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Dry-process MDF is the material that overcomes heterogeneous characteristics of woody resources, and it has been used steadily in many industrial and life fields. In terms of MDF business, raw materials should be considered preferentially because they are responsible for the largest aspect of manufacturing costs. MDF process, which has the process of disassembly into fibers and reassembly into panel, received influence of wood properties such as fiber length, extractives content, and maturity. Looking at the usage of species by region, softwood species are used in Europe and North America, hardwood species are in Asia, respectively. In the case of South Korea, red pine and radiate pine have been mainly used due to optimized manufacture condition and excellent board quality result from long fiber length characteristics. However, the governmental price support for bio-energy industry and the reduction of logging by environmental issues continue to reduce the supply of raw materials for board business. There are two strategies to solve resources shortage problem. Firstly, as a method of moving production bases to overseas regions rich in raw materials, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, it is mainly used by this company (Korea). Once the production is optimized for the new species in the area, it can be successfully profitable. Before, it should be necessary to overcome the problem that it is not easy to build deforestation infrastructure in develop forest area. Secondly, recycled materials is researched and applied by several companies. Outstanding technique and effort are required to solve some problem such as difficulty in perfect refining, low fiber quality, and impurities addition. The particle board business is facing great difficulties that make it impossible to continue in Korea. Domestic products are losing their competitiveness due to cheap imported products. Due to the nature of the business that uses recycled raw materials, the supply problem of raw materials by REC and the deterioration of the supply of construction waste materials by the economic downturn are accelerating these difficulties. The domestic industry is trying to solve the problem through policy measures such as revising the REC inequality clause and filing anti-dumping lawsuits against imported products.

This study aimed to investigate the performance and factors affecting species classification of CNN architecture using whole-part and earlywood-part dataset of cross-sections in six Korean Quercus species. The accuracy of species classification for each condition using the datasets, data augmentation, and optimizers (SGD, Adam, and RMSProp) based on a CNN architecture with 3–4 convolutional layers was analyzed. The model trained with an augmented dataset yielded significantly superior results in classification accuracy compared to the model learned with a non-augmented dataset. The augmented dataset was the only factor affecting classification accuracy in the final five epochs, whereas four factors in the whole epochs, such as the Adam and SGD optimizer, and the earlywood-part and the whole-part dataset, affected species classification. The arrangement of earlywood vessels, broad ray, and axial parenchyma was identified as major influential factors for CNN species classification through Grad-CAM analysis. The augmented whole-part dataset with the Adam optimizer condition achieved the highest classification accuracy of 85.7% in the final five epochs of the test phase.

This research investigates how heat treatment influences the physical, mechanical, and chemical characteristics of betung bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper). Two methods of heat treatment are applied: Oil Heat Treatment (OHT) and Air Heat Treatment (AHT), conducted at temperatures of 180°C, 200°C, 220°C, and 240°C, with durations of 1, 2, and 3 h. The study evaluates changes in color, weight, density, equilibrium moisture content (EMC), compressive strength, and crystallinity using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Findings reveal that heat treatment causes significant modifications to the bamboo's physical, mechanical, and chemical attributes. Notably, OHT and AHT lead to substantial color changes, reflected in variations of L*, a*, and b* values depending on the temperature and treatment time. Weight and density decrease significantly after heat treatment, especially at 240°C for 3 hours. Additionally, equilibrium moisture content rises following treatment, while compressive strength diminishes. XRD analysis highlights alterations in the crystallinity and crystal size of the bamboo after treatment. In summary, heat treatment impacts the bamboo's characteristics, making it more suitable for industrial use as an improved raw material.

This work analyzed the feasibility of WCO-based Bio-Polyurethane for plywood adhesives as a friendlier environmental alternative to petroleum-sourced polyols. The objective was to find how different WCO concentrations and MDI consumption levels will be affecting performances in Bio-PU and plywood. First, filtering WCO and then blending it with polyol in the following ratios: P1= 80:20, P2= 40:60, P3= 60:40, P4= 80:60, by mix at 25 °C for 30 minutes. The polyols were mixed with WCO and MDI at 50% and 100% concentration, respectively, stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. Consequently, the property, rheology, and functional group of Bio-PU were characterized. Laboratory-made plywood from 3 layers of crosswise-oriented 100 mm × 100 mm x 2 mm, Hevea brasiliensis (rubberwood) veneer, was bonded with Bio-PU using the dual spread technique. Hot pressing at 120 °C and 1 MPa, 180 g.m-2, for 4 min. Physical and mechanical properties and bonding quality were determined for the laboratory-made plywood. Results revealed that Bio-PU exhibited peculiar adhesive characteristics with excellent bonding strength, which decreased slightly with the increase in WCO concentrations. Insertion of WCO did not affect the resistance to delamination. FTIR studies confirmed the synthesis of polyurethane chains. The present work illustrated the opportunities of WCO-based Bio-PUs as an eco-friendly plywood adhesive with enhanced performance.

