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Wild garlic (Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum, AVVP), a valuable wild vegetable and medicinal plant, was studied to compare the chemical compositions of plants propagated by different methods. This study compared the chemical profiles of in vitro plants acclimatized in a greenhouse and ex vivo plants propagated from seeds in a forest. Both groups were derived from the same clonal line and harvested after 12 months of growth. The moisture content of acclimatized in vitro plants and ex vivo propagated plants was similar, and the extraction yield of acclimatized in vitro plants was higher. The inorganic content was generally higher in the shoot than in the bulb, with ex vivo propagated plants showing higher inorganic content in the bulb. The total sugar content was higher in acclimatized in vitro plants in the shoot, and similar in the bulb. The amount of carbohydrates was similar in the shoot, and higher in ex vivo propagated plants in the bulb. The content of moisture, total dietary fiber, and free sugar was high in acclimatized in vitro plants in both shoot and bulb. The content of crude oil, free amino acid, and the total polyphenol was higher in the shoot of ex vivo propagated plants and in the bulb of acclimatized in vitro plants. A total of 36 types of volatile compounds were detected, and dimethyl sulfone was the main component, and the types of compounds were similar in acclimatized in vitro plants and ex vivo propagated plants. Antioxidant activity was higher in ex vivo propagated plants compared to acclimatized in vitro plants. These findings indicate that chemical differences are primarily influenced by environmental conditions rather than plant age or genetics. This study provides valuable insights for the optimized propagation and use of wild garlic and similar medicinal plants in both forest and controlled environments.

The lichen species richness and diversity in Punakha District were assessed along an altitudinal gradient, with the main objective of documenting distributional trends of varying growth forms, dominant families, and the diversity index. Stratified random sampling and a non-quantitative opportunistic method were employed for data collection. The study area included nearly all lichen habitats across its varied landscape (1,700-3,100 meters above sea level). Surveys were conducted in four localities: Thinleygang, Menchuna, Lampelri, and Dochula. A total of 36 lichen species from 22 genera and 13 families were recorded. Among growth forms, crustose types were most abundant (RA=42%, n=302), followed by foliose (RA=38%, n=272) and fruticose (RA=20%, n=148). The family Parmeliaceae, with 13 species under 8 genera, was dominant, followed by Cladoniaceae with 5 species under 1 genus. The Important Value Index results revealed distinct lichen assemblages at each site. The highest lichen diversity was observed at mid-altitude (2,700 m) in Lampelri, with 31 species and a Shannon diversity index of 3.234. Additionally, regression analysis with a quadratic best-fit line indicated that mid-altitude lichen communities were more diverse. This study provides baseline data on lichen diversity and insights into the relationship between lichen species diversity and elevation in Punakha district of Bhutan.

Information on environmental management’s critical consciousness hinges on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for resilience among vulnerable inhabitants in flooded areas of Nigeria. Hence, understanding how the ICTs tools become useful to change agents and the clientele for adjusting to and managing the challenging issues arising from flooding is germane. However, research on evaluating the role of ICTs in disseminating sustainable forest land use techniques (SuFLUT) for flood management in flood-ravaged communities of Southwest Nigeria is uncommon and sparse for flood resilience. The study objectives examined socio-economic characteristics, awareness about flood issues, information sources, and sustainable forest land use techniques. Data were generated from structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews through multistage sampling procedure and were analysed with frequencies, percentages, mean scores, Chi square statistic and Canonical Correlation Analysis at α0.05. The findings revealed that residents shared key demographic features. Firstly, they were predominantly male gender with youthful ability to engage developmental activities in their communities. Secondly, they were informed about continuous events of flooding, consequences and the devastating effects on many residents and their resources. Thirdly, they had access to various ICTs tools through which information on flood warnings was broadcast in the studied area. The adoption of SuFLUT varied across locations in Southwest Nigeria, with tree planting being the most commonly utilized practice, followed by tree conservation and stream bank stabilization. The findings revealed that even though residents were conversant of ICTs for information broadcast about SuFLUT, there is still low usage of SuFLUT for flood resilience among residents. The study recommends that community stakeholders actively seek government support and strengthen existing institutional frameworks through collaboration with international agencies. Establishing robust information networks focused on flood and climate resilience will be critical in mitigating the impacts of recurrent flooding.

