Endangered 'Gusangnamu' Tree, Restoration Potential Opened Through Genetic Lineage Management

A panoramic view of the Kuksongnamu forest at the summit of Jirisan. Provided by the Korea Forest Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Forest Service has taken a step closer to restoring the endangered Kuksangnamu (Abies koreana). This progress comes with the establishment of restoration material acquisition and management technologies using genetic (DNA) provenance management.

According to the Korea Forest Service on the 24th, Kuksangnamu is an endemic tree species that has adapted and inhabited the mountain summits (altitude above 1000m) in Korea for millions of years since the Neogene period of the Cenozoic era.

The alpine regions at mountain summits have many rocks and little soil. Because of this, nutrients are scarce, and even when it rains or snows, moisture cannot be retained for long, making the environment prone to dryness. Moreover, strong winds and low temperatures create a very harsh environment for trees to grow.

However, Kuksangnamu, which has endured such harsh conditions, has recently seen a decrease in its distribution area due to habitat degradation caused by human interference and environmental changes. A nationwide survey by the Korea Forest Service in 2019 confirmed a decline rate of 33% in Kuksangnamu populations across the country.

Earlier, in 2011, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified Kuksangnamu as a vulnerable species.

On the other hand, restoration of Kuksangnamu has not been easy. Compared to other tree species, it grows relatively slowly and is difficult to manage, requiring more than five years to utilize as restoration material.

Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommends that when restoring endangered species like Kuksangnamu, genetically appropriate materials should be used in a way that does not damage the regional uniqueness, restoring genetic diversity, which made the restoration process complicated.

However, the Korea Forest Service’s National Institute of Forest Science’s Forest Life Information Research Division established a genetic provenance management system by analyzing genetic markers to identify the unique genetic characteristics of each tree and securing individuals suitable for the target area. Through this, they acquired technology to select the most appropriate individuals for restoration areas, opening the way for Kuksangnamu restoration.

In fact, the Forest Science Institute recently increased the possibility of Kuksangnamu restoration through a test. The test applied genetic provenance management by creating a restoration test site in Geumwonsan, a remaining population of Kuksangnamu, planting 1,350 young Kuksangnamu trees in May 2019, and checking survival rates in October the following year.

As a result, 99% of the young Kuksangnamu survived, and their growth condition was good, confirming successful initial establishment.

Kim Won-jung, head of the Baekdudaegan Conservation Team at the Korea Forest Service, stated, “Restoration technology using genetic provenance management is expected to play a crucial role in recovering the health of Korea’s alpine coniferous forests vulnerable to climate change, not only for Kuksangnamu but also for other species.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.