• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 2023

Background: The understanding of ecosystem services can be quantified and qualitative to assess the impacts of changes in the ecosystem to support human well-being. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sustainable use of ecosystem services has attracted the interest of a range of decision-makers. However, although there is a concern for biodiversity, natural ecosystem, and their services, linking ecosystems with conservation planning remains challenging. Results: This study assessed the first qualitative ecosystem services provided by the Mundok wetland with decision makers of the West/Yellow Sea region. Furthermore, this study applied the Rapid Assessment Wetland Ecosystem method to support natural resources management, improving living conditions. We identified that cultural and supporting services index are highly provided, but preparing a plan to increase the provisioning and regulating services in Mundok wetland is necessary. Conclusions: The assessment results can provide helpful information for ecosystem services assessment, habitat conservation, conservation planning, and decision-making at local level.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Wetland function assessment is not only a basic step to understand wetland ecosystems in detail but also an important process as a base of the term, ecosystem service to recognize wetland ecosystems as valuable and useful resources and goods for human being. WET (wetland evaluation technique), EMAP (environmental monitoring assessment program)-wetlands, and HGM (hydrogeomorphic method) were developed as pioneer wetland function assessments in U.S. at the end of $20^{th}$-century. RAMs (rapid assessment methods) became a major function assessment tool which is relatively simpler and easier assessment tool at the beginning of $21^{th}$-century. After that, the hierarchy of three levels of assessment (landscape assessment, rapid assessment, and intensive assesment) has been prepared and strategically utilized according to the objectives and purposes of function assessments. In South Korea, RAM and HGM were used to assess wetland functions with reforming a couple of items and contents at 2001. And, modified and reformed function assessments have been developed to complement and improve upon the existing RAMs and HGMs. Via the trend analysis on wetland function assessments, some needs which require supplements in terms of function assessment are pointed out: 1) wetland function assessments using useful indicators such as birds are needed with considering our environmental characteristics. 2) optimized wetland function assessments for coastal wetlands are also needed. 3) the network construction and further expansion to lead communications and co-operations between researchers and policy makers is needed in the field of wetland function assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-43
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• 2014

The purpose of this research is to assess potential area of mountainous wetland by GIS and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process). Mountainous wetland is topographically located at high altitude, so it's difficult to approach for researchers. And, it's difficult to investigate systematically because of the insufficient information of mountainous wetland. Therefore, it's necessary to study on potential area of mountainous wetland for systematic and efficient investigation. This research selected slope, wetting index, land-cover map and soil map as assessment items indicating environmental characteristics of mountainous wetland and established them by GIS DB. And, spatial value of mountainous wetland for each assessment item was drawn by existing investigation data and overlap analysis of mountainous wetland. Based on the numerical results of each assessment item, a survey was conducted and relative importance for each assessment item was decided by AHP. As the result, slope was the highest as 0.550 and ground coverage was the lowest as 0.083. The subject of this research was Yangsan-si and Ulsan of Gyeongnam and an analysis was conducted for mountainous wetland in those research areas. As the result, all of wetland was distributed in the range of potential area. And, field survey and literature search were conducted for the point that the distribution of mountainous wetland is expected. As the result, mountainous wetland was distributed. Therefore, mountainous wetland should be excavated through the results of this research and it should be helpful for effective investigation as providing information necessary to the following studies on mountainous wetland.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.38-48
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• 2001

A wetland is an ecosystem which is the most useful and highly-energetic transition area. This study has been carried out to develop the wetland function assessment methods and apply on the natural wetlands (Mul-young-ari wetland in Jeju-island and Bangdong wetland in Taejon Metropolitan city) using RAM (Rapid Assessment Method). The RAM is useful method for assessing the wetland functions in terms of general functions acquired by once or twice onsite surveying. Eight functions of 2-12 variables each are analyzed for assessing the wetland functions. The results are as follows : 1) The conservation values of two wetlands are "High". 2) In Mul-young-ari wetland, such functions as groundwater discharge, floral diversity and wildlife habitat, shoreline/stream bank protection are relatively high, but some functions such as flood/storm water storage, aesthetics and recreation are "Moderate" - "High". 3) In Bangdong wetland, such functions as floral diversity and wildlife habitat, groundwater discharge, flood/storm water storage, aesthetics and recreation are high, and another functions are "Moderate" - "High". The taxonomy of this study stems from assessing functions of inland wetlands using indices of RAM. So It is needed that consequent studies are to be performed with verifying the variables and indices.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

This study was carried out to suggest the baseline data necessary for vegetation restoration at riverine wetland within stream corridor. We used the prevalence index for wetland assessment by applying the method of weighted averages with index values based on five hydrophyte indicator status as defined by estimated probability occurred in wetland. We selected near nature and urbanized reach of Gap and Yanghwa streams as experimental site. Although two sites have some different disturbance and characteristics of watershed, they showed that similarity of vegetation community including three dominant species - Salix koreensis, Phragmites communis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus - was very high. But in case of Yanghwa stream, various kinds of emergent plants along wetted condition were distinctly occurred, resulted from difference of hydrological regime and substrate, etc. Degree of naturalness of vegetation at the sampled areas indicated that near nature area of Gap stream and all area of Yanghwa stream were fitted as riverine wetland, while urbanized area of Gap stream has changed into upland condition. In conclusion assessment system using prevalence index would be considered an effective method for evaluating of natural states of riverine wetland, but further integrated consideration of physical, hydrological, and biological factors of stream process, and also with considering the difference between those qualitative data of vegetation community.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-132
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• 2018

