• Title/Summary/Keyword: water resource conservation

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Wetland transformation through Water Resource Users Association; The case of Rwamuthambi Sub Catchment area, Kenya

  • Kumunga, Eunice Muthoni;Ndiwa, Titus Chemandwa;Muthama, Nzioka John
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.200-216
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    • 2020
  • Many studies conducted in Kenya regarding water resource governance have focused on the mandate of Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs) with less attention being accorded to their effectiveness in conservation of wetlands. This study assessed the effectiveness of WRUA committees, and challenges faced in conservation of Rwamuthambi Sub-catchment. The study employed exploratory descriptive research design. Data was collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, observations and review of secondary data. Chi square and descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The survey results revealed that only 15% of WRUA committee understood water resources management while 35% were aware of relevant legislations. Factors of wetland degradation showed significant association with existence of WRUA (χ2 (4, N=180) = 20.46, p< .01) where (χ2- chi square (degrees of freedom, N = sample size) = chi-square statistic value, p = p value), although WRUA contributions were perceived differently per agro-ecological zone (χ2 (8, N=147) = 15.51, p>.05). Challenges unearthed were inadequate financial and human resources, lack of understanding, ineffective collaborative governance, poor support from county government and private ownership of riparian land reserve. There is need for WRUAs to embrace collaborative governance for effective conservation of wetlands. Integration of sub catchment management plan with county land use plans and policy review is also required.

Water conservation effect of concave greenroof system and its influential factors (오목형 옥상녹화의 수자원확보효과와 영향인자)

  • Baek, So-Young;Han, Moo-Young
    • Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.165-169
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    • 2015
  • Green roofs are gaining much interest in many cities around the world due to its multi-purpose effects of water conservation, flood mitigation and aesthetic benefits. However it may cause additional water demand to maintain green plants, which may intensify the current and future water shortage problems. While ordinary concrete roofs and normal green roof drains off rain water, concave green roof system can retain rain water because of its water holding capability. In this study, the water conservation effect of concave green roof was compared to normal roof on #35 building in Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. For seven rainfall events the amount of stored rainwater and runoff were measured and proved water conservation effect of the concave green roof system. The concave green roof system of which area is 140m2 showed effect of water conservation from 1.8ton to 7.2ton and the most influence factors on water conservation in green roof are rainfall and antecedent day. If this concave green roof is applied to many buildings in the cities, it is expected as a way to water conservation through rainfall storage.

Species and Sex Identification of the Korean Goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) by Molecular Analysis of Non-invasive Samples

  • Kim, Baek Jun;Lee, Yun-Sun;An, Jung-hwa;Park, Han-Chan;Okumura, Hideo;Lee, Hang;Min, Mi-Sook
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.314-318
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    • 2008
  • Korean long-tailed goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) is one of the most endangered species in South Korea. However, detailed species distribution and sex ratio data on the elusive goral are still lacking due to difficulty of identification of the species and sex in the field. The primary aim of this study was to develop an economical PCR-RFLP method to identify species using invasive or non-invasive samples from five Korean ungulates: goral (N. caudatus), roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), feral goat (Capra hircus), water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and musk deer (Moschus moschiferus). The secondary aim was to find more efficient molecular sexing techniques that may be applied to invasive or non-invasive samples of ungulate species. We successfully utilized PCR-RFLP of partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (376 bp) for species identification, and sex-specific amplification of ZFX/Y and AMELX/Y genes for sexing. Three species (goral, goat and water deer) showed distinctive band patterns by using three restriction enzymes (Xbal, Stul or Sspl). Three different sexing primer sets (LGL331/335 for ZFX/Y gene; SE47/48 or SE47/53 for AMELX/Y gene) produced sex-specific band patterns in goral, goat and roe deer. Our results suggest that the molecular analyses of non-invasive samples might provide us with potential tools for the further genetic and ecological study of Korean goral and related species.

