. Version 2 also includes new data for trees with diameters at breast height equal to or greater than 30 cm. We found greater growing stock values using Version 2 than Version 1 for both stands, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). Applying the new stem volume table increased GHG absorption by 22% for the Cryptomeria japonica stand and 13% for the Chamaecyparis obtusa stand. The growing stock estimation method used in this study should therefore be applied to re-estimate GHG absorptions in the forestry sector to produce accurate statistics for the IPCC guidelines.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2008

Forest inventory is a commercial term meaning the preparation of detailed descriptive list of articles with number, quantity and value of each item included. Forest inventory deals with the measurement of trees and stands, the estimation of their volume, growth prediction, biomass, carbon stocks and the description tree characteristics, as well as the land upon which they are growing. National Forest Inventory Center (NFIC) in Korea conducts national forest inventory every 5 years to obtain accurate baseline data for national forest policy. The permanent sample plot data used in were collected by NFI. The objective of this study was to develop methods for quantifying forest resources at national scale based on $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (NFI) data in Korea. Forest land area decreased from 6.44 to 6.38 million ha between 1997 and 2007, continuing a slight downward trend in area beginning in the late 1990s. However forest resources of the Korea have continued improving in general condition and quality, as measured by increased average size and volume of trees. Growing-stock volume of the Korea increased from 17 to 123.79 cubic meter per ha between 1976 and 2007. The biomass in Korea was estimated to be 153.81 tons per hectare and carbon stocks in Korea was estimated to be 84.36 tons per hectare by NFI data. This information is important for government officials, public administration, the private business sector, and the researcher. Forest Inventory should be implemented in a way to be able to monitor and assess the forests continuously.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1983

This study was to estimate total annual volume growth by the measurement of mean tree growth during the last 10 years. Surveyed Forest stand was the second block (20.80 ha.)of Kyung Hee University Forests located at San 58 and 64, Gaegok-Ri, Gapyung-Yeup, Gapyung-Goon, Kyunggi province in Korea. The stand was mainly composed of uneven-aged Pinus densiflora and the estimation of tree volume was conducted by taking the cores at the D.B.H. of the sample tree which was selected by sub-sampling. The results obtained were as follows; 1) The regression between the diameter (D) and diameter growth ($\hat{I}$) was $\hat{I}=0.5499+0.0101D$. 2) The estimated equation of confidence interval for the diameter growth was $S^2{\hat{I}}=0.00817(0.09538-0.00952D+0.00027D^2$) 3) The equation for estimating tree height (H) from diameter was $H=1.32376D^{0.77958}$ 4) The equation for estimating tree volume from diameter and height $V=0.0000622D^{1.6918}H^{1.1397}$ 5) Total annual tree volume growth was $5.4041m^3/ha$, and ranged from 5.6131 to $5.1984m^3/ha$. 6) Annual growth rate of total tree volume and its error were 8.8% and 3.9%, respectively. The annual volume growth per tree for any districts can be estimated by this method, and the annual volume growth will be successfully predicted. Because of poor forest growing stock in Korea, annual amount of allowable cut should not exceed annual tree volume growth for better forest management. Accordingly, annual amount of allowable cut should be either equal to or less than annual tree volume growth for the balanced establishment between timber supply and demand in Korea. Demand shortage will be substituted with imported timber. Such plans enable Korean Government to develop a better policy of forest resources management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.3
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• pp.421-426
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• 2015

The objective of this paper is to look into the growth of Cryptomeria japonica stand in South Korea along with the evaluation on their yields, followed by their carbon stocks and removals. A total of 106 sample plots were selected from Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Jeju, where the groups of standard are grown. We only used 92 plots data except outlier. As part of the analysis, the Weibull diameter distribution was applied. In order to estimate the diameter distribution, the growth estimation equation for each of the growth factors including the height, the diameter at breast height, and the basal area was drafted out and the verification for each equation was examined. The site index for figuring out the forest productivity of Cryptomeria japonica stand for each district was also developed as a Schumacher model and 30yr was used as a reference age for the estimation of the site index. It was found that the site index for Cryptomeria japonica stand in South Korea ranges from 10 to 16 and this result was used as a standard for developing the stand yield table. According to the site 14 in the stand yield table, the mean annual increment (MAI) of the Cryptomeria japonica reaches $7.6m^3/ha$ on its 25yr and its growing stock is estimated to be at $190.1m^3/ha$. This volume is about $20m^3$ as high as that of the Chamaesyparis obtusa. Furthermore, the annual carbon absorptions for a Cryptomeria japonica stand reached the peak at 25yr, which is 2.14 tC/ha/yr, $7.83tCO_2/ha/yr$. When compared to the other conifers, this rate is slightly higher than that of a Chamaecyparis obtusa ($7.5tCO_2/ha/yr$) but lower than that of the Pinus koraiensis ($10.4tCO_2/ha/yr$) and Larix kaempferi ($11.2tCO_2/ha/yr$). With such research result as a base, it is necessary to come up with the ways to enhance the utilization of Cryptomeria japonica as timbers, besides making use of their growth data.