International efforts are underway to implement carbon neutrality policies in rapidly changing climate conditions. This situation has strongly demanded the discovery of novel carbon sinks. The Salix genus has attracted attention as a promising carbon sink owing to its rapid growth and efficient use as a biofuel in short-rotation cultivation. The present study aims to derive an allometric equation and conduct stem analysis as fundamental tools for estimating net primary productivity (NPP) in Salix pierotii Miq. stand, which is increasingly acknowledged as an important emerging carbon sink. The allometric equations derived showed a high explanatory rate and fitness (R² ranged from 0.74 to 0.99). The allometric equations between DBH and stem volume and biomass derived in the process of stem analysis also showed a high explanatory rate and fitness (R² ranged from 0.87 to 0.94). The NPPs calculated based on the allometric equation derived and stem analysis were 11.87 tonC∙ha⁻¹∙yr⁻¹ and 15.70 tonC∙ha⁻¹∙yr⁻¹, respectively. These results show that the S. pierotii community, recognized as the representative riparian vegetation, could play an important role as a carbon sink. In this context, an assessment of the carbon absorption capacity of riparian vegetation such as willow communities could contribute significantly to achieving carbon neutrality goals.

Purpose: The Deonggae coast on Jeju Island is a unique habitat that has not yet been studied from an ecological management or conservation perspective, despite its importance as the northernmost habitat of subtropical plants in Asia and the sole habitat of an endangered fern,Thelypteris interrupta, in Korea. To provide insights into this habitat’s systematic management, we comprehensively characterized its abiotic and biotic components.Methods: Our study found two distinct plant communities (Persicaria japonica-Thelypteris interruptaandThelypteris interrupta-Phragmites australis), driven by their respective microhabitats and influenced by soil inundation frequency, water depth, and salinity. We examined the phytosociological similarities and habitat characteristics of these two communities.Results: Thelypteris interruptacould be distributed in the northernmost part of the Deonggae coast due to its greater heat preference. However, this limits its spread toward polar regions. We suggested minimizing the transformation of wetlands into terrestrial habitats by reducing the introduction of external soils and establishing ecological continuity with neighboring ecosystems while educating visitors about the area’s ecology as two habitat conservation practices.Conclusion: The Deonggae coast is a natural wetland with a high conservation value as a habitat for endangered wildlife and a refuge for opportunistic species under the influence of climate change.

Inland wetlands store disproportionate soil organic carbon (SOC), yet spatially explicit information is scarce for temperate monsoon riverine wetlands, where recurrent erosive flooding shapes carbon accumulation. To map depth-resolved SOC stocks (kg C m⁻²) and evaluate satellite covariates, we combined stocks measured at 494 sites in the Han, Geum, and Yeongsan–Seomjin river basins, South Korea, with multi-temporal Sentinel-2 and terrain covariates in random forest models at 20 m for the organic layer, 0–30 cm, and 0–100 cm. Cross-validated R² (squared correlation) was low (0.21, 0.18, and 0.15, respectively) but within the range reported for wetland SOC mapping. Satellite covariates raised R² by 0.02–0.07 and reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) relative to a non-satellite baseline; dormant-season reflectance added no information. The April normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) ranked highest for both mineral-soil layers, while hydrology and parent material gained importance at 0–100 cm. NDVI showed a threshold-type partial-dependence response despite weak rank correlations; one plausible interpretation is that vegetation cover indicates the geomorphic stability of the ground surface. The model-based regional stocks are 3.11 and 6.08 Mt C at 0–30 and 0–100 cm (27.7 and 54.1 t C ha⁻¹), at the low end of published values for Asian monsoon riverine wetlands. The maps provide a baseline for carbon assessment.