Fauna
Large mammals such as tigers, bears, and lynx were once abundant throughout the Korean peninsula. However, many have disappeared due to human settlement, loss of forest habitat and over-hunting. The Siberian tiger has been hardly sighted in Republic of Korea. Bears and wildcats can still be found in the more remote areas, such as Jiri-san and Seorak-san.
Republic of Korea also has several indigenous species of deer, including the roe deer and the Siberian musk deer. Wild boars have been growing more common in recent years, thanks to reduced hunting pressure. One of the most interesting things about the Korean environment is the demilitarized zone(DMZ), a strip of land bordering between two Koreas. It has been untouched since 1953 so it has become a haven for wildlife, particularly migrating birds.
Flora
| Forest zone | North latitude | Annual mean temperature | Forest cover type and tree species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm temperate forest | Below 35° | Above 14℃ | broad-leaved deciduous forests, conifer and deciduous mixed forests, and pine forests : evergreen broad-leaved trees, Camellia japonica, etc. |
| Cool temperate forest | Between 35~43° except for alpine regions | 5-14℃ | mostly pine forests but a few broad-leaved deciduous forests: deciduous broad-leaved trees, oak trees, pine trees, bamboos, etc. |
| Sub-boreal forest | Uplands and alpine regions | Below 5℃ | mixed forests : spruce trees, Korean pines, etc. |