Restoration of Alpine Vegetation on the Denuded Area along the Mountain Trails:

As a Case of Serpentine Area in Happo-one Ridge, Northern Japanese Alps

Abstract

Happo-one Ridge is located in the northern part of Japanese Alps and belongs to the Chubu-sangaku National Park. This ridge is composed by serpentinized rocks and soils, and it has special flora and vegetations. This ridge is very popular with trekkers and has been disturbed by human impacts such as much trampling. The erosion resulted in bare ground widely spread in the area and the vegetation will not recover naturally. The artificial restoration works have started since 1998 after Nagano Winter Olympic Games under the promise of the restoration works in nature. The restoration of devastated areas along the mountain trails was carried out from lower altitude (1,750m in alt.) and reached the Happo-ike Pond (2,000m in alt.). The jute net which is able to rot off was covered in the devastated areas. The restoration of vegetation was rather difficult in the serpentine area though four years later.