This is the National Nakdong River Biological Resource Center in Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

This is the National Nakdong River Biological Resource Center in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. A species usually refers to a group of organisms that leave offspring through mating in a natural state. There are also organisms that are classified by their appearance or similar genetic characteristics. The number and characteristics of a group of organisms classified by species are called 'species diversity. Species diversity increases when new species are created through speciation, a process of evolution, or species diversity decreases due to extinction, when all of a specific species disappears due to various factors. The number of species on Earth is estimated to be over 100 million, and only about 1.9 million species have been discovered so far, so there are many more species that we do not know about. However, the number of species going extinct since industrialization has been increasing very rapidly, and efforts to preserve biodiversity are urgently needed. Biodiversity refers to the diversity of organisms living in a certain area and their habitats. There are various ecosystems on Earth, such as jungles, grasslands, tidal flats, deserts, oceans, and rivers. In each ecosystem, various organisms adapt to the environment and live. Even the same species have different genetic characteristics, so they can adapt to the environment and leave behind offspring. In other words, in order to understand and preserve the biodiversity of the entire Earth, we must understand diversity in terms of ecosystems, species, and genes. All organisms are made up of cells. Therefore, organisms carry out life activities through all the cells that make up their bodies. Genes contain genetic information that creates and maintains cells, and are passed on to offspring through reproduction. Offspring exhibit different genetic characteristics from their parents by combining the genes of their parents. Genetic diversity refers to the diversity of genetic characteristics within the same species or population. Usually, the larger the population, the higher the genetic diversity because individuals with various genes are included. In the case of species with high genetic diversity, individuals with genes that can adapt well to environmental changes such as diseases or climate change survive and leave behind offspring, so they can avoid extinction. The Korean Peninsula is located in the eastern mid-latitude of the Eurasian continent in the northern hemisphere, and stretches long from north to south, with 64% of its total area being mountainous. The main rivers of the Korean Peninsula, which originate in the subalpine zone in the north and east, flow into the sea along the low mountains and plains in the west and south and the steep slopes in the east. The Korean Peninsula belongs to the temperate climate zone, but due to the geographical characteristics of the Shinji and Samyeon areas connecting Baekdusan and Jirisan, which are formed by the sea, various climate zones such as the warm temperate zone and the subarctic zone appear. Caves are classified into lava caves, limestone caves, and sea caves depending on the cause of their formation. Most caves in the Korean Peninsula are limestone caves formed by the dissolution of limestone in groundwater. The temperature inside the caves is maintained at a constant 14~16°C and humidity of 70~90% throughout the year. Since there is no light, plants cannot survive, and herbivores and large animals have difficulty living there due to the lack of oxygen and food. There are more than 4,200 islands on the Korean Peninsula, of which about 3,719 are uninhabited and more than 60% are in Jeollanam-do. In the case of islands far from the mainland, the proportion of endemic species is high due to the development of unique terrain and climate. Ulleungdo and Jeju Island have the highest proportion of endemic species on the Korean Peninsula, while the island regions of the South Sea are relatively close to the mainland and are very similar to the biota of the mainland. Recently, due to climate change such as global warming, insects and birds that can be seen in the subtropics are frequently observed in the island regions of the South Sea. Endangered wild species refer to species whose population has decreased significantly or are at risk of extinction in the future due to environmental pollution or indiscriminate development. The government enacted the 'Wildlife Protection and Management Act' and, as of 2017, has actively protected 267 species (176 animals, 88 plants, 2 birds, and 1 fungus) by designating them as endangered wild species | or |I. Endangered wild species | Level 1 is a species that is almost extinct due to a decrease in population, and Level 1 is a species that is declining in population and will become extinct in the near future if the threat factor does not disappear or decrease. Wetlands are areas that are always or occasionally covered with water, and it is known that there are about 2,000 of them on the Korean Peninsula. Depending on the location or formation process of the wetlands, they are largely divided into inland wetlands and coastal wetlands. There are also artificial wetlands such as rice paddies and reservoirs created for human needs such as agriculture. Korea has joined the Ramsar Convention and is designating and managing wetland protection areas. #Domestic travel #Travel plans #February travel subsidy event