A Study on the Development of Biotope Type and Evaluation Map of Gochang-gun

Abstract

Gochang-gun, situated in Korea, has achieved the distinction of being the second city in the country to have all three UNESCO-designated natural environmentrelated World Heritage Sites, following in the footsteps of Jeju Island. UNESCO has conferred upon Gochang-gun the prestigious designations of a biosphere reserve, World Natural Heritage (Gochang-Buan mudflat), and World Geopark (Jeonbuk West Coast Geopark). Notably, the entire administrative district has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, signifying its role as a meticulously preserved region of outstanding natural beauty and ecological significance. Within this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the core areas encompass remarkable features, including the Gochang-Buan Mudflat, Ungok Wetland, Dolmen World Cultural Heritage sites, Seonunsan Provincial Park, and Dongrim Reservoir. In pursuit of a comprehensive ecological map of Gochang-gun, the National Institute of Ecology (NIE) conducted an extensive two-year ecological survey and biotope survey from 2021 to 2022. Ecological spatial data was meticulously compiled based on the results of these surveys. The resulting Biotope map provides detailed information on various attributes, encompassing Biotope types, Biotope grades, land cover status, land use status, and topographic details. This dataset is formally registered and rigorously managed, employing the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) system. The primary aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive introduction to each attribute of the Gochang-gun Biotope map, which represents a detailed collection of spatial ecology data for the region. The intent is to make this data readily accessible for future research and studies, thereby advancing our understanding of Gochang-gun’s distinctive ecological and cultural heritage.