KOREASCHOLAR

Yongneup wetland protected area, the only high moor in Korea, is a core area to conserve biodiversity. Even though the Yongneup wetland protected area is relatively small, various plant species are distributed in the Yongneup wetland protected area because it includes various habitats showing different environmental gradients. Vascular plants distributed in the Yongneup wetland protected area were identified as a total of 376 taxa that is composed of 73 families, 217 genera, 322 species, 3 subspecies, 44 varieties and 7 forms. For endangered plants designated by the Ministry of Environment, 5 species including Trientalis europaea var. arctica, Lilium dauricum, Halenia corniculata, Lychnis wilfordii and Menyanthes trifoliata were found and 34 taxa were confirmed to be distributed only in the mountainous wetland habitats. Regarding naturalized plants, a total of 11 taxa were distributed, but most of them were distributed in the areas where artificial interference has occurred. And in areas inside the wetlands that are relatively well preserved, 2 species of Bidens frondosa and Erigeron annuus were observed. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of Pseudostellaria baekdusanensis M. Kim, which was recently found in Mt. Baekdu and reported as a new species, were identified in the Yongneup wetland protected area. A wetland is a very vulnerable area to drastic environmental changes and damages to its ecosystem could cause the extinction of rare plant species which are distributed only in the wetlands. Therefore, it is mandatory that current status of the Yongneup wetland protected area is evaluated and actions to prevent rapid environmental changes are taken. Fourteen separate investigations were conducted in 2013 and another four in 2014, to evaluate current status of the Yongneup wetland protected area. These investigations have provided us the basic information for future actions of conservation and restoration.

INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
  1. Survey Site Information
  2. Study Methods
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
  1. Vascular Plants
  2. Endangered Wild Plants
  3. Korean Endemic Plants and Naturalized Plants
  4. Floristic Special Plants
  5. New distribution area of Pseudostellariabaekdusanensis M. Kim
 REFERENCES

• Young-Chul Kim(Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Korea Botanic Garden)
• Hyun-Hee Chae(Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
• Sang-Heock Oh(Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
• Seung-Ho Choi2(Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
• Moon-Pyo Hong3(Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
• Gi-Heum Nam(Biological and Genetic Resources Utilization Division, National Institute of Biological Resource)
• Jae-Yoon Choi(Wonju Regional Environmental Administration)
• Hyun-Sook Choi(Wonju Regional Environmental Administration)
• Kyu-Song Lee(Department of Biology, Gangneung-Wonju National University) Corresponding author