Abstract
Tottori sand dunes is protected as the natural monument and the national park, and has accepted many tourists at present. Once it had a plan to establish coastal forest all around the sand dunes at just after World War II and today's state has been implemented after many twists and turns. In this research, I studied vegetation change of Tottori sand dunes after WWII based on the report of research conducted in the past, an old edition topographical map, past air photographs, and field investigation. The area of Tottori sand dunes which remains at present constituted about 12% of the area which existed 100 years ago. The basic vegetation structure in Tottori sand dunes has maintained during the last 40 years which dominated by Carex kobomugi and Ischaemum anthephoroides. Vegetation arrangement of the dunes is A. coastal vegetation zone, B. non-vegetation zone, C. hollow vegetation zone, and D. inland vegetation zone. However, the non-coastal plants increased in the sand dunes, and it has been necessary to suppress the growth of these plants. The vegetation of Tottori sand dunes has been significantly affected by the changes in the local social structure through afforestation and vegetation management. It is necessary to consider the state of future Tottori sand dunes.
