earticle

영어

Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson) is the only endemic species of the genus Abies. The habitats of Korean fir are confined to southern Korea peninsula, Mt. Halla-san on the Jeju island is the southernmost part of South Korea along with the Mt. Jiri-san in the southern part of the peninsula and the northernmost population of Mt. Deogyu-san. Those regions are the most prominent habitats of Korean fir known since the description of the species by Wilson in 1920. Because of drastic climate change, those habitats have been seriously decreased recently, which might inevitably result in loss of genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is prerequisite for sustainable existence of the population against future environmental changes which might be expected to be harsh for survival at the present habitats. Conservation of genetic diversity and in situ restoration of extinct genetic diversity should be considered as the urgent forest practice for Korean fir. Strategy of such practices will be proposed.