This study was conducted to suggest an assessment indices to evaluate the ecosystem services of the unique functions of wetlands as well as economic value provided by the village wetlands. The assessment indicators applied in this study were used by the RAM indices. The results of RAM assessment on the village wetlands in Cheonan city were analyzed by item and critical functions of the village wetland. They were derived by assessment indicators of ecosystem services, and the village wetland ecosystem were presented by Focus Group Interview (FGI). The 20 critical indices were selected from 52 different indices by analyzing the wetland function assessment items. 13 indicators excluding duplicate indexes by function, were selected as ecological service impact indicators. Finally, ecosystem services were evaluated by using AHP analysis to calculate the weight of each assessment indices and apply it to the 9 village wetlands. The results of this study confirmed that the functions of the village wetlands are compliant with the ecosystem services. Based on this assessment of the unique functions of wetlands, it will serve as a methodology for assessing ecosystem services. The study was also conducted on 49 wetlands in Cheonan. The detailed assessment of wetland ecosystem services based on the wetland ecosystem function proposed by this study, was further developed as a follow-up study. It suggested that the wetland areas should be compared and be used as a general standard. In addition to the assessment of the economic value of ecosystem services provided by the village wetlands, it would be useful to assess the unique features and convert them into value.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 2014

Recently, wetland and paddy wetland are being highlighted as the international environmental issues. However, research system which can assess paddy wetland is lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the value of paddy wetland by applying RAM to paddy wetland. In addition, we would like to use this study as the data to establish assessment method for paddy wetland. 16 sites were selected as research targets based on altitude and soil. As the results of wetland assessment, 16 research target sites had total score of 212~227 and the average of 2.17~2.50. It was similar to those of Lacustrine Wetlands, Palustrine Wetland and Riverine Wetland which were sites in previous studies. The value could be recognized as the wetland. However, there was no difference in assessment results based on altitude and soil. It was found that all conservation values were the same. The factor the most closely affecting conservation value was the area. However, there was limitation to apply existing wetland assessment system to paddy wetland. In order to assess paddy wetland, factors such as rice farming methods, topography, vegetation, growth environment and biodiversity should be added. It was thought to supplement wetland assessment system through various further studies.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-25
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• 2012

To evaluate the sustainability assessment of eco-tourism resources, the assessment of Upo wetland was conducted by defining mathematical assessment models, by developing assessment indicators and by calculating the weight of main factors affecting on the sustainability through questionnaires analysis of 135 eco-tourism experts group. After that, the current sustainability grade level for Upo wetland was confirmed, and grade-level enhancement measures on each items were proposed. Although, this paper was focused on Upo wetland, but it is meaningful to prepare for the foundation in the sense of assessing scientifically and systematically the sustainability by providing concrete research model and method for the sustainability assessment of eco-tourism resources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.117-131
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• 2010

This study was conducted to utilize as basic information for the construction of conservation and estimation system for Palustrine wetland, which was badly managed and imprudently reclaimed, through the analysis of distribution characteristics and the estimation of conservation value for sample sites (eight wetlands) in rural area. As the result of wetland type classification, these wetlands was classified by 4 types (Permanent freshwater marshes/pools, ponds, Aquaculture ponds, and Seasonally flooded agricultural land) by Ramsar system, 3 types (Emergent Wetland, Aquatic Bed, and Scrub-Shrub Wetland) by NWI (Cowardin) System, 5 types (Farm Pond Depression, Under-flow wetland, Man-made Pond Depression, Abandoned Paddy Fields Wetland, and Reservoir Shore) by National Wetland's Categorical System, and 3 types (Aquatic Bed Wetland, Emergent Wetland, and Forested Wetland) by Lee (2000) System. These results suggest us developing the new type classification system for small Palustrine wetland in Korean rural areas. The score of function assessment (The Modified RAM) for small Palustrine wetlands was high at the wetlands nearby hills and rice paddy fields, and low at those nearby upper fields, which was mainly affected by land-use and vegetation. The functions as 'Flood/Storm Water Storage', 'Runoff Attenuation', 'Water Quality Protection' were resulted by the structural difference of inflow and outlet. Some functions as 'Wetland size', 'Wetland to immediate watershed ratio', 'Presence of boat traffic', 'Maximum water depth', 'Fetch of water's body' of RAM were not appropriate in evaluation of small wetlands in rural area. Which suggest us developing the new function assessment system for small Palustirne wetland in Korean rural areas.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2009

Wetlands considered to be an important natural resources because they provide biodiversity and habitat for species to breed and survive. In this regard, many countries in the world provide wetlands and have policies and laws to protect them. In Korea we hosted RAMSAR COP-10 at Changwon in 2008 representing Korea's endeavor to wetland protection. But, in the process of development Wetlands are easy target to be lost due its easy access and the laws and regulations to protect them are relatively weak. Thus, this research focused on the introduction of No Wetland Loss(NWL) and we can achieve wetland protection in the economy market ways. Thus, NWL should consider 1) a clear definition of NWL and harmony and consensus of introduction of NWL, 2) considering most wetlands be private we need a financial support for securing wetlands, 3) inventories for wetlands in Korea, draw a line of demarcation, technic to evaluate wetlands, 4) wetland restoration considering function of ecosystem not total amount of wetlands. Wetland protection should be a part of Basic Law of Water Management which in its progress and we need further studies on wetland protection because of watershed management, deserted agricultural paddies, etc.