Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Changes in Selected Ecosystem Services Caused by Free Trade Initiatives in Incheon, Korea

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 5; p. 3812
• Main Authors: Choi, Jiyoung, Lee, Sangdon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21.02.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Biodiversity; Biological diversity; Bird migration; Birds; Breeding sites; Carbon fixation; China; Climate change; Conservation areas; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Ecological research; Ecosystem; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Endangered species; Environmental quality; Free trade; Geography; Habitats; International trade; Migratory birds; Migratory species; Mud flats; Prey; Protection and preservation; Republic of Korea; Wildlife conservation; China; Republic of Korea; South Korea; Asia; carbon fixation change; land-use change; IFEZ (Incheon Free Economics Zone); biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES); urban development
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20053812

Expansion of a development area can negatively impact ecosystems by decreasing or fragmenting habitats. With increased awareness of the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES), ecosystem service evaluations have attracted increased attention. The geography surrounding the city of Incheon is ecologically valuable because of its ecological diversity, attributed to its mudflats and coastal terrain. This study analyzed changes caused by the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) agreement in the ecosystem services of this area using uses the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs model and assesses the impacts of BES before and after the implementation of the agreement. Results revealed that carbon fixation and habitat quality decreased by approximately 40% and 37%, respectively, owing to the development caused by the agreement ( < 0.01). Additionally, endangered species and migratory birds were not protected by the terms of the IFEZ, and a decline in habitats, prey, and breeding sites was observed. This study suggests that the value of ecosystem services and the expansion of conservation areas should be considered part of ecological research under economic free trade agreements.