 | ||
These days, news on the worldwide phenomena of numerous animals and plants becoming extinct is easily accessible. Many native species of Korea, too, were lost due to the vast industrialization and urbanization which occurred in the last few decades. However, there still exists a place in Korea where the ecological system is considered to be well preserved. It is Jeju—a home for various unknown species, a repository of biodiversity.
Designated as one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Oragnization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserves in 2002, Jeju Island still maintains its biological diversity and its ecosystem. According to a National Institute of Biological Resources study concluded in 2015, 3,636 of Korea’s total 42,756 species exists in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. This includes 2,172 species of plants, which makes up about one-third of all plant species living in the country. Compared to other natural habitats—500 in Baekdusan and 1,000 in Jirisan—the number is quite significant.
On top of the fact that Jeju is home to eight species of cultural heritage, it is continuously contributing to our knowledge of biological diversity of Korea by introducing rare varieties to academia. On August 17, Jeju World Natural Heritage Center and Korea Forest Service revealed that they have identified the existence of Usnea diffracta Vain, a rare species of lichen. Usnea diffracta Vain only lives in alpine regions, above 1,000m, and according to Donguibogam: Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine, it is effective in treating several diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, and tuberculosis. The discovery is formidable for scholars as only three out of 13 species in Korea have been collected and it has been 15 years since it was last seen.
 | ||
| ▲ Usnea diffracta Vain. Provided by jejusori.net | ||
Threats to the Natural Habitat of Jeju
Recently, the natural habitat of Jeju is being destroyed by natural and cultural factors threatening its very existence. In August, marine organisms died en masse, as the low-saline water from the Yangtze River flowed by the west coast of Jeju. Torrential downpours in the Yangtze River, worsened due to irregularities in the climate, greatly reduced the salinity of its water.
In addition, since Jeju is an island surrounded by water, its ecosystem is greatly influenced by exotic species, which were once visitors, but now dominators. The ecological environment of Namsaengee Pond, a wetland eco-experience center, is threatened by the red-eared sliders, which slaughter the native juvenile fishes. The local residents claim that the prolific aliens were released indiscriminately by humans after being bred as pets. Similarly, Hypochaeris radicata linne, which looks like dandelion, began to diffuse to every part of Jeju after it was first introduced in the late 1980s from Europe. Although 670kg of the plant was removed in 2013 from an island called Woodo, it expanded its coverage, reaching 1,220kg in only a couple of years.
Yet, what is threatening the life of Jeju the most is the economic and cultural activities of humans. Oh Dae-Ju, a senior researcher from Jeju Biodiverstiy Research Institute, explained that, “Due to the sharp rise in the number of Chinese tourists and the amount of foreign capital, many new buildings and sightseeing facilities are constructed. This destructs the natural habitat and increases the pollution of Jeju.”
 | ||
| ▲ The picture of Gotjawal. Provided by jejuinnews.com | ||
Gotjawal, which is a forest often called the lung of Jeju, is a habitat for 37.7 percent of the species living in Jeju, though its area only takes six percent of the entire island, according to Hallasan Research Center. It is the only place in the world where tropical northern limit plants and polar southern limit plants coexist, forming an evergreen forest. However, not only Gotjawal was plundered during the Japanese colonial, ten golf courses for the human amusement and profit were built during the period from 2004 to 2007. The golf courses are being blamed as a main source of water exhaustion and pollution of the island.
The government seems to pursue political and economic interest before the preservation of the environment. In 2015, the provincial office announced the plan to build a new port, requiring 2.8 trillion won. Since the plan requires massive reclamation of an area twenty times greater than the Seoul World Cup Stadium, environmental organizations are strongly opposing the project. The new port is expected to destroy the marine ecosystem, increase the possibility of tidal waves, and harm the livelihood of fishermen.
However, the office stated that they will continue to build the port as the new port is essential for attracting cruise tours and relieving the distribution pressure of the ports in Jeju. Thus, although the damage made to the organisms of Jeju may be insignificant currently, life in Jeju is continuously facing the risk of destruction as its natural habitat is on the course of being devastated by human decisions.
 | ||
| ▲ Gotjawal being destroyed. Provided by jemin.com | ||
Searching for Solutions
In order to preserve the biodiversity and the natural environment of Jeju, various efforts have been made in both the public and private sectors. According to Oh, “Our Institute has been researching on the biological resources of Jeju for almost ten years, and there are a lot of other institutions, such as Korea Oceans and Fisheries Institute and Halla EcoForest, related to biodiversity and ecotourism, existing on Jeju. However, these institutions are scattered, and so is their data. Thus, there is a need to establish an integrated institute which collects and manages the information on Jeju’s resources.”
Practical actions to stabilize the food chain of Jeju have been made through capturing organisms that disturb the ecosystem. The provincial office designated wild roe deers as animal pests as they cause harm to nearby crops, and allowed people to trap the animal to in limited numbers. However, it is hard to judge the exact number for appropriate maintenance, and hasty intrusion may worsen the situation. The moral dilemma between killing innocent animals and protecting other organisms is also entailed by the decision.
Above all, conscious interest in and action on the biodiversity of Jeju Island are needed. Many nameless animals and plants are living on the lava plateau of Jeju, with their lives largely depending on each other and their surroundings. Yet, the budget on the research and the preservation of biodiversity is marginal, and the number of ecological specialists is decraeasing every day. One thing people have to remember is that, once these organisms vanish from the island and become extinct, there is no going back in time for they cannot be revived. Consistent and diligent actions of people are the only way to maintain the uniqueness and variety of Jeju Island.
Lee Arim
alimlee96@naver.com