Korea Forest Service

Abstract Forest tree seeds are mass produced for afforestation and forest restoration programs, but are mostly underutilized beyond propagation. Here, we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and tyrosinase-inhibitory activities of seed extracts of seven economically important forest tree species in the Republic of Korea to explore their potential as multifunctional natural bioresources. The seed extracts of Alnus japonica, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Cornus kousa, Phellodendron amurense, Pinus densiflora, Prunus sargentii , and Quercus glauca were comparatively assessed using multiple in vitro assays. The results revealed clear species-dependent functional profiles rather than uniform bioactivities across species. Quercus glauca exhibited strong antioxidant activity and significant anti-inflammatory and tyrosinase-inhibitory activities, suggesting multifunctional potential, while C. obtuse presented considerable anticancer activity against several cancer cell lines. Alnus japonica exhibited the highest tyrosinase-inhibitory activity, followed by Q. glauca and C. obtuse ; A. japonica extract also showed a strong antioxidant capacity. Overall, the results demonstrated that forest tree seed extracts possess diverse and complementary bioactivities, supporting their potential as underexplored multifunctional natural materials. By focusing on seed resources generated within existing afforestation systems, we highlight a sustainable approach to valorize forest-derived by-products without additional pressure on natural ecosystems. Nevertheless, as bioactivities were evaluated using crude extracts, further studies are required to identify and elucidate the active compounds and their mechanisms of action.

Due to climate change, seedling damage caused by drought stress is expected to increase in both afforestation sites and nurseries. Therefore, to ensure stable seedling production under high-temperature conditions and to cultivate seedlings with enhanced drought tolerance through hardening treatments, the development of an effective irrigation system is required. Conventional physiological methods for non-destructive drought detection, such as chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf temperature measurements, require expensive and manual operation, thereby limiting their real-time applicability in forest nurseries. This study evaluated the applicability of using image-based leaf angle measurements for drought stress detection in Quercus acutissima Carruth. seedlings. One-year-old seedlings were grown under two water regimes—well-watered (CT: control) and unwatered (DT: drought)—through Day 8. Statistical analyses (RMANOVA) revealed that changes in the leaf angle parameter PMD–MD (the difference between the previous and current measurement days) showed treatment effects similar to those of the physiological responses ΦNO (quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation) and qL (fraction of open PSII reaction centers) to drought on Day 6. Leaf angle reflected drought stress but did not precede physiological changes, indicating its role as a complementary rather than an early indicator. Multiple regression models identified AT (air temperature), SM (soil moisture), Fm′ (maximum fluorescence in the light-adapted state), and VPD (vapor pressure deficit) as the main factors influencing leaf angle variation. Although leaf angle was affected by combined environmental stresses such as high temperature, it was less sensitive to heat stress than physiological responses based on RMANOVA results. These results indicate the potential of image-based leaf angle measurements for drought stress detection. To establish plant-based smart irrigation systems, future studies should validate and refine this approach using larger datasets.

Accelerated drought stress along with global warming has significantly impacted high-elevation ecosystems, causing a massive decline of conifers worldwide, including Korean fir (Abies koreana E.H.Wilson). However, studies on the climate adaptability and underlying physiological mechanisms of coexisting species remain limited, despite their importance for understanding future species composition. To investigate species-specific responses to climate change, a rainfall reduction and heat experiment was implemented by blocking precipitation by 33 and 67% and increasing temperature by 1.5°C for three coexisting high-elevation tree species: Korean fir, Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.) and Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.). Korean fir exhibited the most sensitive stomatal control to conserve its hydraulic status, which significantly suppressed photosynthesis, depleted root starch reserves and ultimately reduced growth. In contrast, Manchurian ash showed the highest resistance, with stable stomatal response through active leaf osmoregulation and increased chlorophyll content, which supported the maintenance of photosynthesis and root nonstructural carbohydrate reserves. Korean pine exhibited intermediate responses, with the second-most sensitive stomatal and photosynthetic regulation, along with temporarily tolerant traits such as increased leaf sugar and chlorophyll content, while allocating relatively more carbon to growth than to storage. This resulted in the highest mortality in Korean fir, followed by Korean pine and Manchurian ash. This study enhances our understanding of the early stress responses of high-elevation species and provides insights into predicting future forest dynamics.

