A Comparison of a Beech (Fagus crenata Blume) Forest in the Amagi Mountains between the End of the Edo Period and the Present

Abstract

Two documents written in 1866 describe the parameters of beech trees in the western part of Amagi Mountains, Japan. Assuming that the size composition of beech indicated in these documents is representative of the status of beech forest at that time, I compared this with the status of the present-day beech forests. ‘Medoori’ (the perimeter of trunk at eye height) and ‘Nagasa’ (the trunk length that can be used for timber) of 445 beech trees had been recorded. The former ranged between 38.6 to 115.8 cm, whereas the latter ranged from.8 to 6.4 m. The range of beech diameters recorded is within that of DBH in present-day beech forests. The records also indicate that beech trees ranged in size from medium- to large-diameter trees. On the basis of the diameter distribution, it is clear that large-diameter individuals were predominant in approximately half of the surveyed sites. The height to the first main branch was lower than that of trees in the present-day forests, and is assumed to be attributable to the relatively low density of trees. The predominance of large-diameter trees and the low density of trees are thus considered to be indicative of the continuous logging of trees for charcoal production. Current size structure of beech tree is considered to be a consequence of the continuous growth of saplings after the late Edo period, which is believed to indicate that the past use of trees may have contributed to the establishment of beech seedlings and the growth of saplings.