| Title: | Effect of national-scale afforestation on forest water supply and soil loss in South Korea, 1971–2010 |
| Authors: | Kim, G.S., C.-H. Lim, S.J. Kim, J. Lee, Y. Son and W.-K. Lee |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Journal: | Sustainability |
| Volume (Issue): | 9 |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 1017 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/su9061017 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic and pollutant |
| Primary Application Category: | climate change and land use change |
| Secondary Application Category: | sediment loss and transport |
| Watershed Description: | 99,720 km^2 country of South Korea with particular focus on the 64,081 km^2 portion that is forested. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Afforestation of forests in South Korea may provide an example of the benefit of
afforestation on precipitation storage and erosion control. In this study, we presented the effects of
afforestation on water supply and soil loss prevention. A spatio-temporal simulation of forest water
yield and soil loss was performed from 1971–2010 using InVEST water yield and SWAT models. A
forest stock change map was produced by combining land cover data and National Forest Inventory
data. The forest water yield increased about twice with changes in forest stock and climate from
1971–2010 and showed a spatially homogeneous water supply capacity. In the same period, the soil
loss decreased more than three times, and the volatility of soil loss, in the 2010s, was smaller than
before. The analysis of the change in forest stock without considering climate change showed an
increase of 43% in forest water yield and a decrease of 87% in soil loss. An increase in precipitation
increased the water yield, but also increased the soil loss volume. A change in forest stock led to
positive changes in both. This study presents functional positive effects of the afforestation program
in South Korea that can be useful in various afforestation programs in other countries. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | afforestation; forest water yield; soil loss; forest stock change; InVEST; SWAT |