This study aims to identify key improvement factors in the implementation of the Garden Dream Project from the perspectives of green infrastructure and welfare services. Using Focus Group Interview (FGI) analysis, it identified key issues and characteristics in the design, construction, and management phases of the project and proposes improvement strategies based on these findings. The results showed that thematic clarity and site suitability were essntial in the garden design phase, with both being heavily influenced by the surrounding land use conditions. In terms of planting and facility design, the utility of existing trees and facilities within the site was found to be crucial. Due to seasonal constraints and limitations in plant species, thematic expressions in the gardens were mostly realized through facilities and objets. During the construction phase, the importance of selecting a site that enables the establishment of a suitable planting foundation and provides access to water and electricity was emphasized. In the management phase, garden maintenance was carried out by citizen gardeners, and there was a high demand for advanced training in ground cover plant care. This study holds significance in terms of providing rational improvement factors and suggesting ways to sustain green services in the planning, creation, and operation of the Garden Dream Project.

The frequency and scale of forest fires are increasing worldwide due to climate change, land use changes, and extreme weather events. South Korea has experienced repeated large-scale forest fires, particularly in mountainous regions such as the Yeongdong area of Gangwon Province and northern North Gyeongsang Province, causing significant social, economic, and environmental damage. In rugged terrain, aerial firefighting resources including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are crucial for early response and suppression. However, operations face challenges such as fragmented command structures, inefficient resource allocation, and aging equipment. This study analyzed the operational status of aerial suppression resources in South Korea from 1994 to 2023 using long term forest fire occurrence and deployment data. Results show a seasonal concentration of fires in spring, clustering in high-risk areas, and a positive correlation between burned area, suppression time, and aerial resource deployments. However, simply increasing resource numbers does not necessarily reduce damage without systemic improvements. To improve effectiveness, the study proposes: (1) establishing an integrated national command system and real-time information sharing platform; (2) implementing risk-based pre-deployment strategies by region and season; (3) prioritizing large helicopters for high-risk zones; and (4) enabling flexible seasonal deployment of medium-class aircraft. Further measures include replacing aging equipment, standardizing maintenance cycles, securing multifunctional suppression resources, and expanding training to address the aging pilot workforce. From a policy perspective, developing a mid to long term national roadmap, enhancing cooperation between central and local governments, and expanding publicly owned aerial resources are essential. Reducing reliance on short term private contracts and ensuring year round optimal allocation will strengthen South Korea’s resilience to future large-scale forest fires. These integrated strategies can enable faster, more efficient, and more coordinated suppression efforts, ultimately mitigating the impacts of catastrophic events.

The Rhododendron species have traditionally been used to treat inflammation, pain, colds, and skin diseases. Some species have been reported to exhibit various biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, indicating their significant potential for use as functional materials. These activities are largely attributed to the secondary metabolites found in the Rhododendron species. Notably, taxifolin-3-O-arabinopyranoside, a flavanone glycoside, has garnered attention for its various biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, skin whitening, anti-wrinkle effects, and improvement of hair loss. It is increasingly recognized as a specific indicator compound for the Rhododendron species. This study conducted a chemotaxonomic screening of the 15 species of Rhododendron native to Vietnam using taxifolin-3-O-arabinopyranoside as an indicator compound. The compound was detected in samples of R. kontumense, R. maddenii, and R. triumphans through HPLC and LC-MS/MS analyses, and the highest content (26.64±4.06 ppm) was shown in the leaves of R. maddenii. On the other hand, when analyzing the roots and the branches extract of Korean R. mucronulatum, it exhibited significantly higher contents than those of the Vietnamese species, measuring 156.73±19.32 ppm and 76.87±2.60 ppm, respectively. Since the indicator compound was not detected in more than half of the Rhododendron species used in the experiment, it is suggested that the Vietnamese species may be chemically differentiated lineages. Therefore, this study provides a new perspective on the classification of the Rhododendron genus. Furthermore, this study is valuable as the first to report taxifolin-3-O-arabinopyranoside in R. kontumense, R. maddenii, and R. triumphans, and a chemotaxonomic study on the Vietnamese Rhododendron species, which has been previously insufficient.

