Anthropogenic threats from human activity have significantly altered global ecosystems, resulting in habitat destruction and fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and species extinction. The identification and establishment of protected areas for the conservation of threatened species is thus required to mitigate the impacts of these threats. This study identified priority conservation areas (PCAs) for endangered mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles in South Korea using ecological modeling. In particular, we used the MaxEnt model to determine the potential distributions of endangered species and Zonation software to prioritize conservation areas. In doing so, we aimed to identify key environmental factors that influence the distributions of the target species and to identify ecologically critical areas using gap analysis based on the first-grade areas on the ecology and nature map (ENM). The results indicated that the highest priority areas for endangered species varied by taxon, with endangered mammals found primarily in forested areas, endangered birds on inland plains, and endangered amphibians and reptiles within marine and stream regions. The gap analysis revealed a very low overlap between ecological areas and high-priority areas for endangered birds and amphibians. This suggests that the first-grade areas on the ENM mainly represent areas with high vegetational coverage. These findings highlight the need to reassess existing protected areas and designate PCAs for endangered species independently from the ENM. This study represents a foundational assessment that can be used to inform conservation planning and prompt continued ecological research in support of biodiversity conservation efforts.

Human activities have accelerated the extinction of species, driving biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Establishing protected areas (PAs) that encompass habitats of endangered species is essential for achieving biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection goals. This study aimed to identify and prioritize critical conservation areas for the endangered long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) in five regions of Gangwon and Gyeongbuk Provinces, South Korea. The MaxEnt model was applied to predict the potential habitat of the species, considering key environmental factors such as topographic, distance-related, vegetation, and land cover variables. The InVEST Habitat Risk Assessment (HRA) model was used to quantitatively assess cumulative risks within the habitat from the impacts of forest development and anthropogenic pressures. Subsequently, the Zonation software was employed for spatial prioritization by integrating the outputs of the models, and core conservation areas (CCAs) with high ecological value were identified through overlap analysis with 1st-grade areas from the Ecological and Nature Map (ENM). Results indicated that suitable habitats for the long-tailed goral were mainly located in forested regions, and areas subjected to multiple stressors faced elevated habitat risk. High-priority areas (HPAs) were primarily forested zones with high habitat suitability. The overlap analysis emphasized the need to implement conservation measures targeting CCAs while also managing additional HPAs outside CCAs, which are not designated as ENM. This study provides a methodological framework and baseline data to support systematic conservation planning for the long-tailed goral, offering practical guidance for future research and policy development.

The Integrated Environmental Management System is a system that moves away from the traditional single-medium approach and adopts a medium-integrated approach to achieve a higher level of environmental protection. Korea has been implementing the Integrated Environmental Management System since 2017, and as of 2024, total of 19 industries have received integrated permits. In 2023, the cement manufacturing industry was added to the list of industries subject to the Integrated Environmental Management System. As a critical industry with significant emission of air pollutants and particulate matter, it requires systematic environmental management that prioritizes public health and sustainability. This study aims to compare and analyze the Best Available Technique Reference Documents (BREFs) for the cement manufacturing industry in Korea and the European Union (EU) to explore environmental management improvement strategies for Korea’s cement industry. The analysis revealed that the K-BREF provides strong practical guidelines and is more focused on industrial sites, while the EU-BREF is characterized by an integrated environmental management approach reflecting carbon neutrality strategies and resource circulation policies. Particularly in terms of waste fuel management, the EU-BREF provided specific details on waste handling and preparation processes, suitability assessment of waste fuels, lists of maximum allowable substance values, and actual application cases. Additionally, the BAT-AEL (Best Available Techniques Associate Emission Level) and monitoring intervals were also further specified. In contrast, the K-BREF reflects the early stage of implementing an integrated environmental management system, resulting in a lack of technical examples related to waste fuels and BAT-AEL standards being limited to a single criterion per pollutant. The Korean cement industry must expand its use of waste fuels to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets of 12% by 2030 and 53% by 2050. Accordingly, specific multi-media integrated control standards should be established. To effectively respond to increasingly stringent emission regulations and ensure sustainable environmental management, a multi-faceted approach including regulatory improvements, technological development, and policy support is essential.