POCHEON, Aug. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea National Arboretum said Tuesday it has identified nine new forest wetlands within the Civilian Control Line (CCL), which designates a buffer zone extending from the Southern Limit Line of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.
A forest wetland encompasses not only wet areas but also terrains with substantial moisture resulting from historical activities like slash-and-burn farming or cultivation.
Spanning an aggregate area of 530,000 square meters, the recently uncovered wetlands include five in Cheorwon and four in Yeoncheon, with the majority remaining in their pristine state.
The research team from the Korea National Arboretum documented 596 plant species across 310 genera representing 97 families.
Among these are 54 rare species designated by the Korea Forest Service, along with 14 indigenous plants.
Of particular note, numerous natural habitats for rare plants have been identified. Among these, the habitat housing the endangered erect violet stands out as the largest of its kind in the country.
Image Credit: Korea National Arboretum / photonews@koreabizwire.com
