Endangered mammal occurrence records from Environmental Impact Assessment and post-EIA monitoring in the Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Background: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and post-EIA monitoring generate substantial biodiversity information through ecological surveys conducted before, during and after development projects. In the Republic of Korea, these records have accumulated in individual assessment reports, but their reuse has been limited because occurrence information is dispersed across documents and is not generally available in a structured format. Compiling these records into a standardised dataset can improve access to historical biodiversity information and support research, conservation planning and environmental assessment.

New information: The dataset comprises 5,000 occurrence records of six endangered mammal taxa documented in EIA and post-EIA monitoring reports in the Republic of Korea. The records cover surveys conducted from March 2007 to June 2023 and include taxonomic information, survey dates, detection methods and generalised geographic coordinates. Occurrence locations presented on maps in the original reports were manually digitised and the records were standardised using Darwin Core terms. The dataset integrates occurrence records from the assessment, construction and operation phases and is openly available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).