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2025 Vol.58, Issue 5 Preview Page

Research Article

Estimating GHG absorption and reduction cost of riparian zones in the Yeongsan and Sumjin River watershed

영산강·섬진강 수계 수변구역의 온실가스 흡수량 및 감축비용 추정

Jun Song Kima*
,
Haejin Hanb
김 준성a*
,
한 혜진b
aAssistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hankyong National University, Anseong, Korea
bSenior Research Fellow, Division for Integrated Water Management, Korea Environment Institute, Sejong, Korea
a한경국립대학교 건설환경공학부 조교수
b한국환경연구원 통합물관리연구실 선임연구위원
*Corresponding Author
31 May 2025. pp. 399-410
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Abstract

This study estimated the greenhouse gas (GHG) absorption potential and reduction cost of riparian vegetation in the Yeongsan and Seomjin River basins from 2018 to 2030. According to projection of riparian zone boundaries into the forest type map, the forested areas within the riparian zones consisted of trees aged between 30 and 50 years, and the GHG absorption for 2018, based on the area by tree species and age, was estimated to be approximately 155,180 tCO2/yr. However, as the age of the planted trees increases, it was predicted that the absorption would decrease by 12.8% by 2030. Based on various planting scenarios, the GHG absorption and reduction costs of the riparian ecobelt project were evaluated. While, the current multi-species planting approach was found to absorb 6,643 tCO2 over the project period, the case of planting 10-year-old oak trees exhibited the absorption increased by 25.8% to 8,359 tCO2. When planting 40-year-old oak trees, the absorption increased to 22,087 tCO2, compensating for the future decrease in absorption due to the aging of the trees in the riparian zone. In terms of cost, planting 40-year-old oak trees resulted in about double the present project cost, while it showed the highest absorption efficiency relative to cost among all planting scenarios, with a GHG reduction cost of 13.4 million KRW/tCO2. Even if this is at least about two times the reduction cost of solar and wind power, the reduction cost could decrease with the various co-benefits provided by riparian vegetation, such as reducing non-point source pollution, preventing soil erosion, flood control, and enhancing biodiversity.

Keywords
Climate change
Net zero
Raiparian vegetation
GHG absorption
GHG reduction cost

본 연구에서는 영산강·섬진강 수계 수변식생의 2018~2030년 온실가스 흡수 잠재량과 온실가스 감축비용을 추정하였다. 수변구역 경계를 임상도에 중첩한 결과, 수변구역 내 임목지는 30~50년생 수목으로 구성되었으며, 수종 및 임령별 면적에 따른 2018년 온실가스 흡수량은 약 155,180 tCO2/yr로 산정되었다. 그러나, 현재 식재된 수목의 임령이 증가함에 따라 2030년에는 흡수량이 12.8% 감소할 것으로 예측되었다. 다양한 식재 시나리오를 기반으로 수변생태벨트조성사업의 온실가스 흡수량과 감축비용을 평가한 결과, 현재와 같은 혼효림 식재 방식은 6,643 tCO2의 온실가스가 산정 기간 동안 흡수 가능한 것으로 나타난 반면, 10년생 상수리나무를 식재하는 경우 흡수량은 8,359 tCO2로 기존 대비 25.8% 증가하였다. 40년생 상수리나무를 식재하는 경우, 온실가스 흡수량은 22,087 tCO2로 증가하여 현재 수변구역 내 수목의 임령 증가에 따른 미래 흡수량 감소치를 상쇄할 수 있었다. 비용 측면에서 40년생 상수리나무 식재는 사업비가 약 2배 이상 증가했으나, 모든 식재 시나리오 중 가장 높은 비용 대비 흡수 효율을 보이며 13.4백만 원/tCO2의 온실가스 감축비용이 산정되었다. 이는 태양광, 풍력 등 다른 감축수단과 비교했을 때 최소 약 2배 높은 수준이나, 수변식생이 비점오염원 저감, 토양 침식 방지, 홍수 조절, 생물다양성 확보 등 다양한 공편익을 제공함을 고려할 때 감축비용은 감소할 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
기후변화
탄소중립
수변식생
온실가스 흡수량
온실가스 감축비용
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREA WATER RESOURECES ASSOCIATION
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국수자원학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국수자원학회 논문집
  • Volume : 58
  • No :5
  • Pages :399-410
  • Received Date : 2025-02-05
  • Revised Date : 2025-03-17
  • Accepted Date : 2025-03-21
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2025.58.5.399
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