• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2007

Coastal marine ecosystems continue to suffer unrelenting pressures from human population growth, increased development, and climate change. Moreover, these systems' capacity for self-repair is declining with such increases in anthropogenic production of various pollutants. What is the present health status or condition of the coastal ecosystem? If our coastal areas are unhealthy, which conditions are considered serious? To answer such questions, the United States, Canada, and Australia are currently assessing coastal ecosystem health using systematic monitoring programs as well as identifying and implementing management plans to improve the health of degraded coastal ecosystems. To evaluate marine environments, Korea is currently using a limited number of factors to estimate water quality. In fact, we are ill-prepared for assessing coastal ecosystem health because no biologically specific criteria are in place to measure the responses to various pollutants. We should select ecosystem-specific indicators from physicochemical stressors and evaluate the subsequent biological responses within each ecosystem. Furthermore, a set of practical indicators should be generated by considering the characteristics and uses of a local coastal area and the key issues at hand. The values of indicators should be presented as indices that allow understanding by the general public as well as by practitioners, policy makers, environmental managers and other stakeholders.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2022

Busan, where the coastal ecosystem health is deteriorating due to high development pressure and intensity of use, needs ecosystem management that considers humans and the natural environment together for sustainable use and ecosystem preservation of the coastal areas. In this study, the InVEST model was applied to assess the habitat status of the coastal land and coastal sea to manage the ecosystem based on habitats. As a result of the assessment of the coastal land, the habitat quality of Gadeok-do, Igidae, and Sinseondae, Gijang-gun are high, and Seo-gu, Jung-gu, Dong-gu, and Suyeong-gu are low. In the case of the coastal sea, the habitat risk of the Nakdong river estuary is low, and some areas of Yeongdo-gu, Saha-gu, Gangseo-gu are high. Therefore, for the sustainable use and preservation of coastal ecosystems, it is necessary to prepare ecosystem-based management measures to improve damaged habitats and reduce threats. In addition, the impact on coastal seas should be fully considered when planning coastal land development. The results of the InVEST habitat quality model in coastal land show similar tendencies to the biotope and environmental conservation value assessment map. The results of the habitat risk assessment in the coastal sea are expected to be utilized to identify habitats in the coastal sea and management of threat factors.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.149-159
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• 1996

Multipurpose development of the coast and ocean can be considered as multifunction construction combining the functions of coastal protection, waterfront amenity and creation or rehabilitation of habitats. Multfunction development of coastal and ocean spaces can be accomplished by applying the ecosystem control structure of artificial habitats which will cultivate fishing ground with ecological harmony to the coastal protection system. To evaluate the applicability of ecosystem control structures as as fundamental coastal protection structure, wave control function of the structure is studied by numerical and physical analyses. Dimensional analysis and hydraulic experiment point out the importance of width and crest depth of ecosystem control structure, construction water depth and wave steepness. Wave control efficiency is estimated by the attenuation coefficient $(K_H)$ according to wave steepness $(H_0/L_0)$, relative constructed water depth $(h_i/H_0)$, relative berm width $(B/L_0)$ and relative crest depth $(h_B/H_0)$ of eosystem control structure. Empirical fomulas are suggested based on the results of model test by applying the multiple model based on this experimental results and numerical wave shoaling-dissipation-breaking model appears to be valid for the analysis of wave transformation around ecosystem control structure in the coastal waters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.315-327
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• 2023

In the last five decades, there has been a consistent decline in the total catch of fisheries in the Korean jurisdiction since the peak in 1986. The decline in catch slowed and slightly rebounded in the 2000s, but changed back to a decline in the 2010s. As indicators that can identify changes in the marine ecosystem, trophic level (TL), biodiversity index (H'), and the ratio between pelagic fish and demersal fish (P/D) were analyzed by each local marine ecosystem. There were some different changes in each local marine ecosystem, but the mean TL and H' decreased and P/D increased in general in Korean waters. Demersal fish, which were dominant in the 1970s and 1980s, declined, and small pelagic fish and cephalopods have dominantly changed since the 1990s. However, these changes are not simple, and they are fluctuating in complex ways relating to each marine ecosystem and the timing. It is believed that changes in marine ecosystems in Korean waters are likely caused by a combination of fisheries and climate change. The ecosystem indicators reflected a change in the total catch, a sharp drop in catch of demersal fish, and increasing catch of pelagic fish since the mid-1980s.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.211-223
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• 2015

Korean society has been recently promoting the restoration of coastal wetlands. These efforts might become the basis of a policy framework that compensates for the limitations of a regulation-oriented policy such as the designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The shift in government policy could contribute to strengthening the socioeconomic infrastructure of coastal development through the accumulation of ecological capital. Although our scientific efforts and social demands in regard to the ecological restoration of the coastal wetlands have increased during the past years, the bases for restoration in Korea requires that scientific, technological, financial, social and legal aspects be enhanced. The present study re-examined the concept and attitudes behind coastal wetland restoration in the light of changing circumstances in Korea. Herein, we first defined coastal wetland restoration as "An act of recovering the functions of the ecosystem of coastal wetlands to a state that resembles conditions prior to being damaged." Next, this study discussed the limitations and future directions of such restoration efforts based on the descriptive analyses of recent restoration practices from social, economic, and technological aspects. Finally, we suggest future policy directions regarding coastal wetland restoration on the basis of a PFST (Policy, Financial, Social, and Technological) analysis; 1) re-arranging legal mechanisms, 2) setting multi-dimensional restoration goals, 3) establishing a multi-discipline- and convergence based R&D system, 4) linking spatial management and local development to the restoration, 5) building restoration governance at the local level, 6) implementing an ecosystem service payment system, and 7) applying test-bed projects in accordance with proper directions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2012

