• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.436-486
• /
• 2010

The vascular flora of Mt. Seorak had been researched from 1984 to 2010, and this research revealed 994 taxa in total, including 814 species, 1 subspecies, 122 varieties and 57 forms in 463 genera, 109 families. Among them were 53 taxa of Korean endemic species, 60 taxa of rare and endangered species, and 248 taxa of specially designated species in view of floristics by the Ministry of Environment, which includes 42 taxa of grade V, 27 taxa of grade IV, 58 taxa of grade III, 57 taxa of grade II, and 64 taxa of grade I. With regard to the naturalized plants, 60 taxa were recognized, and Compositae taxa was distributed in highest ratio, accounting for 31.7%, and naturalization ratio was found to be 6.0%. Furthermore, hemicryptophytes (27.6%), geophytes (25.0%) and phanerophytes (21.8%) showed high proportional ratio in life form spectrum.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2006

The study was carried out to investigate the flora and stand structure in southwest slope of Mt. Chukryoung from March to October, 2005. As a result of that, vascular plants were 87 families, 268 genera, 399 species, 1 subspecies, 53 varieties, 4 formae and 457 taxa in all: Korean endemic plants were 11 families, 14 genera, 14 species and 14 taxa in all: rare or endangered plants were 8 families, 12 genera, 13 species and 13 taxa in all: naturalized plants were 8 families, 14 genera, 15 species, 1 varieties and 16 taxa in all. The stand structure analysis showed that: canopy was covered with Quercus mongolica. sub-canopy was covered with Styrax obassia, Euonymus oxyphyllus, Acer pseudo-sieboldianum and Quercus mongolica.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.392-414
• /
• 2004

The flora of Sorok Island was investigated 8 times from January 2001 to November 2002. The vascular plants recorded as total 604 taxa, 13 forms, 65 varieties, 1 subspecies, 524 species, 397 genera, 128 families. The rare and endangered plants were recorded 1 taxa (Millettia japonica (Sieb. et Zucc.) A. Gray), 12 taxa (3 variety, 9 species, 10 genera, 10 families) as Korean endemic plants. The naturalized plants were 26 taxa, 1 variety, 25 species, 21 genera, 12 families, 4.30% and 9.15％ among the total naturalized plants and Urbanization Index in Korea. Visitor's numbers are expected to increase rapidly because nature views of Sorok Island are beautiful, which kind and number of naturalized plants are forecasted to be increased. Strong conservation policies should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.416-432
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution and characteristics of plant resources in Mt. Heungjeong (Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do) from April, 2009 to May, 2011. The vascular plants based on voucher specimens were summarized as 403 taxa, including 78 families, 238 genera, 343 species, 3 subspecies, 47 varieties, and 10 forms. Among the investigated 403 taxa, 8 Korean endemic, 1 endangered, and 16 rare plants were included. 71 species of specially designated plant by the Ministry of Environment were also investigated. The naturalized plant were 20 taxa, and the percent of naturalized plant species was estimated as 5.0%. The usefulness of the plants of the 403 taxa listed consists of 175 taxa (43.4%) of edible plants, 126 taxa (31.3%) of medicinal plants, 65 taxa (16.1%) of pasture plants, 52 taxa (12.9%) of ornamental plants, 12 taxa (3.0%) of timber and fiber plants, 3 taxa (0.7%) of industrial plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.487-510
• /
• 2015

This study was carried out to inventory the vascular plant flora in Deokjeokdo and its adjacent regions (Mungapdo, Soyado), Ongjin-gun, South Korea, from April to October 2014. Based on the voucher specimens, vascular plants in this area consisted of 108 families, 362 genera, 578 species, 5 subspecies, 66 varieties and 4 forms, totally 653 taxa. In the flora of this area, 5 taxa of Korean endemic plants were found distributed in the sites, including Hepatica insularis Nakai and Asarum glabrata (C.S.Yook & J.G.Kim) B.U.Oh. Korean rare and endangered plants found in this area were 1 taxa of Critical Endangered Species (CR) and 5 taxa of Vulnerable Species (VU). The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 67 taxa comprising 3 taxa of grade V, 2 taxa of grade IV, 12 taxa of grade III, 3 taxa of grade II and 47 taxa of grade I. Naturalized plants consisted of 67 taxa, such as Chenopodium album L. and Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. were recognized widely distributed in the area.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.259-276
• /
• 2001