The anatomical properties of unproductive oil palm stems (OPS) and their correlation with density were studied from the core to the bark at the bottom, middle, and top sections for effective utilization. Observations of anatomical features were performed with optical and scanning electron microscopy, while density measurements were conducted with an electronic densimeter (MH-330A; Omena, China). The number of vascular bundles (VBN) increased from core to bark and decreased from top to bottom. The fiber bundle area (FBA) increased from core to bark and from top to bottom. Fiber length (FL), width (FW), and wall thickness (FWT) decreased from the bottom to the top, whereas the fiber lumen diameter (FLD) increased. FL across all sections showed a decreasing trend from core to bark. Radial variations in FW, FLD, and FWT differed across sections. The fiber derivative values in the inner part of the middle section were comparable to those in the top section, predominantly showing third-grade pulp quality. In contrast, the bottom section exhibited the characteristics similar to the outer part of the middle section, where fibers were largely classified as fourth-grade pulp. Density was found to have a positive correlation with VBN, while FBA, FL, and FW exhibited a negative, though statistically insignificant, relationship with oven-dry density. No correlation was observed between FWT, FLD, and OPS density.To conclude, distinct variations in quantitative anatomical characteristics were observed within the OPS, suggesting that fiber properties can serve as indicators of stem quality. In general, fiber quality declined from the top to the bottom sections and from the core outward.

This study investigated and compared the anatomical features of six Quercus species grown in Korea, Quercusvariabilis, Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. dentata, Q. aliena, and Q. acutissima. The anatomical and non-anatomical features were evaluated following the International Association of Wood Anatomists’ list for hardwood identification. In the anatomical features, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissimaexhibited similar latewood vessel arrangements and paratracheal axial parenchyma, featuring diagonal and/or radial arrangements and showing vasicentric, confluent, and unilateral parenchyma. In contrast, dendritic-to-diagonal patterns of vessels with angular outlines were observed in the latewood of Q. serrata, Q. mongolica, Q. dentata, and Q. aliena. Concerning the non-anatomical features, all species showed a darker heartwood color than sapwood, with color variations. Q. variabilis had heartwood–sapwood colors similar to those of Q. acutissima, while Q. mongolica and Q. aliena presented similar heartwood–sapwood colors. All species did not show fluorescence in the heartwood fluorescence and fluorescence in the ethanol extract tests. Only Q. serrata exhibited bright blue fluorescence in the water extract and a weak positive reaction in the froth test. Each species had different colors in both water and ethanol extracts, and the water extract of all species was darker than that of the ethanol extract. Furthermore, a positive reaction in both heartwood and sapwood of the chrome azurol-S test was found between Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima. The burning splinter test revealed that only Q. acutissima was transformed into charcoal. In summary, the differences in anatomical and non-anatomical features of six Quercus species grown in Korea can be used to identify these species.

Electrospinning is an innovative method for producing nanofibers from biopolymers, offering a wide range of applications in the biomedical field. In this study, Gelatin-b and Cellulose Nano Crystals (CNC), modified with coumaric acid, were shown to undergo complexation under acidic conditions. This behavior was optimized using a 9:1 acetic acid to water ratio for electrospinning. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and confocal microscopy verified the CNC incorporation in the nanofibers, with labeled nanofibers providing insight into their structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed an increase in nanofiber diameter proportional to the amount of Cm-CNC added, and mechanical testing confirmed enhanced strength with greater CNC content. Furthermore, the release of payload from the nanofibers increased with higher pH levels, with a significantly higher release observed in the presence of sulfatase compared to controls without the enzyme. UV-induced dimerization of the nanofibers enabled controlled release due to photo-crosslinking.

Sodium lignosulfonate (SLS), a byproduct during cellulose extraction, contains ion functional groups of SO3- and Na+without requiring a complex synthesis. Materials with such ionic functional groups can modify the work function of electrodes, a crucial factor for achieving optimal energy-level alignment in high-efficiency electronic devices. Therefore, SLS holds potential as a material for these applications. However, its fundamental properties, including electronic structure, are not yet fully understood, hindering its application in electronic devices. In this study, we analyzed the electronic structure of SLS usingphotoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, we demonstrated improved solar cell performance through work function control of ITO with SLS. Additionally, we presented the unique property of SLS in which its electronic structure changes upon interaction with light.

Glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation are the two main metabolic pathways used by cells. However, the Warburg effect indicates that under aerobic conditions, tumor cells still prefer glycolysis over efficient oxidative phosphorylation to provide energy. Recently, the inhibition of tumor cell growth through metabolism pathways has received widespread attention. In this study, 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG), a glycolysis inhibitor, was introduced into a hydrogel system fabricated by forming covalent and hydrogen bonds with doxorubicin (DOX) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). The designed CNC-assembled hydrogel (CAH) system was self-assemble, injectable, and biocompatible. Moreover, DOX worked synergistically with 2DG, accomplishing multiple therapeutic functions against melanoma by targeting both chemical and metabolic pathways, including the inhibition of glycolysis and the enhancement of lipid peroxidation. Notably, compared to the control group, the ATP level of CNC/DOX/2DG decreased by 23% while NADPH level has decreased by 25% in B16F10 cells. Additionally, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-7 levels were elevated following treatment in B16F10 cells. The CAH system can provide prolonged chemometabolic effects for combating melanoma.

The development of sustainable nanocomposites is gaining attention due to their potential applications arising from the combination of unique properties of nanocellulose and metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Noble metal nanoparticles such as silver, gold, and palladium exhibit valuable optical and catalytic properties but face challenges like aggregation and difficult recovery. To address these issues, we used nanocellulose as a renewable, high-surface-area support for in-situ growth of MNPs. Nanocellulose variants with different surface chemistries, including carboxylated, quaternized, dialdehyde, and dicarboxylate-modified variants, were prepared. Novel microwave-assisted and UV-light assisted methods were employed to synthesize the MNPs without toxic reducing agents. The resulting composites demonstrated excellent performance in biosensing small molecules and catalyzing dye pollutant removal from water. The nanocellulose matrix facilitated easy recovery and reusability, with the ability to form films, foams, and aerogels.

In this study, high-performance bio-adsorbent beads composed of cellulose and lignin were developed to efficiently remove carcinogenic Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater. The cellulose-lignin beads were crosslinked and grafted with polyamine to enhance surface functionality. The fabricated beads were characterized through physicochemical analyses and tested for Cr(VI) removal performance. The amine-functionalized beads exhibited a high Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 326.8 mg/g, demonstrating significant removal efficiency. Additionally, the beads exhibited mechanical durability and recyclability, performing effectively in continuous adsorption processes. The removal of Cr(VI) was facilitated by electrostatic interactions, chelation, complexation, and reduction mechanisms. This provides an effective approach for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass to treat wastewater contaminated with toxic metal ions.

RNA interference (RNAi) or RNA silencing, an evolutionarily conserved cellular mechanism across all plant species, has been a main focus in the field of biotechnology for the past few decades. It is strongly induced by viral infection as a primary antiviral response; enormous viral small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) originated from double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) targets viral genomic RNAs in a sequence-specific manner. Since RNAi is conserved in eukaryotes, including insects and fungi, RNAi can be applied to control of various pests and pathogens. We developed several RNAi-based techniques, including virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and exogenic dsRNA/siRNA treatment, for functional genomics studies and for control of plant viruses and their insect vectors. Based on our previous researches, we here discuss the potential of RNAi-based methods against tree pathogens, and propose several future technologies for applying RNAi, as a promising tools for control of destructive tree pathogens.

The environmental DNA(eDNA) metabarcoding approach has established itself as a fast and cost-effective method for biodiversity monitoring and analysis, but its application in forest disease study remains limited. In particular, traditional metabarcoding techniques have not been effectively used in pest and disease monitoring due to limitations such as low taxonomic resolution, difficulties in data interpretation, and insufficient reference databases. However, recent advancements have significantly mitigated these issues, opening new possibilities for pathogen monitoring and ecological interaction analysis. This presentation will introduce the basic concept of metabarcoding, focus on the limitations of traditional metabarcoding methods, and highlight improvements brought by recent technological developments. Additionally, through examples from research in other fields, possible applications of metabarcoding approach on forest disease will be discussed, proposing more precise and effective solutions for disease detection and management.