Coastal sand dune systems are particularly fragile and threaten the environment. However, these systems provide fundamental ecosystem services to the nearby urban areas, acting, for example, as protective buffers against erosion. In this paper, we attempt to classify the biotope types of coastal sand dune ecosystems and select an index for the assessment of the conservation value. The types of biotopes are categorized based on the vegetation map; floras are examined in order to research the effects of hinterlands on coastal sand dunes. In addition, a naturalization rate and an urbanization index for each biotope type in hinterlands are analyzed. In the ecosystem of coastal sand dunes, the urbanization index and naturalization rate shows a higher value in sand dunes with areas of road, residential, and idle land in farm villages, rice fields, and fields. On the contrary, a lower value in the urbanization index and naturalization rate is present when typical biotope types, such as sand dune vegetation and natural Pinus thunbergii forests, are widely distributed. Based on these results, urbanization index and naturalization rate should be used as critical indices for the assessment of the ecosystem of costal sand dunes.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.107-127
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• 2010

This research is about the monitoring of people's consciousness on ecosystem change after coastal restoration project in Gangjin Bay. Tidal flat ecosystem of Ganjin Bay was major producing district of short-necked clam in Jeonnam Province. Owing to coastal restoration project (sand gathering and dredging) during 5 years, however, ecosystem was disturbed and harvesting of fish was decreased. Although a few of ark shell and oyster are harvested but drastically decreased. Even aging and depopulation is general situation like other rural regions, life pattern of villages and depopulation in Gangjin Bay was influenced by drastic decreasing of income. As the results of social monitoring, drastic decreasing of fish and shell in Gangjin Bay is significantly concerned with coastal restoration project (sand gathering and dredging) and also with difficulty of fresh-water inflow to coastal bay because of Jangheung Dam. In order to get the detail information on the cause and consequence of ecosystem change in tidal flat, it is necessary to apply the long-term socio-economic monitoring as well as biological and ecosystem monitoring.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2000

연안습지에서는 생태적으로 많은 생산물이 만들어진다고 평가되어 왔다. 이런 점들을 이용하여 연안습지를 연안환경관리에 적용하면 수질정화 등 다양한 효과를 볼 수 있다. 생태계 기능중 에너지흐름과 유기물, 영양염류가 연안습지의 수질정화에 중요하게 관계된다. 연안습지는 수생식물이 식재된 공간을 거치면서 처리되고, 토사나 오염물질의 유입을 방지하기 위한 공간의 조성과 바닥에서 영양염의 흡수 및 식물플랑크톤을 억제하는 방법이 적용될 수 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.69-79
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• 2014

Coastal wetlands are among the most productive biomes in the Earth. The economic values include the direct use of a coastal wetland's ecosystem services, such as food, raw materials, recreation, and tourism. Other values comprise the indirect use of a coastal wetland's ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, waste-water treatment, and erosion prevention. In particular, Suncheon Bay is recently attracting attention as the most successful case of the preservation and restoration. This study applies Travel Cost Method (TCM) to estimate the economic value by drawing the demand curve for trips to Suncheon Bay. The TCM is an approach used for economic valuation of non-market goods and services. Based on the results of TCM, this study shows that the economic benefit from recreational uses of the site adds up to \174.7 billion per year. It is also significant in the sense that monetary information is suggested to help local policy makers evaluate the realistic values of coastal wetlands.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2019

Background: Organic carbon stored in coastal wetlands, which comprises the major part of oceanic "blue carbon," is a subject of growing interest and concern. In this study, organic carbon storage in coastal wetlands and its economic value were estimated using the raw data of 25 studies related to soil carbon storage. Data were collected from three tidal flats (one protected and two developed areas) and two estuarine salt marshes (one protected and one restored area). Bulk density, soil organic matter content, and standing biomass of vegetation were all considered, with Monte Carlo simulation applied to estimate the uncertainty. Results: Mean carbon storage in two salt marshes ranged between 14.6 and $25.5kg\;C\;m^{-2}$. Mean carbon storage in tidal flats ranged from 18.2 to $28.6kg\;C\;m^{-2}$, with variability possibly related to soil texture. The economic value of stored carbon was estimated by comparison with the price of carbon in the emission trading market. The value of US $ $6600\;ha^{-1}$ is ~ 45% of previously estimated ecosystem services from fishery production and water purification functions in coastal areas. Conclusions: Although our study sites do not cover all types of large marine ecosystem, this study highlights the substantial contribution of coastal wetlands as carbon sinks and the importance of conserving these habitats to maximize their ecosystem services.