The Korea National Park Service under the Ministry of Environment (Director Ju Dae-yeong) announced that it has selected 10 native tree species from national parks that are relatively effective at absorbing carbon dioxide in celebration of Arbor Day (April 5). 

The 10 native tree species with excellent carbon absorption effects are sawtooth oak, Asian black birch, Korean red pine, jolcham oak, Manchurian ash, galcham oak, black pine, daimyo oak, Manchurian walnut, and Oriental cork oak. 

To select these 10 species, the Korea National Park Service has been investigating and analyzing the annual average carbon absorption of major native plants in national parks since 2023, and so far has completed the carbon absorption assessment of 84 plant species in 14 national parks*, including Seoraksan.

* Seoraksan, Odaesan, Taebaeksan, Sobaeksan, Chiaksan, Bukhansan, Taeanhaean, Woraksan, Songnisan, Gyeryongsan, Juwangsan, Deogyusan, Gayasan, Gyeongju

The annual average carbon absorption of the 84 native plant species surveyed is 7.37 kg-CO2 per tree, and the 10 selected native tree species showed more than twice the carbon absorption effect compared to the average.

These 10 species consist of 8 broad-leaved trees (sawtooth oak, Asian black birch, jolcham oak, Manchurian ash, galcham oak, daimyo oak, Manchurian walnut, and Oriental cork oak) and 2 coniferous trees (Korean red pine and black pine). Among them, the tree with the highest annual average carbon absorption is the sawtooth oak at 30.12 kg-CO2 per tree, followed by the Asian black birch at 21.51 kg-CO2 per tree. The tree with the lowest carbon absorption is the Oriental cork oak, recording 15.36 kg-CO2 per tree. 

Ju Dae-yeong, Director of the Korea National Park Service, stated, “By 2025, we plan to complete the carbon absorption assessment of native plant species in all 23 national parks to identify plant species with high carbon absorption effects based on region and site conditions.” He added, “This Arbor Day, we will actively promote the planting of native tree species recommended by the National Park Service, taking the lead in carbon neutrality and biodiversity conservation.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

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