Analysis of Land Use, Land-use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) and Construction of Statistics in Korea

Abstract

In this study, we analyze land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) in Korea, referring to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Good Practice Guidance (GPG) (2003), and propose a method for the systematic construction of statistics for LULUCF. Land-use changes across six categories, including settlement, forest, cropland, grassland, wetland, and other land types, were analyzed using digital topographic, land cover, and land zone maps from the Korea Land Information System (KLIS) using Landsat TM satellite images as primary data. The results of this study indicate that a classification system for each LULUCF category should be established to improve the statistical accuracy of this data and spatial big data applications for land-use analysis should be developed. Furthermore, a method is proposed for the systematic construction of statistics for LULUCF to determine the Korean national greenhouse gas inventory. An explanation of the recommended approach, including gathering satellite image data, LULUCF classifications, and establishing land-use change statistics, is presented. To fulfill the emission reduction targets set in the Paris Agreement, these greenhouse gas emission statistics are essential for different sectors to establish the diverse policies and action plans required to be effective. This will make the national-level monitoring of LULUCF more efficient, leading to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emission.