Korea National Park Service tracks threatened alpine plants amid climate shifts

“As rising global temperatures reshape high-altitude environments, Korea has launched its first comprehensive ecological ledger of the peninsula’s alpine plants, cataloging species that scientists warn are vulnerable to climate change. The National Park Service, an agency under the Ministry of Environment, announced the publication of the "Ecological Guide to Alpine Plants of the Korean Peninsula." The guide marks the culmination of a four-year joint research initiative with the Korean Society of Plant Taxonomists. Researchers systematically surveyed nine mountain-type national parks with peaks exceeding 1,000 meters — including Mount Seorak, Mount Jiri and Mount Halla — along with Mount Baekdu. The study classified 195 distinct species. Among them, 68 are strictly alpine plants thriving above the tree line, while 127 are subalpine species situated between the forest and tree lines. To aid public conservation efforts, the guide features high-resolution photography, distribution maps and ecological profiles for 151 core species, including the rare Arctous alpina (red bearberry) and

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