Species for Tree Saps in Mt. Sobaek Area and Its Sap Resources

소백산지역의 수액채취수종의 분포 및 수액채취량

Lately public interest in tree saps of maple and birch trees has been increased for sap drink as a natural medical beverage. To ensure tree sap drink for commercial production, species which are available in resources, their ecological regeneration characteristics in the natural forest stand, and tree sap resources should be investigated. Species for the collecting tree saps and their distribution were surveyed in the areas of Mt.Sobaek, Tanyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Mt.Sobaek area was selected to the proper place to survey as the feasible area for tapping tree saps for the natural beverage. Feasible tree species of this area are Betula costata, Betula schmidtii, Comus controversa, Acer mono, and Acer pseudosieboldianum based on the estimated tree sap amounts. Average and maximum species diversities of surveyed area were 4.2 and 5.39, respectively. Its evenness 0.78 referred that there are actively progressing ecological regeneration among diverse tree species. Tree saps are mainly harvested at the areas of upper and lower Wonmanteo. In terms of species, the most high sap amounts were from birch sap, next Comus controversa, the 3rd Acer mono. Many measures were suggested ecologically and technically, for commercial or practical production of tree sap drinks, though Mt.Sobaek area was evaluated as improper place because of geographical and transportational limitation.