해양을 기반으로 한 탄소흡수원인 블루카본은 기후변화 대응과 해양생태계 보전을 위한 핵심 전략으로 기후변화 대응과 생물다양성 보전을 동시에 실현할 수 있어 국제사회에서 주목받고 있다. 이외에 생태관광 및 문화적 가치를 제공 하는 등 다양한 사회·경제적 가치를 동시에 창출한다. 이에 따라 각국은 국가 온실가스 감축목표(NDC) 이행을 위해 자국의 해양·연안 생태계 관리 정책에 블루카본을 포함하는 방안을 모색하고 있으며, 국제사회 또한 블루카본의 IPCC 공식 흡수원 인증을 위한 논의를 활발히 전개하고 있다. 이에 본 연구는 현행 블루카본 관련 국제레짐이 제도적으로 이를 효과적으 로 뒷받침하고 있는지를 분석한다. 이를 위해 블루카본의 개념과 국제사회의 논의 및 이행 사례를 다큐멘터리 연구방법으로 살펴보고, 기후변화법, 해양법, 생물다양성법 등 관련 국제법을 교리적 연구방법을 통해 검토한다. 나아가 블 루카본 생태계의 효과적인 보전·활용을 위한 향후 과제를 제시함으로써, 블루 카본이 해양환경 보호, 해양 생태계 및 생물다양성 보호뿐만이 아니라 기후변 화 완화의 수단으로 기여할 수 있는 방안을 제시한다.

In this study, sediment cores from unvegetated tidal flats in the Hampyeong Bay (west coastal wetland) and Dongdae Bay (south coastal wetland) were sampled, the blue carbon stock in the sediments was calculated, and the characteristics of the blue carbon stock were analyzed based on particle size of the sediments. The sediments in the Hampyeong Bay tidal flat had large particle size and low mud content, and the Dongdae bay tidal flat had small particle size and high mud content. The organic carbon content and blue carbon stock in the sediments were higher in the Dongdae tidal flat than in the Hampyeong Bay tidal flat. As a result of the regression function, in both the Hampyeong Bay and Dongdae Bay tidal flats, the sediments had the smaller particle size and higher mud contents the higher the organic carbon content and blue carbon stock. The sediments with smaller particle size had the larger specific surface area, so were feasible to adsorb and store more organic matters.

In this study, sediment cores were sampled from tidal flats (six sites) in the west and south coastal wetlands, the blue carbon stock in the tidal flat sediments was calculated, and the blue carbon stock characteristics and influencing factors were analyzed. The sediment particle size of the west coastal tidal flats was larger than that of the south coastal tidal flats, and the organic carbon content in the south coastal tidal flats was more than twice that of the west coastal tidal flats. Blue carbon stock per unit area was 28.4~36.8 Mg/㏊ on the west coastal tidal flats and 69.8~89.8 Mg/㏊ on the south coastal tidal flats, which was more than twice higher in the south coastal tidal flats than in the west coastal tidal flats. The total amount of blue carbon stock in the tidal flats was the highest in Suncheon Bay tidal flats at 153,626 Mg, and followed by Gomso Bay tidal flats at 141,750 Mg, Hampyeong Bay tidal flats at 58,420 Mg, Dongdae Bay tidal flats at 44,900 Mg, Cheonsu Bay tidal flats at 36,880 Mg, and Jinhae Bay tidal flats at 26,205 Mg. Blue carbon stock per unit area was higher in the south coastal tidal flats, but the total amount of blue carbon stock in the tidal flats was higher in the west coast. The slope of the regression function of blue carbon stock with respect to the organic carbon content in the tidal flat sediments was estimated to be about 0.05 to 0.07, and the slope of the regression function was higher in the west coastal tidal flats than in the south coastal tidal flats.