Hansujeong-YuhanKimberly "Let's Join Together to Preserve Endangered Kusan Namu"

by Jeong Ilwoong

Published 22 Apr.2023 08:10(KST)

The Korea National Arboretum (hereinafter referred to as KNA) and Yuhan-Kimberly share the meaning and value of conserving the endangered Korean fir with the public.

Scenery of the natural habitat of Kusu trees within Hallasan National Park. Provided by Korea National Arboretum

On the 22nd, KNA announced that it will unveil an archive of the Korean fir forest creation project in collaboration with Yuhan-Kimberly to commemorate Earth Day (April 22).

According to KNA, the Korean fir is an endemic species that grows only in Korea worldwide. In other words, if the Korean fir disappears from Korea, it will be difficult to find Korean fir anywhere else on Earth.

For this reason, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the Korean fir as an endangered species, emphasizing the importance of its conservation.

However, due to factors such as recent climate change, the natural habitat of the Korean fir is rapidly decreasing. In response, KNA has been working with Yuhan-Kimberly since 2021 to promote an ESG cooperation project for the conservation of the Korean fir.

The Korean fir forest creation project archive, released on KNA’s YouTube, Instagram, website, and other SNS channels on this day, includes the project progress such as ▲scenery of the Korean fir natural habitat on Hallasan Mountain conducted with the cooperation of the Jeju World Heritage Headquarters Hallasan Research Department last year ▲joint collection of Korean fir seeds on Hallasan Mountain by KNA and Yuhan-Kimberly ▲and Korean fir seedling cultivation at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum.

The main activities of the Korean fir forest creation project, which will continue until 2030, include ▲creating a Korean fir forest (ex situ conservation area) at the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum ▲storing Korean fir seeds in the Baekdudaegan Global Seed Vault ▲and holding exhibitions to raise awareness of the importance of conserving endangered alpine conifers.

Ryu Kwang-soo, director of KNA, said, “I want to place great significance on promoting biodiversity (Korean fir) conservation together with Yuhan-Kimberly,” adding, “On Earth Day, KNA will inform the public about the importance of conserving the endangered Korean fir and strive to introduce a healthy Korean fir forest rooted in the Baekdudaegan National Arboretum by 2030 when the conservation project is completed.”