2025 Ecosystem Services Satisfaction Survey Results Announced | Ulsan Takes 1st Place, Biodiversity Policy Success Clear
⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 8-10 minutes | 📅 Last Updated: October 14, 2025 | 👥 Views: 1,247
2025 Ecosystem Services Satisfaction Survey Results Announced | Ulsan Takes 1st Place, Biodiversity Policy Success Clear
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, along with the National Institute of Ecology, has released remarkable results from an ecosystem services satisfaction survey conducted among 7,106 adults nationwide. Public perception of natural environment benefits has significantly improved, with Ulsan's ecological restoration achievements standing out prominently.
Ecosystem services refer to all benefits that natural ecosystems provide to humans, including provisioning services like food and water, regulating services such as carbon reduction and air purification, cultural services for recreation and leisure, and supporting services that provide habitats for organisms. This survey was conducted from April 25 to May 20, 2025, and is considered important data for confirming the effectiveness of Korea's biodiversity policies.
🎯 Quick Summary
2025 Ecosystem Services Satisfaction Survey Key Results
• National natural environment satisfaction: 53.5% (more than 1 in 2 people satisfied)
• Regional ranking 1st: Ulsan 64.7% (up 17.9%p from previous year)
• Biodiversity policy satisfaction: 37.3% (up 11.9%p from 2022)
• Most needed ecosystem service: Food and water provision 26%
• Natural environment visits once per week or more: 42%
📈 Background and Importance of Ecosystem Services Survey
This ecosystem services satisfaction survey demonstrates how crucial biodiversity conservation and natural environment restoration are in the climate crisis era. The survey of 7,106 adults across 17 metropolitan areas achieved high reliability with a sampling error of ±1.16%P (95% confidence level).
This year's survey revealed that natural environment satisfaction reached 53.5%, indicating more than one in two citizens are satisfied with the natural environment in their residential areas. This shows that the biodiversity policy and ecological restoration projects promoted by the government and local authorities in recent years are yielding visible results.
Ulsan's case is particularly noteworthy, jumping from 46.8% in 2024 to 64.7% in 2025, an impressive 17.9 percentage point increase to claim first place. This is attributed to the successful Taehwa River ecological restoration project. The formerly severely polluted Taehwa River has been transformed into an eco-friendly ecological river where diverse species, including endangered species, now thrive, and it was selected as the host site for the 2028 International Garden Expo.
💊 Why Natural Environment Satisfaction Improvement Matters
- Climate Crisis Response: Biodiversity conservation is the most effective nature-based solution to combat climate crisis
- Public Health Enhancement: Quality natural environments directly improve citizens' physical and mental health
- Sustainable Development: Ecosystem services are essential foundation elements for sustainable social development
- Quality of Life Improvement: Natural environment satisfaction has direct correlation with overall quality of life
💡 Real-Time Reader Opinion Survey
Q: How satisfied are you with the natural environment near your residence?
* Based on 2025 Ecosystem Services Satisfaction Survey results
🔍 Regional Ecosystem Services Satisfaction Analysis
The most notable result of this survey is the significant change in regional natural environment satisfaction. Ulsan showed the highest year-over-year increase to leap to first place, followed by Gyeongnam, Sejong, Jeju, and Gangwon.
📊 Top 5 Regional Satisfaction Rates
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1st Ulsan: 64.7%
With the successful Taehwa River ecological restoration and selection as the 2028 International Garden Expo site, satisfaction increased by 17.9%p from the previous year. Shedding its past industrial city image, Ulsan has transformed into an eco-city where diverse species including endangered ones now inhabit. -
2nd Gyeongnam: 63.6%
Gyeongnam, with abundant forest resources and coastal ecosystems, consistently maintains high satisfaction rates. Outstanding natural heritage sites including Jirisan and Hallyeohaesang National Park are distributed throughout, resulting in very high biodiversity. -
3rd Sejong: 61.5%
As a planned city, Sejong shows high satisfaction with systematically arranged green spaces and ecological parks. This results from considering ecosystem services from the urban planning stage. -
4th Jeju: 59.2%
Jeju, registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, received high ratings for its unique volcanic ecosystem and marine biodiversity. Its pristine natural environment is well preserved. -
5th Gangwon: 58.7%
Gangwon Province, with the largest forest area, possesses excellent forest ecosystems as a core region of the Baekdudaegan mountain range. Efforts to preserve DMZ ecosystems and enhance biodiversity continue.
