Abstract
Recently, Pinus luchuensis forests on Amami-Oshima Island have been considerably damaged by pine wilt disease. To elucidate the current distribution of P. luchuensis forests is an important step in planning measures for forest conservation and management on the island. Therefore, in February 2022, we first observed the growth condition of P. luchuensis trees and then recorded the distribution of P. luchuensis forests on the island through a moving car. Most P. luchuensis stands were primarily composed of short, cone-shaped trees, whereas tall, umbrella-shaped trees were few. Broad-leaved trees dominated the understory of P. luchuensis stands in which tall trees survived; this was also observed in P. luchuensis stands where standing-dead trees remained. These findings suggest that P. luchuensis forests, previously managed for timber and wood fuel, have been almost replaced by broad-leaved forests due to pine wilt disease and subsequent forest succession on the island.