Prunus×yedoensis Matsum. is a commonly planted street tree species in South Korea. In this study, we assessed the physiological characteristics of P.×yedoensis growing along streets in Goyang and Paju, located in Gyeonggi Province. Across the surveyed sites, net CO2 assimilation rates ranged from 15.8 to 18.1 μmol CO2 m-2ㆍs-1, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) values ranged from 0.81 to 0.85, and proline contents were between 3.4 and 3.7 mgㆍg-1 fresh weight. While the trees appeared to be under some degree of physiological stress, the levels of chlorophyll fluorescence and proline content suggested that the stress was not severe. These findings indicate that P.×yedoensis street trees in the studied areas are not experiencing significant physiological decline. Continued monitoring will be essential for evaluating the long-term physiological responses of urban trees under environmental stress.

Pseudolysimachion nakaianum (Ohwi) T. Yamaz. is an endemic and important species in the forest ecosystems of South Korea. This study aimed to develop an in vitro propagation system for P. nakaianum to enhance the availability of this rare plant for commercial horticulture and restoration purposes. We utilized different explants like cotyledon (excised after 2 weeks), petiole and leaf (collected after 8 weeks) from in vitro seedlings to assess the impact of five different cytokinins on adventitious shoot organogenesis. In both cotyledon and petiole explants, half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with 2 mg L-1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.05 mg L-1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) evoked the highest rate of shoot induction (61.1%±9.6% and 26.7%±8.8%, respectively) and the highest number of shoots (3±0.6 and 4.4±0.5, respectively) per explant. In contrast, leaf explants showed no in vitro regeneration. Multiple shoots originating from the explants were separated individually and transferred to half-strength MS medium supplemented with 30 g L-1 sucrose and 3 g L-1 GelriteTM. P. nakaianum plantlets were transplanted into plastic pots filled with a mixture of coco peat, decomposed granite, peat, and perlite (5:1:1:3) and approximately 70% the plants were survived for 4 weeks. This protocol outlines an effective method for the direct in vitro regeneration of P. nakaianum from cotyledon and petiole explants providing valuable information for the conservation of this species.

Wildfire is a major disturbance that intensely affects the structure and function of forest ecosystems and arthropods, serve as important ecological indicators during the post-fire recovery process. This review was conducted to analyze 20 studies conducted in South Korea that address changes in arthropod populations and communities following wildfire, with the aim of providing insights into recovery characteristics of forest ecosystems. Most studies revealed that arthropod community recovery varied depending on fire severity, restoration methods, and the depth of litter and organic layers. Restoration based on natural succession generally promoted faster community recovery than artificial afforestation. Differences in community structure across fire severity levels were associated with the ecological characteristics of specific taxa, and thus taxon-based analyses showing clearer patterns than those based on functional guilds. Snags play an essential role as habitats for saproxylic insects, but they may also promote population increases of certain pests, thereby facilitating the spread of forest diseases. However, quantitative assessments and management strategies regarding this issue remain insufficient. Studies on pest populations are crucial from a forest management perspective, as they can reveal how wildfire affects pest density and dispersal. In the future, it will be necessary to establish long-term monitoring systems and customized restoration strategies that consider not only biodiversity but also functional diversity and ecosystem resilience.

