Phytosociological studies for conservation planning in natural park (I)

Grade of vegetation naturalness and conservation planning

Abstract

In the conservation planning of natural parks, protection of vegetation is the most significant point.
Consequently, conservation plan should be made basically under phytosociological investigations.
The purpose of this paper is to conserve vegetation in the preservation planning at Takao quasi national park.
The results of vegetation survey are as follows
As an actual vegetation, 7 communities are recognized. Those are Cephalotaxus harringtonia-Abies firma community, Abies firma-Fagus japonica community, Cornus controversa-Zelkova serrata community, Quercus myrsinaefolia-Quercus serrata commnnity, Cornus controversa-Quercus serrata Community, Hydrangea involucrata-Euptelea polyandra community, Houttuynia cordata-Cryptomeria japonica community, weed community on cultivated land, cut over area and non-vegetation area.
As the result of potential natural vegetation survey, following communities were recognized. Illicio-Abietum firmae, Acero-Zelkovetum, Hydrangea involucrata-Euptelea polyandrae
Ass, Quercetum myrsinaefoliae subassociation of Abies firma and Quercetum myrsinaefoliae subassociation of Zelkova serrata.
The grade of vegetation naturalness was divided into five degrees comparing the actual vegetation with the pontential natural vegetation.
We intended to make zoning plan for protection of vegetation with a special attention to the grade of vegetation naturalness and we discussed the necessity of the improvement of existing conservation plan. Conservation plan was proposed as Fig. 5.