The increase in international trade and climate change have facilitated the introduction and establishment of numerous exotic insects in non-native regions globally. A substantial number of these of non-native insects are currently considered as invasive pests, indicating the importance of preventing new introduction of potential invaders, and evaluating their invasiveness in quarantine systems. This study aims to evaluate whether climate suitability can serve as a predictive indicator for potential invasive pests. Geographic information of presence points for 74 non-native insect species, already established or reported in Korea, were obtained from the GBIF database. Climatic suitability was estimated using bioclimatic variables provided by WorldClim. The presence data, excluding Korean records for each species, and randomly generated pseudo-absence data were used to georeferenced the bioclimatic variables to build climatic niche models. The niche models were developed using Classification Tree Analysis (CTA), Boosted Regression Tree (BRT), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms, which were subsequently integrated into an ensemble model for each species. The final models for each species exhibited high predictive performanceNotably, the ten species classified as major invasive pests in Korea exhibited distinctly higher climatic suitability compared to the remaining species. Therefore, estimated climatic suitability may provide valuable insights for evaluating the invasiveness of exotic insects that may become future invasive pests. The climatic suitability for non-native insects in Korea was found to be relatively high in coastal regions and on Jeju Island. These findings suggest the need for concentrated preventive efforts, including surveillance and eradication initiatives, in these regions.

Wood boring insects are pests that burrow into the interior of trees, causing significant damage and posing serious threats to forest ecosystems and urban landscapes. Especially in Korea, the native species Aromia bungii causes severe damage to Prunus × yedoensis trees, posing significant problems. The damage caused by A.bungii can be identified externally through signs such as emergence and entrance holes on tree stems with sawdust like frass on grounds, but accurately assessing the extent of internal damage requires cutting down the tree. This study uses a non-invasive sonic tomography technique to analyze the correlation between external damage characteristics and internal damage in P.× yedoensis trees affected by A.bungii. The findings show significant difference in internal damage rates of infested trees compared to undamaged trees, although some undamaged trees exhibited injuries caused by abiotic factors and wood-decay fungi. The results demonstrate that sonic tomography is an effective tool for non-invasive assessment of internal damage caused by wood-boring insects, offering a practical alternative to more destructive methods.

Wild bees are considered main pollinators, but their diversity is rapidly declining worldwide. Consequently, there is a need to create and manage open habitats preferred by wild bees. However, in Korea, it is difficult to provide suitable habitats as approximately 63% of the land is covered by forests. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of wild bees in open habitats within forests in which natural grasslands and artificially created clearcut areas were compared. In the spring of 2024, from April to May, wild bees were sampled for two weeks using pan traps in the academic forest of Kangwon National University, located in Chuncheon. Two types of habitats were selected: one was a natural grassland with minimal human disturbance, and the other was a clearcut area that was harvested in 2022 and has since developed into an open habitat. A total of 39 species with 4,183 individuals in the grassland and 51 species with 1,453 individuals in the clearcut area were collected and identified. The number of individuals was significantly higher in the grassland compared to the clearcut area, but there was no difference in species richness. Individual-based rarefaction curves predicted a higher number of species in the clearcut area for the same number of individuals. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarities showed that the species composition was significantly different between the grassland and clearcut area. This suggests that grasslands function as stable habitats, while clearcut areas serve as habitats where various species are being introduced due to forestry.

Forest ecosystems are known as reservoirs of biodiversity, yet the issue of biodiversity loss due to forest degradation has become a growing concern, emphasizing the importance of conservation. Understanding the response of insect assemblage to changes in forest ecosystems is crucial in conserving forest biodiversity. Among the components of forest ecosystems, the superfamily Scarabaeoidea perform high species richness and functional diversity worldwide, leading to numerous studies on assemblage structure in response to various environmental factors. However, research on the assemblage structure of Scarabaeoidea in Korea has been highly limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the assemblage structure of Scarabaeoidea beetles inhabiting temperate coniferous and deciduous forests. From mid-May to mid-September, flight interception traps were used to investigate Scarabaeoidea beetles in forest types, and their assemblage structures were compared. Additionally, correlations between various environmental factors, including altitude, and assemblage diversity were analyzed to identify the elements influencing beetle assemblage structure. The results showed that species diversity in deciduous forests was higher than that in coniferous forests.

