Expanding the Use of Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Maps to Marine Environments: A Case Study in South Korea

Abstract

Jang, J.Y.; Yoon, J.H.; Cho, N.W., and Lee, M.J., 2019. Expanding the use of environmental conservation value assessment maps to marine environments: A case study in South Korea In: Jung, H.-S.; Lee, S.; Ryu, J.-H., and Cui, T. (eds.), Advances in Remote Sensing and Geoscience Information Systems of Coastal Environments. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 90, pp. 346-353. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Environmental issues affect not only inland areas (land), but also marine locations. South Korea is surrounded by water on three sides and is therefore significantly affected by marine environments. Conventional marine environmental conservation value assessments have tended to focus on specific incidents, and environmental conservation values that link inland and marine environments have not been well researched. South Korea's environmental conservation value assessment maps have been widely used to assess the environmental value of the entire territory comprehensively, to grade environmental value relatively, and to analyze areas that can be developed. Against this backdrop, this study analyzed conventional environmental conservation value assessment maps and examined the applicability of these maps to marine environments. The status of marine spatial data available in South Korea was analyzed. Because these spatial data are produced, managed, and distributed by government agencies, they are reliable and accurate. In addition, five assessment items related to marine environments (four legal items and one environmental–ecological item) and assessment criteria (divided into every 500m) were proposed to incorporate marine spatial data into environmental conservation value assessment maps. It is necessary to conduct additional studies of the value of marine environments to determine assessment grades based on the suggested assessment items and criteria. Environmental conservation value assessment maps incorporating marine spatial data have potential value for comprehensive assessment of the environmental values of both inland and marine areas across the country, and for improving the efficiency of territorial management based on objective data.