PARENT SESSION
Special Session 7: Social capacity development for environmental management: International cooperation and ecological solution
Organized by: S HONG and N NAKAGOSHI
Monday, August 8, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Exhibit Hall 210a-e, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Characteristics and management of urban ecosystem in metropolitan area of South Korea: In case of Incheon city.

Lee, Kyong-Jae¹, Han, Bong-Ho^*,2, Oh, Choong-Hyeon³, ¹ University of Seoul, Seoul, South Korea² University of Seoul, Seoul, South Korea³ Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea

ABSTRACT- This study aims at understanding urban ecosystem involving the central area of Incheon Metropolitan city based on decrease in entropy, establishment of hydrological system and biodiversity which are all indicators of plans for eco-city to suggest ways to manage urban ecosystem for an eco-city. The research area covers four main districts of Incheon Metropolitan city which amount to 7,307.6ha. This study analyzed characteristics of urban heat island, the land use type and plant crown volume to understand the decrease in entropy. Land cover type was also analyzed to understand the hydrological system. For the understanding of biodiversity, this study examined vegetation structure, actual vegetation and habitat characteristics of wild birds. The result showed that the surface temperature in the area ranged from 17degrees C. to 37degrees C.. As for land use type, urbanization area accounted for 71.4% of the total research area and open space covered 27.8% of the research area. As for land cover type, greenspace and open space covered 29.2% of the research area while 70.2% of the area was urbanization area. In the case of open space in the central area there was more artificial forest than natural vegetation: artificial vegetation took up 37.8% followed by 15.5% of natural vegetation. As for wild birds in the central area of the city, a total of thirty bird species were observed only in seven areas in open space areas and in eight areas in the urbanization area. Finally, based on characteristics of urban ecosystem, ways to manage urban ecosystem in Incheon Metropolitan city aiming at leading the city to become an ecological city were classified into three groups: prevention of the urban heat island phenomenon, establishment of the urban hydrological system and creating wildlife habitats and an ecosystem network. First, to prevent the heat island phenomenon, the city needs to create wind flow given its geological characteristics that it is a port city adjacent to West Sea. Second, impermeable pavement in the central area should be converted into permeable pavement to establish the hydrological system of the city. Last, creating wildlife habitats and an ecosystem network can be understood as ways to manage urban ecosystem for an urban ecosystem network and improvement of biodiversity.

Key words: eco-city, ecosystem network, biodiversity, urban heat island