20 native plants in Mt. Halla face extinction

Right under the summit of Baengnokdam, 1,900 meters above sea level on the western side of Mt. Halla, Sasa palmata, a light-green colored indigenous plant species only seen on the mountain covers the cliff all the way up to the summit. The species is growing at ever greater elevations, now approaching the Baengnokdam crater. Crowberry and Sargent Juniper, also native to the area, have had their original homes stolen by the encroaching Sasa palmata and it seems that they might not be able to survive another few years.

The white flowers of hanragujeolcho plants bloom from cracks in the rock, avoiding Sasa palmata`s steady advancement, yet are still in danger. Native azaleas, which paint the mountain`s spring with red, are buried amongst the sea of Sasa palmatas with only their tips visible. The invasive species is even threatening the forest of Abies koreanas, the world`s largest single habitat of the species, by hampering the trees` germination as Sasa palmata densely cover the bottom of their trunks.

○ Sasa palmatas occupy the whole mountain

Thirty years ago, the species was seen only sporadically across the area of 600 meters to 1,400 meters above sea level. Now they have spread to cover Hallasan National Park except for the valleys and the rocky areas. The total area taken up by the plant is estimated to be 60,441 acres. The species belongs to Poaceae, is characterized by white stripes on the sides of its leaves, and expands its habitat by holding the land tightly with its roots. According to surveys by the Jeju World Natural Heritage Center, more than 20 different plants grew in the area before Sasa palmata started to spread, but now it is completely dominated by the single species.

As the species is spreading more rapidly than ever, most of the crowberries and Sargent Juniper along the Eorimok trail between Sajebidongsan (1,423 meters) and Witseoreum (1,700 meters) were wiped out. Rare species that only live at high elevations near Baengnokdam are also on the verge of extinction. It is true that Sasa palmata does provide the benefits of preventing erosion and the collapse of soil as it fixes its roots deep into the ground, but there is an urgent need for measures to protect biodiversity and rare species.

○ `Deter reproduction by grazing horses`

The current rapid reproduction of the species is largely due to the ban on grazing cows and horses since the mid 1980s, as well as the impact of global warming. "The leaves of Sasa palmata are green year-round and the roots stretched all directions, which stop other plants from taking root nearby, said Dr. Kim Chan-soo, director of Warm-temperate Forest Research Center under the Korea Forest Research Institute. "There is a need to remove these plants in certain areas in order to preserve Hallasan National Park`s precious natural resources."

Some experts claim that the government should allow horses to graze on the mountain to effectively restrain the plant from spreading. When the Jeju provincial government conducted a test, which saw horses placed on the outskirts of the National Park where Sasa palmata grows, the population halved and other species reclaimed the space. Research showed that 2.47 acres of land was required to feed one full-grown female horse. As the plant consists of 36 percent of protein and 47 percent of the plant body can be digested, there is also a potential of using it to feed livestock. "The plant is utilized as health supplements to fight diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis, but only by a small amount," said Kang Man-saeng, head advisor of the Hallasan National Park. "Now is the time to come up with more concrete measures to deter Sasa palmata."