Forest ecosystem restoration achieved by large area plantation in - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Case Study in Ecosystem Restoration Forest ecosystem restoration achieved by large area plantation in South Korea Korea National Arboretum Cho, Yong Chan

Contents Contents Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea I I II II Landscape level effects of restoration Landscape level effects of restoration III III Ecosystem level effects of restoration Ecosystem level effects of restoration IV IV Emerging challenges and opportunities Emerging challenges and opportunities

Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea � Forest ecosystem (64%) as key component of biodiversity in Korea � Quercus spp. and Pinus densiflora forest are major natural forests � Continuous increase in developed area through industrialization � Shrinking and fragmentation of forest and agricultural area is in progress • Whole land area : 9,990,000ha • Forest area : 6,370,000ha(63.8%) • Agricultural land : 2,030,000ha(20.3%) • Developed area : 1,590,000ha(15.9%) EAST SEA Road, 280,000ha Etc., Ground, 270,000ha 1,040,000ha Farm, 1,190,000ha Orchard, 60,000ha YELLOW Forest, 6,370,000 SEA Rice paddy, 780,000ha (63.8%) Source: Ministry of Environment, The Biodiversity of Korea(2012)

Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea � Landscape level degradation of forest ecosystem in early 20 th century - problems of forest soil erosion, landslide, river flooding etc. � Resources plundering in Japanese occupation period (1910-1945) � Korean War (1950-1953) � Government initiative on forest rehabilitation in 1960s - large scale ecosystem restoration by plantation forest in nation wide

Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea � Young-il forest erosion control project from 1973 to1977 as a representative successful restoration project in Asia � Forest degradation by over exploitation and environmental limits (mudstone area) � Quercus serrata forest as potential natural vegetation of Young-il area � Plantation forest by using various tree species, Alnus firma and Pinus thunbergii � Slope stabilization, fertilizing, and planting trees and grasses to restore vegetation function

Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea Large scale ecosystem restoration in Korea � Landscape change analysis - change detection by paper map (1918) and satellite images (1973, 1987, 1995 and 2002) � Forest function analysis - RUSLE modeling on soil erosion control - NDVI analysis in natural and restored area � Vegetation and stand environment survey in Q. serrata forest as reference and plantations of A. firma and P. thunbergii

Landscape level effects of restoration Landscape level effects of restoration � Apparent restoration effect across landscape 1967 2004

Landscape level effects of restoration Landscape level effects of restoration � Apparent restoration effect by plantation forest across landscape � Apparent restoration effect across landscape

Landscape level effects of restoration Landscape level effects of restoration Gain of forest area from loss of low � vegetation element and mountainous barren by restoration project and natural succession Increase of developed area by urbanization � and industrialization Loss of agricultural element � Local extinction of salt field element � Broadleaved forest increment between � 1980s and 1990s by pine gall midge and canopy release in pine forest Landscape dynamics in Young-il area well Landscape dynamics in Young-il area well � � revealed general patterns in landscape of Korea

Landscape level effects of restoration Landscape level effects of restoration Forest soil erosion control by the Young-il � project Recent soil loss by development and � forest fire Soil loss class 1973 2005 Area (ton / ha / yr) Area (ha) % % (ha) None 0 15,729.8 42.8 18,724.9 50.9 Rare < 1 5,771.3 15.7 9,727.6 26.4 Relative rare 1~10 9,198.2 25.0 5,952.5 16.2 Mediate 10~100 5,002.4 13.6 1,318.8 3.6 Relative severe 100~1000 1,061.5 2.9 1,038.3 2.8 Severe > 1000 30.2 0.1 31.5 0.1 Total 36,793.5 100.0 36,793.5 100.0

Landscape level effects of restoration Landscape level effects of restoration NDVI comparison between natural and plantation forests � In 1973, apparent difference in vegetation vitality between natural and plantation forests � Since 1987, vegetation vitality was rapidly and fully restored in planted forest � *: significance at p <0.05 NS: non significance