With the recent overall improvement in living standards, there has been a growing interest in individuals' quality of life and leisure, leading to an increase in the number of people visiting forest recreational facilities to enjoy health and relaxation. Accordingly, local governments responsible for forest planning need to actively promote forest development and the establishment of facilities that meet the demand for forest recreation among citizens. This study aims to propose improvement measures for forest recreational facilities by analyzing the usage behaviors and satisfaction levels of Incheon citizens based on their perceptions of forest recreation. The results of the Latent Class Analysis (LCA) classified perceptions of forest recreation into four types: multi-purpose recreation type, balanced relaxation type, daily use type, and passive use type. The multi-purpose recreation group actively participates in various forest activities, especially through sports, to find vitality. The balanced relaxation group values a balance between recreational activities and rest, while the daily use group enjoys forest recreation in a light and routine manner. Lastly, the passive use group shows relatively low interest in forest recreation. This study analyzed the differences in forest usage behaviors and satisfaction among these four types and proposed customized forest development strategies that reflect the diverse needs of citizens.

Structures of urban greenspaces are the three-dimensional spatial distribution of vegetation and soils in urban areas including species composition, tree size and density, crown cover and volume, vertical diversity, and network system. These horizontal and vertical structures determine various functions of urban greenspaces which are associated with ecological, aesthetic, and recreational benefits for residents. This study analyzed structural characteristics of urban greenspaces in South Korea based on field survey and recent literature, reviewed diverse functions of urban greenspaces quantitatively, and explored better ways of improving the functions. Ecological functions studied included microclimate amelioration and building energy savings, reduction of gaseous and particulate air pollutants, rainfall interception, and bird species diversity. The study also reviewed residents’ aesthetic preferences by structural difference of urban greenspaces which provide attractive naturalness to urban stark settings. These ecological and aesthetic functions considered could affect recreational functions as represented by residents’ health and well-being through outdoor activities in urban areas. Structures of urban greenspaces in South Korea were characterized by poor greenspace area in residential and institutional lands, limitation of seasonal tree-species diversity, dominance of young and growing tree population, low tree density and crown cover, vertically single-layered planting, poor tree-growth conditions and intensive pruning, isolation of vegetation patches. Based on these findings, this study suggested desirable ways for structural design to enhance various functions of urban greenspaces.

The spatial scope of the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory calculation for the domestic settlement sector covers 19 land categories, including parks. The GHG inventory includes all emissions and absorptions of greenhouse gases resulting from land use and land-use changes and is calculated based on the approaches outlined in the IPCC 2006 guidelines. The GHG inventory for the settlement sector was only calculated for maintained settlements. The calculation focused on the CO2 absorption from biomass, which is one of the carbon reservoirs. The statistical calculation method used was Tier 2a, Approach 1. The inventory calculation period covers 1990-2022, with extrapolation applied for 1990-2001 and interpolation for 2003-2008 and 2020-2021. The canopy area of maintained settlements increased from 56,267 ha in 1990 to 116,779 ha in 2019, but has been analyzed to decrease since 2020. The carbon absorption in the settlement sector was –598,307 tc/ha/yr in 1990, increasing to –1,241,755 tc/ha/yr in 2019. However, in 2022, the absorption decreased to –1,198,995 tc/ha/yr, showing a decline since 2019. Therefore, in the case of maintained settlements, efforts to expand carbon absorption spaces within urban areas and minimize carbon loss are necessary to enhance GHG absorption.

Urban greenspaces play an important role in mitigating the heat island effect and improving air quality by absorbing particulate matter suspended in the atmosphere. The purpose of this study is to review previous studies and examine the effects of greenspaces on alleviating heat waves and particulate matter. Research on urban greenspaces and heat waves began in the late 1990s and gained momentum from the early 2000s. In the 2010s, as the severity of climate change and the urban heat island effect intensified, research related to greenspaces and heat waves became more widespread. Since the 2000s, quantitative research on the air purification effects of greenspaces related to particulate matter has been ongoing. Since the 2010s, research has been conducted on creating green infrastructure through approaches related to PM10 and PM2.5, including greenspace planning, forest creation, and tree planting techniques. The review of existing studies confirms that greenspaces play a central role in strengthening urban resilience to climate change and effectively mitigating issues related to heat waves and particulate matter. In other words, it suggests that the preservation and expansion of greenspaces are essential in urban planning. These results can serve as foundational data for policy proposals aimed at sustainable urban development and are expected to contribute to the creation of a sustainable urban environment.

