On June 29, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment published the First National Ecosystem Assessment Report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and changing trends of ecosystems in the Republic of Korea, the value of ecosystem services, and future outlooks.

Using 2020 as its baseline, the report assesses changes in the Republic of Korea’s ecosystems and the status of ecosystem services over the past 30 years (1990–2020), while presenting future projections for the next 30 years (2020–2050). It was jointly prepared by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the National Institute of Ecology, and approximately 100 experts from diverse fields, including ecology, environmental economics, and climate science, with the aim of supporting evidence-based policymaking for the natural environment and enhancing public awareness.

The report classifies ecosystems across the country into five categories—forests, agricultural land, urban areas, freshwater, and wetlands—and evaluates the pressures on and changes in the condition of each ecosystem. It also analyzes changes in and the value of ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, and cultural services, and presents the results of future scenario analysis.

The report found that pressures on the Republic of Korea’s ecosystems generally increased over the 30-year period from 1990 to 2020 as a result of land-use change and climate change.

During this period, urban areas expanded by 172.2%, while agricultural land decreased by 25.8%. Wetland area also declined by 11.7% over the past decade. The average temperature increased by 0.28°C, while the frequency of extreme rainfall events, wildfires, and landslides increased 4.5-fold, 1.8-fold, and 1.7-fold, respectively.

In terms of ecosystem condition, the structural condition of forest ecosystems improved, with the proportion of old-growth forests increasing by 71.5 percentage points and growing stock volume by 331%.

In urban ecosystems, some condition indicators showed improvement. Urban forest area per capita increased by 48.3%, while the concentration of PM2.5 declined from 26 μg/m³ in 2015 to 19 μg/m³ in 2020.

For agricultural ecosystems, the soil nutrient balance of residual phosphorus and nitrogen increased by 21.0% and 23.7%, respectively, over the past decade, remaining relatively high compared with the average among member countries of the OECD.

Freshwater ecosystems showed improved water quality, with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations decreasing by 47.9% and 31.5%, respectively. However, the number of non-native fish species recorded in the Republic of Korea increased from five to eight over the past decade, while the trophic state index of lakes rose by 6.1 percentage points, indicating deterioration in some habitat conditions.

Freshwater ecosystems showed improved water quality, with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations decreasing by 47.9% and 31.5%, respectively. However, the number of non-native fish species recorded in the Republic of Korea increased from five to eight over the past decade, while the trophic state index of lakes rose by 6.1 percentage points, indicating deterioration in some habitat conditions.

Meanwhile, species diversity among medium- and large-sized mammals, pollinating insects, and fish showed no significant overall change.

The assessment of ecosystem services analyzed changes in provisioning, regulating, and cultural services over the past 30 years. Food and freshwater provision increased slightly by 0.9% and 2.7%, respectively. In contrast, domestic timber production declined as imports of relatively low-priced timber increased. Over the past three years, timber production for raw materials and for energy decreased by 17.3% and 11.5%, respectively. Carbon sequestration increased by 13.1% over the 30-year period but declined by 26.5% over the past decade as forests matured, including an increase in the proportion of young matured stands.

The number of visitors to national parks increased by 41.4% following the abolition of admission fees in 2007. Urban park area per capita also increased by 55.5% as a result of policies to expand green infrastructure.

The report also assessed the economic value of ecosystem services in monetary terms. In 2020, the annual value of six categories of ecosystem services—including food provision, freshwater provision, carbon sequestration, timber production, and recreation in national parks—was estimated at approximately KRW 34 trillion. This estimate highlights the substantial value that ecosystems provide to people’s well-being and the national economy.

Future scenario analysis indicates that, if current social, economic, and technological trends continue, the habitat area of 46 climate change–vulnerable endangered plant species is projected to decline by 16.2% by 2050. To address these challenges, the report recommends proactive policy measures, including expanding protected areas, restoring ecosystems, and enhancing carbon sinks, while encouraging voluntary conservation efforts by the private sector.

The report is expected to serve as a scientific basis for developing the National Biodiversity Strategy and natural environment policies. It is also expected to enhance public awareness of the value of ecosystem services and natural capital, while contributing to the advancement of the valuation framework for the natural environment.

The Director General for Nature Conservation at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment stated, “Ecosystems are a vital foundation for people’s well-being by ensuring food security, securing water resources, and helping address the climate crisis. Building on the findings of this assessment, we will continue to strengthen policies aimed at restoring biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem services.”