Baseline Study on Species Occurrence and Quantitative Criteria for Protected Wetland Areas

This study analyzed species occurrences in 25 protected wetland areas (PWAs) in Korea based on detailed monitoring data collected between 2006 and 2024. A total of 6,539 species were recorded, comprising 2,081 vascular plants, 38 amphibians and reptiles, 152 fish, 3,705 terrestrial insects, 435 benthic macroinvertebrates, 266 birds, and 40 mammals. The species richness of individual wetlands ranged from 595 species to 1,486 species. In addition, 95 endangered species were confirmed across 24 PWAs, including 78 class I and 17 class II species under the Korean Wildlife Protection Act, with an average of seven species per site. Notably, the Nakdong River Estuary and the Han River Estuary each supported more than 15 endangered species, which highlights their high conservation value. These findings demonstrate that PWAs harbor substantial biodiversity and serve as critical habitats for endangered species. The results provide essential quantitative baseline data that can support future designation of new PWAs and inform conservation planning and prioritization.