Program 1. Conservation·restoration of forest ecosystem and establishment of a foundation to ecosystem services

Although forests are resources that constantly produce a new value, however, an integral forest management system is indispensable to effectively establish a forest ecosystem. The National Institute of Forest Science is developing technologies for conservation, restoration and management of forest ecosystems to sustainably maintain leading forest ecosystem services in a diverse forest space in accordance with the ecosystem, social and economic perspective of the forest ecosystem. Therefore, based on the forest biodiversity with critical forest ecosystem service, technology development such as conservation and restoration of forest ecosystem will establish a stable foundation for forest ecosystem services and search for strategies to create higher value on forest resources.

□ Major outcomes
1-1 Advancement on forest biodiversity evaluation, conservation, and management system
·The genetic diversity of ten Betula ermani (Erman’s birch) populations that are sub-alpine broadleaf tree species were evaluated. The assessment criteria for the designation of forest genetic resource protection areas were developed by surveying experts, who identified 4 key items and 17 detailed indicators that were used to establish the criteria. Based on the criteria, the three most suitable sites for protected areas were selected from the six populations of the Stewartia koreana (Korean stewartia).
·To develop an effective evaluation technology for forest seed resources, a non-destructive near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) vitality analysis was performed on the seeds of Pinus densiflora, Abies koreana, and Larix gmelinii, resulting in the development of a seed viability evaluation model specifically for Larix gmelinii seeds.
·A restoration test site was created for the remaining population of Abies koreana on Mt. Geumwon-san, covering an area of 0.3 hectares, in order to establish a strategy for conserving and restoring the genetic diversity of the species. Field performance studies were conducted over a period of three years, from 2019 to 2022. As a result, the planted Abies koreana seedlings achieved a high survival rate of 92.7% during the initial establishment. Based on this success, a new ex-situ conservation forest consisting of 1,591 trees and covering an area of 1.8 hectares was established in Muju-gun in 2022, using optimal place model

1-2 Characteristics of the forest ecosystem and the development of Ecological Forest Management Technology
·As a result of investigating the long-term ecosystem change of Hongcheon Gyebangsan Mt. in the forest long-term ecological study, the forest density decreased by 28% compared to 1997 and the biomass increased by 36%. Therefore, calculating flux (8 locations) tower-based Net Ecosystem Exchange : Wando 7.6 > Jeju 6.6 > Hongcheon (Maehwasan) 5.9 > Anmyeondo 5.8 > Pyeongchang 3.5 > Samcheok ?0.8, Gwangneung ?1.0, -2.0tonC/ha/yr
·In the development of technology to preserve and promote the nature of human interference in the forest ecosystem, forest vegetation distribution surveys and vegetation physiognomy based types are classified for Daejeon and Incheon, and the actual vegetation map (1/5000) are prepared for Daegu and Gwangju, and forest landscape elements (patches) are analysed.
·Research on the establishment of a forest ecosystem service information application system are prepared a spatial map of economic value for the core forest ecosystem service carbon storage and water retention in the Gariwangsan Mt. area in Pyeongchang. The value of carbon storage in Gariwangsan Mt. is about a 1.6million won per ha and the value of water retention is 0.8 milion won per ha.

1-3. Development of Technology for forest restoration in damaged areas such as DMZ and Baekdudaegan Mt. Range
· In order to establish regional intention types between Baekdudaegan, 84 evaluation indicators considering nature, humanities, and environment were selected, and seven management types (intention types) based on conservation and protection were set. Six management types were established based on the ecological, economic, social, and cultural values of the Nakdong, Naknam, and Honam Jeongmack.
· DMZ and forest restoration research aims to develop field-applicable technologies considering regional characteristics such as mine removal sites, and Daegwallyong grassland returning sites. In the soil restoration index, mulching appears to have the best effect : mulching 0.98, leaf mold 0.57, biochar 0.44, and plowing 0.37. As a result of analysing the optimal covering ratio of the mulching treatment of slope damage, 50% of the covering ratio was analysed in an efficient method.
· The management of drying streams in forest basins to improve the integrity of forest water resources was investigated over 850 mountain streams nationwide to fully understand its status and cause, and the advancement and source technology of a functional classification map by applying forest water map were put to pr


1-4. Development of technology for conservation, management, and utilization of subtropical forests
·To maintain and promote biodiversity in Gotjawal, discover forest ecological resources in Oreum and lava depressions, and establish a management foundation for humanities and social value, the future direction of management of two species, reddish-brown hardy kiwi and hairy-style eleuthero, through an environmental analysis of native habitat was presented. The analysis of the genetic diversity of broad flat rock trees, and the distribution and growth characteristics of two species, Jejudo ragwort, and Jeonju pogostemon, were carried out.
·For the purpose of developing a big database for subtropical forest life resources, establishing a base for proliferation and dissemination, and developing ecological management technologies, 32 types of evidence samples (64 pieces)and 18 species of seeds were collected and stored. Images of 153 species among 18 seeds were constructed, integrated DB was designed, and the distribution of 5 species such as oreocnide fruticosa tree was investigated, genetic characteristics were analysed, and sexual-asexual propagation technologies of 3 species such as black-berry magnolia vine were developed, and the investigation of useful forest life resources was conducted. According to the SSP climate change scenario considering the socio-economic aspect, the future distribution change of expected species and a promising species of migration was predicted.
·For the purpose of developing customised management technology and establishing a policy foundation for forest ecosystems in islands, environmental characteristics of plant habitats, ecosystem disturbance, and damage were analyzed in the West Sea region of Jeollanam-do. Island forest categorization and priority management factors were derived and tried to be classified into types of islands. It also discovered core ecosystem services for each type of island.