Using Traditional Ecological Knowledge to Research the Plants of Jeju Coastal Sand Dunes, Republic of Korea

Lee, I. W., and Kim, K. D., 2024. Using traditional ecological knowledge to research the plants of Jeju coastal sand dunes, Republic of Korea. In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 956-960. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The vegetation that makes up the ecosystem of coastal dunes is currently being decimated and disappearing due to many development pressures. As Korea sand dune ecosystem shows the same pattern, there is an urgent need for research on the current state of coastal dune vegetation and traditional ecological knowledge that uses it. The vegetation survey at study sites were conducted in Jeju coastal dunes on May to September 2022, when the vegetation is clearly visible. At the survey site, the dune area was identified at the beginning and the plant species were recorded until no more new species appeared. Vegetation survey in the field was performed by quadrat establishment and is conducted using Braun-Blanquet method. To conduct ethnobotanical study that grow wild in Jeju coastal dunes or are traded in nearby traditional markets, we collected and analyzed traditional ecological knowledge information on vascular plants that live in Jeju coastal dunes and are traded in traditional markets. A total of 288 species appeared, and the most common species were Vitex rotundifolia and Calystegia soldanella. As a result, the ethnobotanical plants investigated investigated in Jeju coastal dunes consisted of 33 families and 55 taxa(Asteraceae(16.4%), Poaceae(9.1%), Cruciferae(5.5%), Rosaceae(5.5%), and Leguminosae(5.5%)). The ethnobotanical plants from Jeju coastal dunes were most widely used for oriental medicine and treatment, and leaves were the most used organ. The ethnobotanical plants traded at the traditional market near Jeju coastal dune consists of 102 species in 49 families and 94 genera(Asteraceae(12.75%), Fabaceae(8.82%), Rosaceae(7.82%)). All ethnobotanical plants traded in traditional markets were most often used for oriental medicine and treatment, and leaves were used most often in the traditional market near Jeju coastal dune. Finally, we proposed a plan to preserve the dune ecosystem through the evaluation of the vegetation status and traditional ecological use of the dune ecosystem.