Study on the water bursting law and spatial distribution of fractures of mining overlying strata in weakly cemented strata in West China

  • Li, Yangyang;Zhang, Shichuan;Yang, Yingming;Chen, Hairui;Li, Zongkai;Ma, Qiang
    • Geomechanics and Engineering
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    • v.28 no.6
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    • pp.613-624
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    • 2022
  • A study of the evolution of overburden fractures under the solid-fluid coupling state was conducted based on the geological and mining characteristics of the coal seam depth, weak strata cementation, and high-intensity mining in the mining areas of West China. These mining characteristics are key to achieving water conservation during mining or establishing groundwater reservoirs in coal mines. Based on the engineering background of the Daliuta Coal Mine, a non-hydrophilic simulation material suitable for simulating the weakly cemented rock masses in this area was developed, and a physical simulation test was carried out using a water-sand gushing test system. The study explored the spatial distribution and dynamic evolution of the fractured zone in the mining overburden under the coupling of stress and seepage. The experimental results show that the mining overburden can be vertically divided into the overall migration zone, the fracture extension zone and the collapse zone; additionally, in the horizontal direction, the mining overburden can be divided into the primary fracture zone, periodic fracture zone, and stop-fracture zone. The scope of groundwater flow in the overburden gradually expands with the mining of coal seams. When a stable water inrush channel is formed, other areas no longer generate new channels, and the unstable water inrush channels gradually close. Finally, the primary fracture area becomes the main water inrush channel for coal mines. The numerical simulation results indicate that the overlying rock breaking above the middle of the mined-out area allows the formation of the water-conducting channel. The water body will flow into the fracture extension zone with the shortest path, resulting in the occurrence of water bursting accidents in the mining face. The experimental research results provide a theoretical basis for the implementation of water conservation mining or the establishment of groundwater reservoirs in western mining areas, and this theoretical basis has considerable application and promotion value.

SOUTH KOREA′S WATER RESOURCES POLICY TOWARD THE 21ST CENTURY: CONFLICTING VIEWS

  • Choi, Yearn-Hong
    • Water Engineering Research
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.103-112
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    • 2001
  • Issues and problems in formulating South Korea's water resources policy are discussed in terms of water quantity and quality. South Korean needs both water conservation and water supply capability for the growing population and economic activities. The government has attempted to build more large-scale dams to store and supply water for residential, farming and industrial uses, but the environmentalists who emphasize conservation and environmental protection oppose the government. The environmentalists are popular among the general public. Water quality has been deteriorating from point- ad non-point sources. urban and farm runoffs are serious pollutants. All want by preserve water quality. There is no dispute on this matter between the government and the environmentalists. Money is hard to come by to preserve water quality. Economic and financial crises and no self-sufficient local governments' revenue structure are pessimistic. Basic survey on water resources, hydrology and hydraulic is badly needed for the future water resources planning.

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Heightening of the Seoam Dam Towards Sustainable Rural Development and Environmental Conservation (서암저수지 둑높이기 사업에 따른 지속가능한 지역 발전과 환경 보전 효과 연구)

  • Park, Sang Hyun;Lee, Geun Suk
    • KCID journal
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.30-39
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    • 2012
  • In recent years, there have been a lot of severe flood and drought disasters and the rural environment have been worsened due to rapid industrialization and urbanization in the river basins of Korea. To prevent such disasters and to improve environment in the era of climate change, Korean Government carried out 110 projects to heighten irrigation dam in the rural area. The study has been carried out to evaluate the heightening work of the irrigation dam for the supply of reserved water and to derive optimal scheme to allocate the water resource for irrigation, domestic demand and environmental conservation as well as to contribute for the rural development in sustainable way. The study is focused on the Seoam Irrigation Dam which has been constructed in 2005 to be connected with the new Gami Reservoir which has been constructed since 2010. In addition, it was studied the contribution effect of the reservoirs for the adjacent comprehensive rural development projects which have been executed by local government. In the study, the principles and visions of sustainable development which have been derived by International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage is applied to estimate the sustainability of the irrigation dams in line with the adjacent comprehensive rural development projects. The project is estimated that the water resource in the reservoirs shall be used integratedly in cooperation with various stakeholders not only to conserve water environment but also to increase productivity of agricultural goods and ecological tour in the rural area.

