In 1979, a significant portion of the ecoregion was designated the Changbaishan Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The region is surrounded by the lower terrain of the Manchurian mixed forests ecoregion, but is centered on the volcanic crater of Paektu Mountain.

From the lower altitudes, deciduous trees mixed with conifers characterize the forest up to about the 1,100 meter level.

[1] The mixed forests feature Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis), Manchurian fir (Abies holophylla), Manchuran lime (Tilia), and Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica).

The higher dark conifer forest features Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis), Khingan fir (Abies nephrolepis), and Olgan larch (Larix olgensis).