Action research of management for herbaceous mountain trail of bamboo grass in piedmont and forest zone 　--a case study of mowing in north part of Hakusan national park--

Abstract

Studies of mountain trail management have focused on protection against overuse especially in high mountain range and high moor. On the other hand, little attention has been given to maintenance for mountain trail in piedmont and forest zone where are dominated by bamboo and the grass. The issue of these zone is risk of disappearance of mountain trail thanks to underuse by administrator and user (trekker and hiker). Developing counterplot against the bamboo grass covering over mountain trail needs to be examined in detail for sustaining the trail. This paper describes the counterplot clearly against the risk of the disappearance through 14 years of action-research in Hakusan National park in Japan. It was found from the result that just changing the timing and width of trail in mowing the grass enables transition from bamboo to the other native breeds. This way does not require any additional resources and/or special equipment, also gives the trail more appeal and less work. Therefore, it implies general versatility for other national park distressed about underuse of mountain trail.