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Study on Policies and Actions Associated with Promotion of Social and Environmental Benefits of Forest (산림공익기능 증진 관련 정책 및 조치에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Soo-Im;Joo, Rin-Won;Kim, Ki-Dong;Kim, Jae-Sung;Jeon, Hyon-Sun;Kim, Jae-Jun;Park, Dong-Kyun
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.99 no.1
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    • pp.75-84
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    • 2010
  • For policies and actions associated promotion of social and environmental benefits of forest in Korea, various polices have been progressed based on newly established ordinances along with full progresses of subdivision of the Forest Law since reorganization of regulatory system by functions focused on the Basic Forestry Act. In these policies, water resource conserving function and national land conserving function which have little close relation to the people's daily life including formation of forest for conservation of water supply and erosion control have continued to be promoted since 1970s. Especially in recently years, the policy of biodiversity conserving function according to importance of health and recreation function and conservation management of forest ecosystem and animal and plant are being promoted actively. Among them, the health and recreation functions is featured for various policies to be promoted in spite of small budget for responding actively to various forest recreation demands after settlement of 5-day workweek system. It seems because the health and recreation function could obtain visible results of governmental investment and high responses from the peoples as a function having close relationship with the people's daily life.

Recent Trend for the Application of Total Economic Value (TEV) Estimation to Groundwater Resources (지하수자원의 경제적 가치 평가 적용과 관련한 최근동향)

  • Song, Sung-Ho;White, Paul;Zemansky, Gil
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 2012
  • Total Economic Value (TEV) provides a framework to estimate the economic value of water resources including groundwater with multiple applications to natural resource economics and environmental economics. Crucial to the application of economic analysis to natural resources are techniques to value the resources as an economic value that is expressed in monetary terms. On the other hand, the aim of TEV estimation is to determine the economic value of water resources including 'use' with production and recreation and 'non-use' such as existence values. TEV is used to assess the economic value of water resources for the multiple goods, and environmental 'services' that are provided by a water resource and also used to assess options for water use, for example balancing production values provided by water resource use against the cost of resource degradation by that use. The value of TEV can be assessed over time where pollution or unsustainable use may reduce the economic value of an environmental asset. Therefore, values are used to assess options of resource use, sometimes leading to policies on resource conservation or allocation. In conclusion, the application of TEV would be well adjusted over Jeju Island where groundwater resources account for more than 98% water resources and the budget of water demand/supply shows disparity over the Island.

Paradigm Shift in Policy of Soil Environment Conservation in Korea (우리나라 토양환경보전 정책의 패러다임 전환)

  • Park, Yong-Ha;Yang, JaeE
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.10-26
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    • 2018
  • This paper reviews the soil conservation policies (SCP) in the global community and suggests the improved options in SCP in Korea. Soil Environment Conservation Act in Korea states soil is a valuable natural resource and it's value should be enhanced to provide the benefits that soil ecosystem can offer to people. However, SCP in Korea limits its application to not only the scope of soil environment but also the issues on soil pollution. The SCPs in the advanced countries have shifted their scopes from soil environment to soil ecosystem, put emphasis on the conservation of soil health rather than soil quality, and set the goals to optimize the soil ecosystem services to people while minimizing the soil threats. In this context, the soil security initiative was recently proposed to accomplish this goal while employing the nexus concept to bridge the soil ecosystem services with water, atmosphere, climate and biodiversity. Therefore, the key policies in soil conservation in Korea should expand the scope from soil environment to soil ecosystem, focus on soil health management, and develop the holistic governance among diverse stakeholder to maximize the soil ecosystem services. Soil ecosystem should be secured by national soil policies for human health.

A Study on Schematic Design of Natural Environment Exhibition (자연환경전시관의 기획설계 연구)

  • Kang, Ho-Seop
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Interior Design Conference
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    • 2006.11a
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    • pp.183-186
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    • 2006
  • The growth in human has a close relationship with circumstances and there are two different types of form as a method. One of them Is a great influence of which the environment has a certain effect to human and that is called environmental effect. The other one Is a great reaction of human against the environment which is environmental experience. Human's being loved nature and conservation of nature as a living condition have already processed out for a long time. However, in these days, it is different that a special emphasis on the conservation of nature is being destroyed and it Is perceived the principal of the destruction is human itself. The Museum of Natural Environment has no doubt in a relation with conservation of nature. The main subject of this thesis Is to restore the disappearing beauty in natural environment, an importance of resources in general needs and a change in futuristic perceptions against preservation of the species. Therefore, to produce a complexity in a combination with education and entertainment to a water resource as a main theme is now relieved from its original deteriorated public information center with its simpleness. It Is purposed to secure a cultural space for a community activity and regional peculiarities, dams and lakes, localities of rivers as a main theme to specify their details, to maximize its educational space furtherance with a value as a tourist resource in particular.

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