Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of past charcoal production, a major traditional use of forest before the fuel revolution in the late 1950’s, on vegetation landscape development in Japanese mountain areas. The investigation conducted near Mt. Izumigatake (1172 m), belonging to the Funagata Volcanic Group in northeast Japan, suggests that many abandoned charcoal kilns, which were probably used during the Meiji Period to the early Showa Period, remain at up to a 790 m elevation. Secondary forests or afforested area cover is present around these kilns. Forests in the vicinity of the kilns are characterized by the presence of mostly pioneer/intolerant species. These facts suggest that forest clearance for charcoal production was widespread before 1940’s around Mt. Izumigatake. After the decline of charcoal production, secondary
succession (or plantation) formed the basis of the present forest landscape. Considering the effects of past charcoal production is important, in some mountain areas of Japan, for understanding vegetation landscape development.
