This paper aims to analyze 10 cases of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in REDD+ using these Project Design Documents, to remedy local communities based on two key factors observed in past development and conservation projects: (1) whether local community organizations are involved in designing or managing the mechanisms established by project proponents, and (2) whether community input is reflected in the selection of a mediator trusted by communities to facilitate the resolution process where dispute becomes serious. The results showed that there were no cases satisfying both of the factors. However, where the first factor is satisfied, the community organizations which are involved are generally existing community decision making bodies and project proponents or implementing partners are mostly community organizations. In this case, a part of the second factor is mostly satisfied. On the other hand, where the first factor is not satisfied, the community is only a receiver of the results of the project, and generally only private companies are the project proponents. In addition, in most cases the details of how community input is reflected in mediator selection are not public.

Roles of bryophyte communities in germination and early growth of tree species were studied in a subalpine forest dominated by deciduous broad-leaved tree species in central Japan where logging was conducted approximately 60 years ago. Tree to subtree layers of the investigated stand were dominated by Betula ermanii and these trees produced many seeds. However, Abies veitchii and Abiesmariesii occupied the space under tree layers, implying that the B. ermanii-dominated forest was in a transition toward an evergreen coniferous forest dominated by Abies species. Analysis of undergrowth on the ground and fallen logs indicated that plant communities were classified into four types, namely, Cacalia adenostyloides type and Oxalis acetosella type on the ground, and Scapania bolanderi type and Pleurozium schreberi type on fallen logs. Many seedlings and saplings occurred in bryophyte communities of two types on fallen logs, and Abies species had the highest density in P. schreberi type. Height and age of Abies seedlings and saplings were higher in communities of P. schreberi type than in S. bolanderi type. We conducted field experiments on seed-retention effects of two bryophyte cover types (S. bolanderi and P. schreberi) and no cover on logs and on the survival rate of current-year A. veitchii seedlings until autumn in the four undergrowth types. These results suggest that bryophyte communities on a log can function not only as a seed trap but also as a seedling bed, and therefore, they have a driving role in forest succession.

Vehicular traffic on skid trails after forest thinning causes compaction, leading to increased soil penetration resistance. In this study, we investigated the recovery of soil penetration resistance after thinning in a planted Todo fir forest. The soil penetration resistance profile of upper soil (to a depth of 0.6 m) was measured on a skid trail before thinning (2008), immediately after thinning (2008), and 5 and 6 years after thinning (2013 and 2014, respectively). The penetration resistance profile revealed that a hard soil layer formed down to a depth of 0.2 m immediately after thinning; however, soil penetration resistance and the soil compaction index decreased 6 years after thinning. Thus, our results indicate that compaction effects on skid trails disappear 5 or 6 years after the event. A “soil compaction index” (SCI) was created to evaluate the degree of soil compaction. SCI can indicate the degree of soil compaction as one numerical value.

Mass mortality of oak by Japanese oak wilt disease is caused by an ambrosia beetle vector, Platypus quercivorus. In northern Gunma Prefecture, a geographically isolated mass mortality occurred in Minakami in 2010 for the first time. We hypothesized three origins of the beetle population causing the isolated mass mortality: (1) a population recently migrated naturally or artificially from near or neighboring prefectures, which might exhibit a low genetic diversity due to founder effect; (2) a recently artificially migrated population from a distant area, which might have genetically different lineages and a low genetic diversity due to founder effect; and (3) an indigenous population, which exhibits a relatively high genetic diversity. We examined these hypotheses using variations of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and nuclear microsatellite (nSSR) for Gunma and six other neighboring or nearby prefecture populations. Genetic structures of rDNA and nSSR showed that the Gunma population belonged to a northeastern Japanese Sea of Japan-side lineage, as had neighboring prefecture populations, indicating that the Gunma population did not recently migrate from a distant area with different lineages through human activity. Genetic diversity of mtDNA and nSSR indicated that the Gunma population exhibited a moderate genetic diversity, similar to the other populations. Therefore, we concluded that the Gunma population might have originated from an indigenous population.

Because of the promotion of cyclic use or extermination of unmanaged bamboo forests, we conducted a basic study on long-term leaf fall variation and biological reactions to harvest cutting. We surveyed the variation in leaf fall and recruitment of culms at both 6 m wide strip-cutting site and one uncut site in a moso bamboo forest over 10 years. We also measured leaf area index (LAI) at both sites. During long-term observations, leaf fall was highest from May to June, demonstrating that yearly and seasonal leaf fall patterns were biannual. LAIs and leaf fall showed that leaf biomass could recover within 4 years after strip-cutting. Culm densities recovered to only 47.4％ of that of the uncut site 10 years after cutting. Thus, a 10-year rotation would be too short for use with bamboo resources, whereas a short rotation cutting of less than 4 years would be necessary for the extermination of bamboo forests.