This study was conducted to classify the types of degraded land in the Taebaeksan region within the Baekdudaegan mountain range in Korea using image analysis and to assess the degree of degradation through a detailed survey of each type. Based on the findings, candidate tree species for restoration and strategies for land rehabilitation were proposed. The analysis identified 1589 degraded sites, classified into nine types of degradation. Using the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) method, these sites were further categorized into six environmental types. A survey was conducted on 25 degraded sites (encompassing 73 specific locations) in the Taebaeksan region, revealing that the sites fell into seven out of nine degradation categories: grassland, agricultural land, forest roads, ranches, cemeteries, logging sites, and abandoned quarries. The excluded categories were buildings and military facilities. A more focused survey was conducted on the 73 largest sites across the degradation types, with a reference ecosystem selected based on topographic analysis and succession processes. Diagnostic evaluations identified logging sites and severely degraded areas as the most urgent priorities for rehabilitation. Candidate tree species for restoration were proposed for each degradation type and environmental condition, based on ecological importance and reference ecosystem characteristics. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of degradation types following ecological restoration procedures and offers valuable baseline data for selecting restoration species and designing restoration strategies in conjunction with reference ecosystem studies.

This study evaluated the floristic characteristics and ecological conditions of disturbed sites within the Baekdudaegan Protected Area by analyzing species occurrence and ecological indices according to the region and disturbance type. A total of 515 vascular plant species were recorded, including rare species, alien species, and Korean endemic plants. To assess ecological patterns, the Naturalization Index (NI), Urbanization Index (UI), and Sørensen similarity index were applied. The results showed that Mt. Seoraksan, Mt. Deogyusan, and Mt. Taebaeksan had relatively high NI and UI values, while Mt. Jirisan showed a comparatively low UI value. Among disturbance types, the hiking trail (HT) type, located in a high-altitude area with limited accessibility, also recorded lower values. Floristic similarity with reference ecosystems was higher in Mt. Jirisan, Mt. Deogyusan, and Mt. Taebaeksan, whereas Mt. Seoraksan exhibited the lowest similarity. The overall similarity between disturbance types was low, and the composition of plant species varied across disturbance types. These results suggest that differences in disturbance intensity, driven by the disturbance type and topographic conditions, influences the floristic composition. The findings of this study can serve as baseline data for developing site-specific restoration strategies for disturbed sites in the future.

This study examined short-term vegetation responses across operational restoration-intensity levels in areas affected by the 2022 Uljin wildfire, Korea. Using 104 vegetation relevés from 52 fixed plots surveyed in 2024 and 2025, we analyzed species- and community-level vegetation patterns based on phytosociological data. Species-level attributes were assessed using species richness, diversity, evenness, importance values, life-form composition, habitat-affinity composition, and alien plant occurrence, while community-level patterns were evaluated using Bray–Curtis-based multivariate analyses, SIMPER, and indicator species analysis. A total of 159 vascular plant species was recorded across the two survey years. Species richness generally increased or was maintained, whereas diversity, evenness, and dominance patterns varied among operational restoration-intensity levels. Annual and alien plant occurrence generally decreased, while perennial and some forest-associated species increased. Community composition differed among operational restoration-intensity levels, with species compositional and dominance changes tending to be more pronounced in levels involving greater restoration intervention. These findings indicate that short-term vegetation patterns differed among operational restoration-intensity levels, while temporal effects between the two survey years were comparatively limited.