Ecosystem level effects of restoration Ecosystem level effects of restoration Environmental variables Compared to natural vegetation Q. serrata forest � Restored canopy openness, light environment and � coverage of litter and woody debris in A. firma stands In P. thunbergii stands, low recovery of stand � stratification by tending practice Canopy environment of natural and restored stands 120 Litter cover ( H = 40.6, p < 0.001) Coarse woody debris ( H = 53.5, p < 0.001) Woody debris 100 80 60 % P. thunbergii stand Q. serrata stand A. firma stand 40 20 0 Q. serrata A. firma P. thunbergii Vegetation type

Ecosystem level effects of restoration Ecosystem level effects of restoration Environmental variables Most of soil properties such as soil pH, N, C and P restored during about 40 years � Natural stands Natural stands Natural stands Natural stands *: significance at p <0.05 NS: non significance Plantations Plantations Plantations Plantations

Ecosystem level effects of restoration Ecosystem level effects of restoration Vegetation structure Quercus serrata Alnus firma Pinus thunbergii Species relative relative relative relative relative relative basal area stem density/ha basal area stem density/ha basal area stem density/ha Quercus serrata 38.0 31.9 28.1 37.9 - - Q. variabilis 13.8 10.1 1.9 1.1 - - Pinus densiflora 8.6 3.3 - - - - Q. mongolica 7.1 8.7 9.4 11.6 - - Prunus sp. 5.4 4.0 1.5 1.1 0.1 0.7 Alnus firma - - 22.1 8.4 - - A. sibirica - - 0.2 0.7 - - Tilia amurensis - - 0.7 0.4 - - Pinus thunbergii - - - - 98.1 89.6 Robinia pseudoa - - - - 1.0 7.4 cacia Albizia julibrissin - - - - 0.3 2.2 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Ecosystem level effects of restoration Ecosystem level effects of restoration Vegetation composition Little differences in tree species and shrub layer � composition between Q. serrata and A. firma stands Relatively low vegetation recovery in P. thunbergii � stands Tree species Focused on functional recovery but significant effect � composition on compositional restoration Succession of plantation forest to natural dominant � vegetation, Q. serrata forest Shrub layer composition Herbaceous layer Alnus firma plantation and regeneration of natural vegetation composition

Restoration effects achieved by restoration project Restoration effects achieved by restoration project Regional landscape quality was completely recovered through � large scale restoration project Recovery of forest function was achieved, maybe partly � In ecosystem level, each restored stands showed differences � to natural vegetation in terms of structure and composition by plantation type and management history Environmental variables such as in-forest environments and Environmental variables such as in-forest environments and � � soil properties were recovered almost

Key points of the success of the restoration project Key points of the success of the restoration project Fuel revolution from wood to gas and briquet in 1970s � Incentive measures to local residents by participating nursery � Strong regulations to prevent utilizing of forest resources for � fuel and food Primarily, transformation of social system from agricultural to � industrial society during 1970s to 1990s

Emerging challenges and opportunities Emerging challenges and opportunities � Most of lowland forest of Korea was occupied by young plantations � Homogeneous forest landscape and urbanization in lowlands - vulnerability to disturbance, fragmentation, connectivity � Delay of natural succession due to local shortage of plant propagules � Needs to secondary forest restoration to facilitate vegetation diversity, health and function

Emerging challenges and opportunities Emerging challenges and opportunities � Characteristics of spatial distribution of introduced P. rigida plantation 160,000 140,000 120,000 Major plantation of 100,000 Area (ha) lowland area 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 Elevation (m) 140,000 120,000 120,000 Gentle slope area 100,000 Area (ha) 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 Slope ( ˚ ˚ ) ˚ ˚ 60,000 50,000 40,000 Area (ha) 30,000 All aspect 340,000 ha in S. Korea 20,000 10,000 0 N NE E SE S SW W NW Aspect

Emerging challenges and opportunities Emerging challenges and opportunities � Schematic diagram for restoring natural vegetation in coniferous plantation � Application of ecological theories - gap theory and intermediate disturbance hypothesis Partial cutting or girdling in coniferous plantation Partial cutting or girdling in coniferous plantation Facilitation of natural succession Restoration of natural vegetation and improving vegetation diversity