Unveiling tree species diversity and ecological similarity networks: Insights from National Forest Inventory South Korea

Mapping tree species diversity and networks enhances the understanding of ecological dynamics and supports effective biodiversity conservation and forest management. In this study, we investigated tree species distribution, richness, beta diversity and ecological centers were analyzed using NFI-7 data surveyed between 2016 to 2020 in South Korea. The coexistence species networks were analyzed using the Jaccard similarity index and ecological hub locations were examined corresponding to NFI grid centers and Korean administrative boundaries. We observed the heterogeneity in tree species distribution. Species Korean red pine ( Pinus densiflora ) dominated (22.49%) the Korean forest and Korean mountain cherry ( Prunus maximowiczii Rupr ) observed as the highly spatially autocorrelated (Moran’s I = 0.327; p < 0.001). Based on the degree of centrality of Jaccard similarity networks, grid (128.005 34.823) had 21 species, Sannae-myeon (87 species), Jeju-si (133 species), and Gyeongsangnam-do (170 species) were observed as the most connected zones compared within NFI grids, sub municipal, municipal, and provincial boundaries, respectively. Our approaches and results provide ecological information about tree species richness, diversity, and network-based priority zones to support biodiversity monitoring, ecological assessments, and sustainable environment management. • Analyzed tree species ricsssshness, beta diversity, spatial distribution and ecological hubs. • Constructed species coexistence networks to identify ecologically connected species and priority hubs • Forests with greater than seven tree species show stronger stability (degree centrality > 0.91) in South Korea. • Findings inform biodiversity monitoring, conservation planning, and sustainable forest management.