Predicted Hotspot Map Dataset for Endangered Wild Plants in the Republic of Korea

This study applied species distribution models (SDM) to terrestrial plants classified as Endangered Wild Species within the plant taxa, creating a hotspot (species richness) map covering the entire territory of the South Korea amid the biodiversity crisis. Using the random forest algorithm within SDM, we predicted the potential distribution ranges for 69 legally endangered terrestrial plant species. These ranges were then binarized using a threshold and aggregated at grid units to calculate species richness. The results showed that species richness nationwide ranged from 0 to 22 species, with high values observed on Ulleungdo and Jeju Island (Hallasan), the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range National Parks, and the Dadohae Haesang and Hallyeo Haesang National Marine Parks. The average species richness in protected areas (0.51 species) was higher than in unprotected areas (0.28 species), suggesting the conservation effectiveness of protected areas. However, spatial imbalance was confirmed, as some high-richness areas were located outside protected zones, and potential habitats were scarcely predicted in some provinces and metropolitan cities. The SDM-based hotspot map for endangered terrestrial plants constructed in this study can serve as foundational data for setting conservation priority areas, designating and expanding protected areas, selecting restoration sites, and establishing climate change adaptation conservation policies. It can be further enhanced by expanding its application to other taxonomic groups and integrating it with climate and land-use change factors.