UV-B radiation has critical damage on DNA, but plants have several protective and repair mechanisms. However, it is unknown how these mechanisms vary among species. To assess interspecific variations, we studied DNA damage and protective mechanisms in 32 species with different functional groups coexisting in moorlands located at 574 and 1285 m a.s.l. We collected leaves at noon in July and August, and determined cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) as UV damage, photorepair activity (PRA), and concentrations of UV absorbing compounds (UAC) and carotenoids (CAR) as UV defensive compounds. DNA damage and the protective mechanisms considerably varied among species. Two evergreens Ilex crenata and Pinus pumila, and two herbs Faurid crista-galli and Menyanthes trifoliate had highest CPD levels probably because of inefficient protective mechanisms. Three Poaceae species had a consistently higher PRA with lower UAC than other species. Two gymnosperms had lower CAR than other groups. Across all species, there was a negative relationship between PRA and UAC. We conclude that UV-tolerance mechanisms are different among species under a trade-off between photorepair of DNA damage and UV filtering.