Hyun-Ah Choi , Bernhard Seliger and Donguk Han. J Ecol Environ 2023;47:. https://doi.org/10.5141/jee.23.010

This study conducted a systematic literature review focusing on peatlands studies in Southeast Asia, specifically in Jambi, South Sumatra, and the Riau province of Indonesia, covering the period from 2001 to 2023. To ensure the quality and rigor of the analyzed articles, a critical process and systematic review were employed. Journal articles were extracted using reputable resources, including Google Scholar and Scopus, to enhance the validity and reliability of the research results. We identified significant research topics based on region, province, and sector. Additionally, we synthesized the existing classification of ecosystem services, drawing on previous studies conducted in Indonesia. These services were categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. We also reviewed the classification of ecosystem service types based on peatland degradation and restoration. This study identified evidence of peatland intervention to evaluate ecosystem services in Indonesia. We found that large-scale cultivation and production of palm oil, local policies, and forest fires were the main intervening factors in Indonesian peatlands. Furthermore, Indonesian peatlands have undergone conversion to oil palm, timber, and crop plantations. It is imperative to substantiate the effectiveness of future peatland restoration plans and further refine the quantification of services provided by peatland ecosystems through cooperative projects.

Birds are useful environmental indicators as their presence reflects the health of the food web. Bird occurrence, rarity and abundance are reliable indicators of ecosystem health. Monitoring of avian populations in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is a primary requirement due to plummeting populations and the risks to threatened species. The Ministry of Environment of ROK started conducting winter bird censuses in 1999, including inland areas and coast areas, such as Cheorwon, Yeoncheon, Junam Reservoir and Han River. Cheolwon, Yeoncheon and some extent islands in the West Sea have been survey extensively due to iconic bird species, such as White-naped Crane (Grus vipio) or Red-Crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) wintering there. However, the winter bird census has not covered Yu Islet, Han River Estuary. Yu Islet is located within the Han River Estuary, a protected wetland in the Neutral Zone between the two Koreas and north of Gimpo in the ROK. The Islet currently supports a large, mixed breeding colony of waterbirds, such as one of the nation’s largest concentration of breeding Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) and smaller numbers of breeding Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), Grey Heron (Ardea cinereal), Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia). Access to the area has long been restricted for military reasons, but recently, regular survey activity is possible supported by Gimpo City and the military base in Gimpo from November 2018. Here, we provide data demonstrating that Yu Islet is important for breeding for waterbirds; and that the northern Gimpo part of Han River Estuary is also internationally important for waterbirds during the migratory bird season, as defined by the Ramsar Convention (Ramsar 1971, RRC-EA 2017). In particular, four waterbird species were found during the survey in the Main Survey Area: Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides), Taiga Bean Goose (Anser fabalis), Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris) and Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser frontalis). Once considered widespread in East Asia and abundant, the world population of Swan Goose is now estimated at only 60,000 - 78,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2020) and the species is assessed by BirdLife International as globally Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2020). The 1,010 Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) counted on the vegetated mudflats at Jogang-Ri in the Main Survey Area on 27 November 2018 represents more than 1% of the total world population of this species. Notably, it is also the highest count of this species in the ROK for at least a decade. The count confirms the continuing international importance of the Han River Estuary for the survival of the Swan Goose. The number counted in November had fallen to 250 by 28 December 2018; and none was recorded in the Main Survey Area in January or February 2019. Although searched for in March, none was noted during the northward migration either. The surveys also found small numbers of nationally-scarce Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus) in several areas of woodland surrounded by the Han River Estuary. By selecting the most species-rich count within a given month in each of the two survey sectors, the number of species we recorded ranged from a minimum 29 in January to a maximum of 65 in April 2019. Based on the species recorded, the survey area is clearly important for avian conservation. Its importance derives from the combination of the extensive areas of high-quality wetland and its geographic location within one of the Korea Peninsula’s largest and most important remaining wetland ecosystems, the Han River Estuary. Our surveys resulted in the detection of a substantial number of bird species, especially in March and April when forest-breeding birds are more obviously vocal. The survey result is provided in the supplementary material (Suppl. material 1).

Hyun-Ah Choi, Cholho Song, Chul-Hee Lim, Sangin Kang, Mary Tahu Paia and Donguk Han. J Ecol Environ 2025;49:. https://doi.org/10.5141/jee.24.074