The Samarga River basin is a unique ecosystem comprising many rare species of fora and fauna, including Japanese yew, ginseng, Amur tiger, Himalayan bear, Amur mountain goral, Gould's merganser, and Blakiston's fish owl.
Rare plant species listed as endangered found in the Samarga watershed include: Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata Siebold et Zucc.