The wildlife of Korea, a region encompassing North Korea and South Korea, belongs to the Palearctic ecozone. Native or endemic species of the Korean Peninsula include Korean hare, Korean water deer, Korean field mouse, Korean brown frog, Korean pine and Korean spruce. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with its forest and natural wetlands is a unique biodiversity spot, which harbours eighty-two endangered species such as the red-crowned crane and the Amur leopard. Overall, DMZ is home to about 70 mammalian species, more than 300 birds and about 3,000 plants.
Contents
At the same time the populations of bears, lynxes, tigers, wolves, dholes and leopards, which once inhabited the Korean Peninsula, are presently very rare or extirpated, and likewise large ungulates (with the exceptions of roe deer, water deer and wild boar) are uncommon. The local wildlife sustained some damage during the Japanese occupation in 1910–1945 and subsequent Korean War, particularly due to overhunting of tigers.
By region
Wildlife of Korea can be further divided into wildlife of North Korea and wildlife of South Korea.
Fauna
Both North Korean and South Korean faunas originate in ecosystems that can be seen in China, and are particularly abundant in birds nowadays, like White Heron, which has been a symbol of local nature imagery and poetry. The Korean Peninsula accommodates 515 reported species of birds, which as of 2011 is about 3–5% of the world total. South Korea has about 370 bird species, of which about fifty species are permanent residents and the rest are migratory. Planes are inhabited by migratory waterfowl and cranes. The open countryside is inhabited by the common pheasant. South Korean wetlands support over one million wintering ducks and geese.
Carnivoran animals include weasels, badgers and marten. Northern part of the Korean Peninsula is home to antelopes and raccoon dogs.
Aquatic fauna includes about 212 species of freshwater fish. Four species of them received the status of Natural Monument Fish – marbled eel, spotted barbel, Manchurian trout and golden mandarin fish. The Korean Peninsula has a significant number of native freshwater fish species, which includes Korean taimen, Korean stumpy bullhead, Korean spotted hopper, south torrent catfish and black shiner. Endemic marine fauna includes Korean skate and Korean rockfish.
The number of insects in the Korean Peninsula is estimated at about 12,300 species.
Flora
The Korean Peninsula is home to about 3,034 species of vascular plants, which belong to 217 families, 1,045 genera and 406 infraspecific taxa. Korean forests include evergreen pines and deciduous trees – maple, birch, poplar, oak, ash and elm. Common fruit trees include apple, pear, peach, apricot, plum, persimmon and Chinese quince. High mountains feature exclusively alpine plants. Southern coastal areas harbour citrus plants. Several hundreds plant species are considered medicinal. Hibiscus syriacus is the national flower of South Korea.
The flora of North Korea has over 100 endemic species of vascular plants.
Preservation
A member of the Convention on Biological Diversity since 1994, South Korea has 298 protected areas, of which 289 are IUCN-categorized. The country joined IUCN in 2006. Hallasan National Park was designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a World Natural Heritage in 2007, and a Global Geopark in 2010, making the associated Jeju Island the only place on Earth to receive all three UNESCO designations in the field of natural sciences. In 1963 Korea Association for the Conservation of Nature was established. In 1997 the non-profit organization International Aid for Korean Animals was founded to promote animal protection and humane treatment. Animal Rescue Korea, an English-language internet resource, helps animals in South Korea.
North Korea adopted a Ten Year Plan for Afforestation/Reforestation to revive two million hectares of degraded forests.