• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.305-320
• /
• 2005

Recently 64 species in Korea have been ranked as rare and endangered taxa by the Ministry of Environment using two categories, I and II. The original threat categories produced by the Ministry of Environment were developed to provide a standard for specifying animals and plants in danger of extinction and has been influential sources of information used in species conservation in Korea. However, the criteria by Ministry of Environment were applied to the whole taxa only by regional boundaries, especially in South Korea, rather than international context, and it also lacked an explicit framework that was necessary to ensure repeatability among taxa because of the absence of quantitative criteria to measure the likelihood of extinction. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has developed quantitative criteria for assessing the conservation status of species. The threatened species categories, the 2000 IUCN Red List, proposed by SSC (Species Survival Commission) of IUCN have become widely recognized internationally. Details of threatened Korean plants, identified by applying the IUCN threat categories and definitions, were listed and analyzed. The number of species identified as threatened was only 34 out of 64 taxa (48.4%), while the rest of taxa were rejected from the original lists. Many of the species (51.6%, 33 taxa) excluded from the original list proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable because these taxa were widely distributed either in Japan or in China/far eastern Russia and there is no evidence of substantial decline in these countries. An evaluation of taxa in Korea has been carried out only based on subjective views and qualitative data, rather than quantitative scientific data, such as rates of decline, distribution range size, population size, and risk of extinction. Therefore, the national lists undermine the credibility of threatened species lists and invite misuse, which have been raised by other cases, qualitative estimate of risk, political influence, uneven taxonomic or geographical coverage. The increasing emphasis on international responsibilities means that global scale is becoming more significant. The current listings by Environment of Ministry of Korea should be challenged, and the government should seek to facilitate the resolution of disagreements. Especially the list should be flexible enough to handle uncertainty and also incorporates detailed, quantitative data. It is suggested that the highest priorities for the Red List should be given to endemic species in Korea first. After setting up the list of endemic species to Korea, quantitative data on population size and structure, distributional range, rated of decline, and habitat fragmentation should be collected as one of long term projects for the Red list categories. Transparency and accountability are the most important key factors. Also, species assessors are named and data sources referenced are required for the future objective evaluations on Korean plant taxa.

• Plant Resources
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.57-75
• /
• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the flora and plant resources of Mt. Woosanbong (537.8 m) from April to October 2002. The collected vascular plants were composed of all 389 taxa including cultivated species, and classified into 329 species, 2 subspecies, 53 varieties, and 5 forms of 248 genera under 81 families. Six taxa of the Korean endemic plants and 4 taxa of the rare and endangered plants were also distributed in this mount. Resource plants were categorized into edible 181, pasturing 160, medicinal 136, stainable 94, ornamental 77, timber 22, fiber 5 and industrial 4 taxa, respectively. Floristic geography of the investigated area was regarded as the boundary between middle and southern parts in floristic pattern of the Korean Peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.80-83
• /
• 2020

We report Fimbristylis ovata (Burm.f.) J. Kern (Cyperaceae) from the sunny grasslands along the coastline on Jejudo Island, Korea, as a new distribution in Korea. This is thought to be the third confirmed record of this rare sedge in Korea; the first was from Gapari ('Is. Quelpaert') collected by Taquet in 1908, and the second was from Marado Island, collected by Kim and Kim in 2018. We found two new populations on Jejudo Island, the first with many individuals and the second with only a few plants. Following an examination of herbarium specimens, this species is considered to be rare and endangered in Korea, limited in distribution in Korea to Jejudo and Marado Islands.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.181-186
• /
• 2003

To obtain the basic data for monitoring and the conservation of native plant species at the sub-alpine zone Jongseogdae in Jirisan (Mt.).40 plots(5m${\times}$5m) set up by random sampling method and the distribution of native shrub and herb species at the subalpine zone was surveyed. Leading shrub species at the subalpine zone of Jongseogdae were Tripterygium regelii with IP value of 23.45% : followed by Lespedeza maximowiczii, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa and Lespedeza tomentella. Dominant species at the subalpine zone were Lysimachia clethroides, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Synurus deltoides, Veratrum maackii var. japonicum, Hemerocallis fulva and Astilbe chinensis var. davidii. Rhododendron tschonoskii recorded from the rare and endangered species list of the Korea Forest Service distributed among the rocks on the top of Jongseogdae. The long-term sustainable habitat monitoring might be required to conserve this subalpine zone.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.548-557
• /
• 2021

Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. is an endemic plant in East Asia, distributed only in Korea, China, and Japan. At the global level, the IUCN Red List evaluates it as "Endangered Species (EN)," and at the national level in Korea, it is evaluated as "Critically Endangered Species (CR)." In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the age structure and the sustainability of the population based on the data obtained by demographic monitoring conducted for seven years in the natural habitat. C. japonicum habitats were observed in 7 regions of Korea (Pochoen, Gapyeong, Hwacheon, Chuncheon, Yeongdong, Muju, Gwangyang), and 4,356 individuals in 15 subpopulations were identified. The population size and structure differed from region to region, and artificial management had a very important effect on the size and structural change of the population. Population viability analysis (PVA) based on changes in the number of individuals of C. japonicum showed a very diverse tendency by region. And the probability of population extinction in the next 100 years was 0.00% for Pocheon, 10.90% for Gwangyang, 24.05% for Chuncheon, and 79.50% for Hwacheon. Since the above monitored study sites were located within the conservation shelters, which restricted access by humans, unauthorized collection of C. japonicum, the biggest threat to the species, was not reflected in the individual viability. So, the risk of extinction in Korea is expected to be significantly higher than that estimated in this study. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect population information in several regions that may represent various threats to determine the extinction risk of the C. japonicum population objectively. In the future, we should expand the demographic monitoring of the C. japonicum population known in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.220-256
• /
• 2022

The most important thing for conserving plant diversity in an area is to make an overall inventory of the plant species inhabiting the area. In particular, limestone areas are known for their high plant diversity and distribution of specific plants. Despite that, only a few have been designated as protected areas. This study investigated the vascular plants distributed in Goyangsan Mtn. and Munraesan Mtn., located in limestone areas of the central part of the Korean Peninsula. A field survey was conducted eight times from April to October 2021. As a result, we identified a total of 654 taxa comprising 113 families, 357 genera, 592 species, 15 subspecies, 44 varieties, and 3 formulas. They included four endangered wild plant species: Astilboides tabularis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Cypripedium macranthos, and Epilobium hirsutum. Endemic plants in Korea were identified as 32 taxa. Floristic target plants were identified as 168 taxa, specifically 5 taxa of grade V, 41 taxa of grade IV, and 36 taxa of grade III. The red data plants included 2 taxa as "Endangered (EN)", 7 taxa as "Vulnerable (VU)", and 7 taxa as "Near threatened (NT)". A total of 41 taxa of naturalized plants were identified, and 4 of them were invasive alien plants. The surveyed vicinity of Goyangsan Mtn. and Munraesan Mtn. showed high plant diversity and contained core habitats for distribution of an endangered wild plant, Astilboides tabularis,in the limestone area. Moreover, both mountains contained a small population of Cotoneaster integerrimus. These findings confirm that the area has conservation values. Therefore, we propose to identify areas with high plant diversity and designate them as special protected areas.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2003