📋 Ecosystem Services Demand Comparative Analysis
Survey results on the most needed ecosystem services types showed 'provision of food, water and essential elements' ranked first at 26%. This represents a significant increase from 4th place (14%) in 2024, analyzed as influenced by large forest fires in Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam regions that occurred just before the survey.
| Category | 2024 Ranking | 2025 Ranking | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Water Provision | 4th (14%) | 1st (26%) | +12%p increase |
| Carbon Reduction | 1st | 2nd (24%) | Maintained 2nd |
| Natural Space Usage | 3rd | 3rd (16%) | Ranking maintained |
| Heat Wave Response | 2nd | 4th (12.5%) | Ranking dropped |
🎯 Biodiversity Policy Satisfaction and Natural Environment Usage Status
Public satisfaction with biodiversity policies has significantly improved. Satisfaction with habitat restoration and conservation policies increased from 25.4% in 2022 to 37.3% in 2025, up 11.9 percentage points, while satisfaction with policy responses to biodiversity threats such as invasive species also increased from 26.0% to 35.6%, up 9.6 percentage points.
✅ Natural Environment Usage Survey Results
42% of citizens responded that they visit natural environments once a week or more. Of these, 6% visit almost daily, 10% visit 3-4 times per week, and 26% visit 1-2 times per week.
Survey results on the distance to frequently visited natural environments showed 35.5% within 300m (about 5 minutes), 59.5% within 500m (about 8 minutes), and 83.1% within 1km (about 15 minutes).
Satisfaction with habitat restoration policies such as natural river creation reached 37.3%, up 11.9 percentage points from 2022. This is evaluated as a result of systematic implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy.
Satisfaction with policy responses to biodiversity threats increased to 35.6%, up 9.6 percentage points from 2022. There is still room for improvement requiring continued efforts.
As nature's benefits that citizens can experience in daily life increase, awareness and satisfaction with ecosystem services are improving together.
🚀 Expected Effects and Benefits of Ecosystem Services Expansion
Continued promotion of biodiversity policies is expected to bring many more positive effects in the future.
📈 Satisfaction Increase
+11.9%p
Biodiversity policy satisfaction significantly increased compared to 2022
💰 Economic Effects
Eco-Tourism
Ecological restoration areas become tourist attractions contributing to local economic vitalization
🛡️ Climate Crisis Response
Carbon Absorption
Nature-based climate change response capacity improves through ecosystem restoration
🎯 Quality of Life
Health Promotion
Improved nature accessibility enhances public health and wellbeing
🔮 Long-term Expected Effects
Ecosystem services expansion positively impacts not just environmental improvement but public health, economy, and society overall. Particularly, cases like Ulsan where formerly polluted areas are reborn through ecological restoration serve as examples for other regions.
As more regions undertake biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration projects, national natural environment satisfaction is expected to increase further. This will ultimately become the cornerstone for creating a sustainable Korea.
📚 Recommended Resources and Reference Links
- National Institute of Ecology Official Website – Provides detailed information on ecosystem services and biodiversity policies with utilization guides. (Visit Site)
- National Biodiversity Strategy – Introduces Korea's biodiversity conservation goals and implementation plans with participation methods. (Visit Site)
- Ecological Restoration Case Studies – Showcases successful domestic ecological restoration projects including the Taehwa River case. (Visit Site)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🎯 Key Takeaway
Korea's biodiversity policies are yielding visible results, improving citizens' quality of life and building a foundation for a sustainable future.
Start experiencing and protecting the natural environment near you today. Your small actions will create a bigger, greener future.
