Abstract

This study presents an integrated decision-making matrix linking the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) assessment framework with Nature-based Solutions (NbS) societal challenges for 36 ecosystem types defined in South Korea. We developed systematic mapping rules between RLE threat categories (land use change, hydrological modification, climate change, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species) and seven NbS contribution areas (climate mitigation, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water security, food security, biodiversity, and socioeconomic development). Our analysis revealed that wetland, estuarine, and coastal ecosystems under hydrological modification and reclamation pressure prioritize water security and disaster risk reduction-centered NbS; forest, grassland, and agricultural ecosystems experiencing fragmentation and conversion pressure prioritize biodiversity and socioeconomic/food security-centered NbS; and climate-vulnerable montane and cryogenic ecosystems prioritize climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction-centered NbS. The matrix proposes 2-3 core operational indicators for each ecosystem type to enhance implementation and monitoring practicality, and when combined with RLE risk assessments, can serve as a tool to strengthen objectivity in policy priority decisions. By presenting a national-level standardized framework linking ecosystem threat diagnosis with solution application, this study is expected to contribute to evidence-based ecosystem management policy development.