Mt. Seoun(574 meters above sea level) is located in the southern part of An-sung city, Korea, within 36$^{\circ}$54'~36$^{\circ}$50'N, 127$^{\circ}$16'~127$^{\circ}$19'E. Field surveys were carried out nine times from March to October, 2000. Main results obtained from this study were as follows. The flora of vascular plants investigated in this survey was 439 taxa belonging to 90 families, 268 genera, 383 species, 49 varieties, 5 forma, 2 hybrid. As a result of this study, rare and endangered(Tricyrtis dilatata Nakai, Gastrodia elata Bl., Saururus chinenses Baill., Viola albida Palibin.) and many endemic species(Athyrium acatipinnulum Kodama., Tricyrtis dilatate Nakai, Paulownia coreana Uyeki., Salix hallaisanensis Lev., Asperula Iasiantha Nakai, Weigela subsessilis L.H. Bailey, Melamdryum seoulense Nakai, Clematis trichotoma Nakai, Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora Nakai, Syringa dilatata Nakai, Chloranthus japonicus var. koreanus Sieb, Scutellaria insignis Nakai) of Korea were distributed in this area. Also the naturalized plants which were appeared in this area were 24 taxa(5.5 %). Among the plant resources, there are 239 taxa of edible plants(54.4%), 270 taxa of medicinal plants(61.5%), 217 taxa of ornamental plants(49.4%), 46 taxa of timber plants(10.5%) and 56 taxa of pasture plants(12.8%).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.159-179
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of vascular plants and their usefulness in Mt. Ilsan (Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do). The vascular plants were summarized as 496 taxa; 91 families, 295 genera, 422 species, 1 subspecies, 58 varieties, and 15 forma. Among the investigated 496 taxa, 17 Korean endemic, nine rare, and one endangered plants were included. Based on the list of the species of specially designated plants by the Ministry of Environment, 66 taxa including Hanabusaya asiatica and Aconitum koreanum were recorded in the investigated area. The naturalized plants were identified as 27 taxa and the percent of naturalized plant species(PN) was 5.4% of all 496 taxa vascular plants. Usage of 496 taxa were consists of 201 taxa(40.5%) of edible plants, 168 taxa(33.9%) of medicinal plants, 69 taxa(13.9%) of pasture plants, 61 taxa(12.3%) of ornamental plants, 17 taxa(3.4%) of timber plants, 16 taxa(3.2%) of fiber plants and 4 taxa(0.8%) of industrial plants.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.257-276
• /
• 2022

Studies on rare and endemic plant conservation should be performed nationally to conserve plant diversity. Studies targeting a specific taxon have been reported based on the necessity of conserving plant diversity. From this point of view, there is an increasing necessity to compare and evaluate the studies for conservation. Moreover, it is necessary to analyze and review the direction for study subjects and items required for effective conservation of rare and endemic plants in Korea, based on the analysis results of collected data. We analyzed trends of studies on rare and endemic plants worldwide. In particular, we collected and analyzed the study trend in Korea. Study fields of the rare and endemic plants were divided into six classifications, of which the conservation ecology classification was sub-divided into the species traits, population study, and biological interaction. We have collected conservation ecology studies showing significant differences in regions and countries. They have been actively conducted in Europe and North America by region and in Japan and the United States by country. On the contrary, studies on basic ecology accounted for the most, followed by conservation genetics and restoration ecology in Korea. It was revealed that the portion of conservation ecology conducted in Korea was lower than that of the world. Moreover, studies mainly focused on a specific taxon of rare and endemic plants, such as endangered plants designated by the Korean Ministry of Environment. Particularly in Korea, conservation genetics and restoration ecology studies accounted for high percentages. Considering the worldwide study trends, particularly those in Europe and North America that lead the study of conservation ecology, we suggest approaches to increase the percentages of conservation ecology, including securing the information on species traits, population structure and population dynamics, and interaction between animals and plants are necessary for effective conservation of rare and endemic plants in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.29-44
• /
• 2006

The flora of vascular plants in Geojedo revealed to be 550 taxa based on only the voucher specimens to be collected. It comprise 108 families, 341 genera, 478 species, 69 varieties and 3 forms respectively. Among them, 13 taxa of Korean endemics and 8 taxa of rare and endangered plants were investigated in addition to 75 taxa of specially designated plants announced by the Ministry of Environment. Furthermore, 36 taxa of induced and naturalized plants were also observed in this area. One of the characteristics of forest vegetation is the broadly occupation of Pinus thunbergii on whole area of Geojedo. Although it's well condition and conservation status, the destruction area of vegetation was rapidly increasing by the industrial development, the deforestation and the tramp as well as by the basic disturbances of human beings. Therefore, more active and positive conservation strategy such as expansion of conservation area should be prepared rapidly by the results of long-term monitoring studies.