Operating Ex-situ Conservation Institution for Endangered Wild Plants

Jeju Island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with 3,340 species of land plants, 5,000 species of land animals, and 2,160 species of marine life. With its high biodiversity of over 10,000 species in total, Jeju strives to proliferate and restore designated plant species and to stabilize the biodiversity and ecosystem the operation of conservation institution outside of the habitats of state-designated (Ministry of Environment) endangered wild plants designated to contribute to the effective preservation of biodiversity. Of the 88 species of endangered wild plants designated by the Ministry of Environment, 43 species are distributed on Jeju Island, and the Halla Arboretum is responsible for the proliferation and management of 26 designated ones (Class I, 8; Class II, 18) including Halla edelweiss, and 4 non-designated ones such as East Asian thrixspermum. Through the operation of an ex-situ conservation institution, the arboretum is conducting a wide range of research, including obtaining genetic resources for the wild plants that are in danger of extinction, research on the proliferation and restoration of individuals, and ex-situ conservation. The Halla Arboretum currently keeps and manages over 5,000 individuals of 30 endangered species. As of 2022, it is employing the plant tissue culture technique to multiply 910 plants of five species including small-bean-like orchid and Halla edelweiss (Leontopodium hallaisanense), while sowing to proliferate seedlings of such plants as compressed michelia (Michelia compressa) and glabrous sarcandra herb (Sarcandra glabra). Individuals numbering 321 of three species, including Halla edelweiss and seok-gok, were also tested for outdoor adaptation. In addition, the arboretum is performing periodic monitoring on thirteen sites for ten endangered wild plants to study the habitats and their surroundings, identifying changes in individuals by season.