This study was executed by China along with the Tumen river, which formed border of North Korea and China. As a result 91 family, 282 genera, 363 species, 57 variety 4 species, total 424 taxa of vascular plants were identified. The examination area was include the region that had various vegetation such as upper swampy land, seashore dune, a river, a high mountain grassy plain, deciduous tree zone, evergreen coniferous forest zone. The followings are representative plants, which found in an examination area but not in South Korea. Picea koraiensis, Larix gmelini var. principis-ruprechtii, Betula playphylla, Ulmus pumila, Populus koreana, Ledum palustre var. diversipilosum, Rhododendron parvifolium, Salix brachypoda, Phacelurus latifolius, Carex gotoi, Carex capricornis, Calla palustris, Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila, Lilium davuricum, Astragalus membranaceus, Trifolium lupinaster, Ledebourieila seselodeds, Polemonium racemosum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Linnaea borealis, Thladiantha dubia, Inula helenium, Trollius hondoensis, Hypocaeris ciliata, Aconitum kirinense, Aconitum arcuatum, Potentilla viscosa var. macrophylla. And there are 21 rare and endangered species, which Korean Forest Sevice designated, such as Aconitum koreanum, Acorus calamus var. angustatus, Polygonatum stenophyllum, Drosera rotundifolia, Iris setosa, Jeffersonia dubia, Lilium davuricum, Lilium cernum, Paeonia obovata, Penthorum chinense, Phacelurus latifolius, Rosa marretii, Sparganium stoloniferum, Thymus quinquecostatus, Trillium tschonoskii, Utricularia japonica, Tripterospermum japonicum, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, etc. Especially, plants like, Acanthopanax senticosus, Jeffersonia dubia and Lillum cernum which have high values of ornamental, and medical use are in an extinction crisis. High swampy land was formed to upper stream of Tumen river. It showed representative vegitation, like Carex sp., Scirpus radirans, Eriophorum latifolium. Wetlands plant and a dune plant were mixed in down stream area of Tumen river. On a dune, seashore plants, such as Carex kobomugi, Salsola collina, Raphanus sativus var. raphanistroides, Rosa rugosa, Scutellaria strigillosa, Linaria japonica, Phacelurus latifolius were appeared frequently.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.410-426
• /
• 2017

To identify the flora of the vascular plants in the Anmyeon Island, field surveys were conducted from June, 2015 to August, 2016. Based on the collected specimens, the vascular plants of the Anmyeon Island were summarized as 717 taxa: 119 families, 400 genera, 632 species, 5 subspecies, 73 varieties and 7 formas. Among the 717 identified taxa, 17 rare plants designated by the Koren Forest Service according to the IUCN valuation species were described: 3 taxa of critically endangered species (CR), 1 taxa of endangered species (EN), 6 taxa of least concerned species (LC), 7 taxa of vulnerable species (VU). 99 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants specially designated by Ministry of Environment also were identified. In addition, 6 Korean endemic species such as Forsythia koreana Nakai and Hemerocallis taeanensis S.S.Kang & M.G.Chung, and 91 naturalized plants such as Rumex acetocella L., Amaranthus lividus L. and Diodia teres Walter etc. were described.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.65-71
• /
• 2013

Lilium cernum Komarvo. is an important endangered plant belonging to the family Liliaceae. A method was developed for the rapid micropropagation of L. cernum through plant regeneration from bulb scales explant-derived calli. The bulb scales segments were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0, $3.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ kinetin and 0, 0.1, 0.5, $1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA or 2,4-D for callus induction. In media with $0.5{\sim}3.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ kinetin and $0.1{\sim}1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA and 2,4-D, 95~100% of explants produced callus. They were then transferred to MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of NAA (0, 0.01, 0.05 and $1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) in combination with BA (0, 1.0 and $2.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) for bulbet formation. Bulbet induction (78%), weight (468 mg) and size (15.5 mm) were obtained the highest on MS medium containing $2.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ BA and $1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA. In vitro frequency of plant regeneration was not significantly treated in strength of MS and sucrose concentration. Chlorophyll contents in 1/2MS with $50g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ sucrose treatments were higher than those in control and another treatment. This in vitro propagation protocol will be useful for conservation and mass propagation of this endangered plant.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 2009

Various plant growth regulators were tested for shoot proliferation of Tripterospermum japonicum, a rare and endangered species. Among the six different media tested, MS medium was the best for the shoot growth. Whereas BA, upto 3 mg/L, significantly increased shoot proliferation rate, it suppressed the rate at higher levels. Neither kinetin nor TDZ was so effective in proliferating shoots as BA. As for rooting, TDZ strongly inhibited it even at very low concentration though spontaneous rooting was frequently observed from the proliferated shoots during culture of lower concentration BA or kinetin. In contrast, shoot elongation was significantly promoted by $GA_3$. More than 90% of the proliferated plantlets could be transplanted via cuttings into pots containing artificial soil mixture where they rooted and resumed normal growth. Most of the plants bloomed to bear fruits in the following year.