A natural revegetation process on shallow landslide scars

Abstract

A natural reforestation process on shallow landslide scars were examined in relation to the topsoil development following the landslide disturbance in the Shibi-san research area, Southern part of Kyushu, Japan. Invaded tree plants were distributed ununiformly on the 40 to 60-year-old landslide scars and sporadically on the over 100-year-old ones. The upper-middle layer of trees consists of pioneer, Alnus sieboldiana and Pinus thunbergii on the 40 to 60 year-old landslide scars and Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii and Distylium racemosum on the over 100-year-old ones. The number of tree plants and species reached dynamic equilibrium state around 100 years after landsliding, but the volume of tree trunks was continued to increase after 100 years following landsliding. The topsoil reformation process on the landslide scar was a stage of development around 100 years, being similar to the growth process of tree trunks volume.