In 2021, South Korea enacted and promulgated the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Coping with Climate Crisis, becoming the 14th country in the world to legislate a carbon neutrality vision and implementation framework. The country has also declared to the international community its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. Achieving carbon neutrality and the national greenhouse gas reduction targets requires not only reducing emissions but also developing accurate estimation and forecasting methods for carbon sinks and promoting efforts to enhance them. This study aims to propose a methodology for forecasting carbon sinks that considers land-use changes, contributing to the establishment of Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Basic Plans. To identify land-use changes, we developed a time-series land-use mapping method using high-resolution satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 integrated with machine learning techniques on the Google Earth Engine platform. To predict land-use changes, the constructed land-use maps along with topography and socio-economic variables were used as input data, while the ANN-CA model was employed as the prediction model to forecast land-use changes up to 2029. The results show that the developed land-use mapping and change prediction methodology can be effectively applied in establishing national and regional Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Basic Plans.

The present time is fraught with serious environmental problems, such as climate change and increasing air pollutants, which urban greenspaces can remedy through carbon uptake, air purification, temperature reduction, biodiversity enhancement, and energy saving. Specifically, the tree planting structure has the greatest direct influence on urban greenspace function. This structure includes tree planting density, size, species, and vertical structure. However, information on the tree planting structure is scarce because of the diversity of urban greenspace and the heavy investments in manpower and finances required to survey it. Therefore, this study reviewed the recent literature on how to investigate the tree planting structure of urban greenspaces. Previous studies have primarily used field surveys, LiDAR measurements, and aerial photo analysis to examine the planting structure of greenspaces. Field surveys are conducted by humans and can provide accurate information on tree species, crown width, and tree height, but they are very labor-intensive and time-consuming. While LiDAR requires less manpower and time than field surveys to capture a greenspace, the process of stitching the images and obtaining tree dimension information is laborious. In contrast, although aerial photo analysis is advantageous for measuring crown width based on existing data, it is limited by the difficulty of identifying vertical structures and the fact that dimensions such as height and diameter can only be inferred through indirect methods. Based on these findings, this study explored efficient tree planting structure survey methods.

Recent climate change has led to an increase in the frequency of large-scale wildfires, causing extensive damage and generating substantial quantities of wildfire-damaged wood. While there is growing interest in the efficient utilization of this wood, the majority is currently used as fuel for power generation, a process that shortens its lifecycle and accelerates carbon emissions. In response to this issue, alternative high-value applications for wildfire-damaged wood have been suggested, including the cultivation of medicinal mushrooms, the creation of handicrafts, and its use as timber for wooden structures. However, these approaches typically only employ the non-charred portions of the wood, with the charred sections being removed and discarded. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the fundamental properties of the charred portions of wildfire-damaged wood and provide foundational data for the development of functional materials from these components.

A wildfire is a significant disturbance factor in forest ecosystems. Post-fire insect community structures are primarily determined by indirect effects, such as changes in habitat structure, rather than the direct impact of the fire itself. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of post-fire restoration methods on Coleoptera communities, which are directly affected by both vegetation and soil changes. Our study was conducted from April 2024, on the area affected by the 2019 Goseong wildfire in South Korea. We selected five distinct habitat types for the investigation: control as undamaged forests, naturally recovering areas, pine plantation, shrubland, and grassland. For each habitat type, we established three quadrats and employed two trapping methods: pitfall traps to collect ground dwelling coleopterans and soil emergence traps to collect coleopterans that emergence from ground after overwintering. By analyzing the results from these diverse restoration approaches, we compared coleopteran communities by five habitat types.

Larix kaempferi is in high demand for its value as timber and afforestation species in Korea. Water supply is crucial for the production of high-quality seedlings, and an efficient irrigation system must be established. However, collecting physiological information on L. kaempferi seedlings for efficient irrigation poses challenges. Therefore, establishing an efficient irrigation system based on non-destructive and rapid phenotypic information is essential. This study conducted drought (non-irrigation) and rehydration experiments to explore the optimal irrigation period for one-year-old L. kaempferi seedlings under greenhouse conditions using vegetation indices, fluorescence imaging, and thermal imaging. The results showed that no seedlings died until the 4th day of drought treatment (soil moisture content: 5.3%). When rehydrated on the 6th day of drought treatment, 83.33% of the seedlings survived. Among the phenotypic information, CWSI (Crop Water Stress Index), LTD (Leaf Temperature Difference), PRI (Photochemical Reflectance Index), and Fm (Maximum fluorescence in a dark-adapted state) detected sensitive stress responses on the 6th day of drought treatment. Among these, thermal imaging showed the highest potential for application in smart nursery systems in the future, provided it can address limitations in greenhouse conditions.