The survival situation of the coastal forest eight years after a tsunami struck the Sendai plain

Abstract

In this study, we examined the ratio of the number of trees withering and disappearing after the tsunami disaster that struck the coastal forest of Iwanuma-city, Miyagi prefecture, and the factors thereof. We found that 1,754 trees, red and black pine trees, cherry trees, and konara oak were growing. However, 876 red and black pine trees had either withered or disappeared; the natural mortality rate of red pines was seen to be slightly higher than that of black pines. Furthermore, the number of trees was decreasing due to logging because of reconstruction projects and typhoons, as well as inundation.