Abstract
To investigate the effects of elevation, thermal conditions (MB index), topography and direction of slope on the damage of pine death in Kyoto City, the pine mortalities at 445 stands of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) forest were evaluated by visual diagnosis. The pine mortality decreased at pine stands above 500 m of elevation or lower than 27 of MB index, respectively. Elevation was as accurate as MB index to predict pine mortality. The mortality was lower on mountain ridges than on slopes. Difference in the pine mortality according to slope direction was not clear. An elevation-based hazard map for pine wilt disease was constructed because handling this criterion was easier than MB index. The overall results indicated that as most of pine forests essential for landscape conservation in Kyoto City are located at less than 500 m of elevation, control programs should be carried out exhaustively at this place.