Tropical peatlands are major carbon sinks that store a significant portion of the world’s soil carbon. Although approximately 37% of the world’s tropical peatlands are located in Indonesia, these ecosystems face continuous degradation from drainage and fires. Despite the urgent need for restoration, precise local-scale baseline data remain insufficient. This study identified the spatial distribution of peat depth and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in Perigi, South Sumatra, an area currently lacking foundational information. We conducted field surveys at 73 sampling locations in Perigi to analyze peat depth and SOC content, developing predictive models using satellite-derived environmental variables. Based on these models, the study estimated spatial distributions and generated spatial uncertainty maps. The results indicate the potential existence of peatlands in areas not reflected in existing national maps, highlighting the necessity of detailed local-scale assessments. Furthermore, hydrological factors exerted a strong influence on both models, suggesting that the hydrological environment is a primary determinant of peatland formation in Perigi. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding spatial characteristics and discussing future restoration and management strategies for vulnerable tropical peatland ecosystems.

The growth characteristics and changes in major polyphenol content of the rare plant Persicaria chinensis cultivated under greenhouse conditions were investigated to evaluate its potential for large-scale cultivation and industrial use. The fresh and dry weights of the leaves and stems were measured monthly from May to October, and the corilagin, ellagic acid, geraniin, and neochlorogenic acid contents were analyzed. Leaf fresh and dry weights peaked in June (11.73 ± 4.74 g and 3.02 ± 1.22 g, respectively) and increased again in August thereafter, and subsequently decreased, whereas stem fresh and dry weights continuously increased throughout the cultivation period, reaching 20.06 ± 3.88 g and 7.68 ± 1.55 g, respectively, in October. The polyphenol content in leaves was generally highest in June and then declined. In September, the contents of corilagin and ellagic acid showed marked increases, reaching 10.34 ± 4.13 mg/g and 7.26 ± 3.78 mg/g, respectively. In the stems, the polyphenol content was lower than that in the leaves and showed a decreasing trend after the early cultivation stage. Correlation analysis revealed weak relationships between biomass and polyphenol content in the leaves, whereas strong positive correlations among polyphenols and negative correlations between stem growth and polyphenol content were observed in the stems. These results demonstrate that stable greenhouse cultivation of P. chinensis and the accumulation of functional compounds are feasible and provide fundamental information for the development of cultivation strategies, including appropriate fertilization and environmental management, aimed at functional raw material production.

Human-wildlife interactions over shared resources can negatively affect both human and wildlife populations, especially in human-modified habitats such as community forests. We assessed community farmers’ attitudes towards two resident primate species (long-tailed macaques and ebony langurs) in Bali, predominantly Hindu, and Lombok, predominantly Muslim. From May to July 2024, we employed a mixed-method approach, including semi-structured interviews with 67 community farmers. We explored how psychological factors (e.g. perceived benefits, importance of primate protection) interacted with lethal vs. non-lethal mitigation strategies via structural equation modelling and logistic regression. We found significant differences in perceptions and mitigation between islands and primate species. Beliefs and cultural practices shaped perceptions: Balinese respondents were more tolerant of crop-foraging primates than respondents on Lombok. Crop damage by macaques was more frequent and severe than that by langurs, leading to more negative attitudes and active deterrence measures towards macaques. The use of lethal measures was only reported in Lombok. Our results indicate that fostering human-primate coexistence in community forests would benefit from emphasizing the perceived benefits of primate presence. Tailored conservation initiatives that respect local beliefs and address community-specific challenges are essential for promoting tolerance towards primates and sustainable crop protection strategies.