우리나라 사찰림의 산림OECMs 개별 평가 -영월 법흥사 사찰림을 대상으로-

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential for recognizing individual temple forests as Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the 2030 action targets adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. While previous studies have discussed the possibility of temple forests as OECMs, no site-level assessments have been conducted. Therefore, this study applies the Forest OECMs Guidelines to assess the designation potential of Beopheungsa Temple Forest. The results indicate that 1,077.16 ha (98.05 %) of Beopheungsa Temple Forest, excluding 21.40 ha (1.95 %) designated as a Landscape Reserve, qualify as potential OECM sites and meet most of the assessment criteria outlined in the Forest OECMs Guidelines. However, a comprehensive governance structure has not been established, and only partial cooperative relationships exist among institutions and organizations. Consequently, the essential requirements for OECMs recognition, such as stakeholder consensus and approval procedures, remain inadequate, posing challenges in ensuring governance equity. To expand the designation of temple forests as OECMs, it is necessary to develop guidelines at both the national and Buddhist order levels for stakeholder governance and approval procedures. Additionally, legal support, such as PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services) and institutional support, including refining the Forest OECMs Guidelines and conducting further case studies, are required to facilitate the recognition of private forests as OECMs. This study serves as a case study for applying the OECMs framework to an individual temple forest and is expected to provide fundamental insights for expanding forest OECMs and establishing conservation strategies for private forests.