In recent decades, the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires driven by climate change and other factors have led to a significant expansion of research on wildfire spread. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of wildfire spread research from 1982 to 2024. We compiled a dataset of scholarly publications and applied cluster analysis to identify major research topics. Using silhouette scores, we determined an optimal cluster number of approximately 20, and visualized the topic clusters with a two-dimensional embedding. We also analyzed publication trends over time, citation patterns, and keyword co-occurrence networks to understand the evolution and impact of each research topic. The results reveal a dramatic growth in wildfire spread studies over the past decade. We identified several distinct research clusters, including climate change impacts, fire behavior modeling, remote sensing applications, wildfire management strategies, and ecological effects of fires, among others. Some topics, such as climate-related wildfire research and remote sensing, have grown especially rapidly in recent years. Citation analysis indicates that certain longstanding research areas carry high influence, while emerging topics are gaining attention. The keyword network highlights interdisciplinary connections linking climate, ecology, and technology in wildfire research. This comprehensive overview of the wildfire spread research landscape offers insights into past developments and emerging directions, which can inform future research and policymaking in wildfire management.

The recent increase in the frequency and severity of forest fires driven by climate change have raised concerns about secondary disasters, such as soil erosion and landslides, in forest-fire-affected areas. Effective restoration, including soil protection and vegetation recovery, is essential for mitigating these risks. In South Korea, most studies have mainly focused on localized changes or the initial stages of post-fire recovery and remain limited in both temporal and spatial scopes. We conducted a bibliometric analysis to examine and compare research trends over the past 45 years regarding post-fire restoration and the application of nature-based solutions (NbS) to fire-affected areas. The results indicated a marked increase in international publications on post-fire restoration since the 2000s, with most studies originating from the United States and European countries where forest fires are particularly frequent. In South Korea, research on post-fire restoration has increased significantly since 2010. However, no studies on NbS applications have been published to date. Our findings highlight that despite ongoing restoration efforts in South Korea, a comprehensive evaluation of restoration techniques is still lacking. To achieve sustainable restoration and management of forest-fire-affected areas, it is essential to systematically monitor changes in soil and hydrological conditions. Based on these data, diverse restoration techniques, including NbS, should be implemented, and their effectiveness should be quantitatively assessed.

This study aimed to analyze long-term changes in soil CO2 flux (Rsoil, soil respiration) using a chronosequence approach in forests affected by forest fires on the east coast of Korea. Rsoil was measured seasonally along with soil temperature and moisture to assess its response to environmental variation. Additionally, soil physicochemical properties and fine root (≤2 mm) biomass were analyzed to investigate their correlations with Rsoil. Total carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) concentration in soil, and fine root biomass were initially low, peaked during the mid-recovery stage, and then tended to stabilize, whereas soil permeability, sand, silt, and clay contents exhibited distinct patterns. Rsoil increased exponentially with soil temperature, showing higher coefficient of determination (R2) in late recovery stage (0.67) and unburned stands (0.72) than in early stage (0.30). Temperature sensitivity (Q10) of Rsoil showed no significant differences among recovery stages, however the Q10 values exhibited relatively low in early stage compared to other stages. The relationship between soil moisture and Rsoil was weak overall, except in the unburned (R2=0.27, p＜0.01). Rsoil at 20°C (R20, μmol CO2 m-2 s-1) increased with the duration of recovery, with values of 2.38±0.34, 4.11±0.25, 3.14±0.13, and 4.23±0.38 in early-, mid-, late stages, and unburned, respectively. R20 was positively correlated with soil permeability, TC, TN, and fine root biomass (p＜0.05). These findings highlight the importance of Rsoil as an indicator of soil recovery, contribute to the assessment of post-fire soils and the understanding of soil carbon dynamics.

Post-fire salvage logging operations are essential for mitigating secondary disaster risks such as debris flows and landslides by removing unstable woody debris. However, current practices involve scattered harvest unit development requiring extensive spur road construction, raising concerns about soil disturbance and infrastructure damage vulnerability during precipitation events. This study investigated spur road construction characteristics and damage patterns following salvage logging operations in the 2019 wildfire-damaged areas of Gangneung-si, South Korea. Eleven harvest units covering 851.6 ha were classified into four geometric configurations (square, rectangular, triangular, irregular), and spur roads were categorized by location into contour, slope, and valley types. Field surveys identified 92 damage locations with an average length of 77.1 m per site. Results showed significant variations in road density by harvest unit shape, with rectangular units exhibiting the highest density (58.6 m/ha) and irregular units the lowest (20.3 m/ha). Damage ratios varied dramatically by road type: valley roads showed 50% damage, slope roads 45%, and contour roads only 1%. Notably, triangular harvest units demonstrated the lowest damage rates (23.7%) despite high proportions of slope and valley roads, attributed to gentler longitudinal gradients in foothill locations. The study concludes that increasing contour- oriented road proportions and implementing slope roads with gradients below 20% can significantly reduce infrastructure damage and maintenance costs in post-fire salvage operations.

