Changes in Landcover and Biota due to 2019 Goseong Forest Fire

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of a large-scale forest fire that occurred in Wonamri, Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, South Korea, in 2019, by analyzing changes in biodiversity before and after the fire. Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, the study quantitatively assesses the severity of the forest fire and changes in landcover, including reductions in forested areas and expansions of grasslands. The findings reveal a significant decrease in forest area and a substantial increase in grasslands within the affected region compared to unburned areas. The study also observes the influx of new species, including endangered ones. For instance, the number of bird species increased from one to three, and mammal species rose from three to six. However, amphibian and reptile populations declined, dropping from 15 to eight species in the burned area, indicating species-specific responses to the forest fire’s impacts. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding how forest fires differently affect various species and highlights the need for further studies to monitor biodiversity recovery and the long-term ecological consequences of forest fires.

Keywords

• forest fire
• biodiversity
• landcover change
• ecological impact