Application of Assessment Framework for Forest Carbon Ecosystem Services Considering Various Modelling and Social Survey in South Korea

Ecosystem services are based on ecosystem functions which are ecological structures and processes. The forest carbon is important factors to understand the quality of the forest ecosystem as well as the quantity of greenhouse gas sequestration as the climate regulation service. The forest carbon can be assessed by various spatio-temporal modelling which reflects forest growth and management activities in the aspects of ecosystem function. In addition, this constructs the potential supply-side value of forest carbon. However, the value of forest carbon is affected by public interests and socio-economic circumstances. Thus, the demand-side value of forest carbon depends on the value recognitions. This study focused on the gap between the value from modelling of ecosystem functions and value recognitions according to the social survey in the Republic of Korea. As the pilot study, three modelling methods were applied based on the National Forest Inventory, the Statistical Yearbook of Forestry, and the InVEST models. The acceptable forest carbon values were generated from a social survey. The annual CO₂ sequestration as the supply was derived from 45,671,000 ton CO₂ to 53,306,000 ton CO₂ in 2010 and 2015, respectively, with different modellings in South Korea. This converted the economic value from existing value transfer methods around KRW 545.2 billion minimum to KRW 4.948.2 maximum. The demand is indiscriminate and non-exclusive, so the public survey was conducted using 660 and 510 samples with ±3.10 allowable error. With considering the value from the demand, the value of forest carbon ecosystem services can be KRW 594,280 per ha when recognized as the equilibrium demand and supply of ecosystem services. The assessment framework for ecosystem services considering demand and supply may consist of various forms and can help fill the gap in value recognition in societal policy through ecosystem services assessment. However, the conceptual complexity of the ecosystem services still exists, so enhancing public communication is required among policymakers, stakeholders, and local communities.