This study quantitatively analyzed the spatial characteristics and principal influencing factors of wildfire vulnerability in Gangneung, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and evaluated the statistical significance of these factors by comparing them with actual wildfire occurrences. The analysis involved generating a 100-meter grid across the Gangneung area and constructing a GIS-based database encompassing 13 variables, including forest, topographical, socio-demographic, and infrastructure elements. All variables were normalized using the Min-Max method prior to analysis, and relationships and interactions between the variables and wildfire occurrences were assessed through Pearson correlation analysis, independent samples t-test, and chi-square test. The results revealed that topographic factors such as slope, elevation, and south-facing aspect, as well as forest type factors like coniferous forest and non-forest areas, were closely associated with wildfire occurrence. Areas adjacent to residential zones and agricultural areas exhibited heightened wildfire risk. Moreover, wildfire response infrastructure, including fire hydrant and civil defense shelter facilities, was found to have low density in areas where wildfires actually occurred, indicating structural vulnerability. Case analysis in Gangneung further showed that approximately 91% of wildfires over the past decade were attributed to anthropogenic causes, highlighting the need for wildfire response strategies in densely populated and forest-adjacent areas. This research provides a spatially explicit foundation for the development of region-specific and science-based wildfire response strategies through the assessment of spatial wildfire vulnerability factors.

Biodiversity is the foundation of ecosystem services and plays a crucial role in human survival and well-being. However, biodiversity is severely threatened by habitat degradation resulting from human activities such as industrialization and urbanization. Land cover change, which alters the structure and function of habitats, is a primary driver of biodiversity loss, making the quantitative assessment of habitat health essential for conservation. This study quantitatively analyzes the impact of land cover changes over the seven-year period from 2017 to 2023 on habitat quality in the terrestrial coastal area of the East Coast of South Korea, utilizing the InVEST Habitat Quality model. The study area was defined as the inland region within 1.5 km of the coastline in six coastal cities of Gangwon, South Korea. The analysis period—2017, 2020, 2022, and 2023—was selected based on increases and decreases in urbanized areas, which reflect human activity, to assess changes in land cover and habitat quality. The results indicated that the expansion of urbanized areas and the decrease in Trees were most significant between 2017 and 2020, a period which also showed a substantial decline in habitat quality was also observed. The pattern of change in habitat quality was consistent with that of the urbanized area, suggesting a strong correlation between human activities and habitat quality. Validation results showed that while there was a relatively high agreement for low-quality habitat areas, the agreement was comparatively lower for high-quality areas. The findings underscore the need for policies that balance conservation and development in coastal areas and can be used as foundational data for establishing habitat conservation and land use plans.

As climate change intensifies, the frequency and scale of wildfires have increased, generating substantial amounts of wildfire-damaged wood. This study aims to support the high-value-added utilization of wildfire-damaged wood by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical properties of its carbonized portion. Wood samples were carbonized at 1,000°C under conditions simulating actual wildfire temperatures, and the physicochemical changes associated with varying degrees of carbonization were analyzed. As the degree of carbonization increased, the wood samples developed a more porous structure, resulting in a higher specific surface area. In parallel, chemical analysis revealed a progressive increase in carbon content, reaching up to 84%. Fourier transform-infrared spectrometer and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the thermal degradation of organic compounds and the breakdown of crystalline structures during the carbonization process. These findings indicate that the carbonized portion of wildfire-damaged wood possesses physicochemical properties similar to those of activated carbon, suggesting its potential for advanced applications such as pollutant adsorption in environmental remediation, energy storage materials for supercapacitors, and electromagnetic interference shielding materials.