The number of artificial plantations where appropriate forest management is not conducted is increasing owing to decreased domestic lumber demand. As a result, such plantations are facing severe forest health and sustainability problems. In addition to their wood production and ecosystem maintenance functions, the carbon fixation function of forests is also receiving attention because it limits global warming. In this study, a yield–density diagram using stem weight was constructed for cedar plantations in Yamagata University forest. Using this diagram, we simulated the effects of different thinning rates on biomass dynamics. The simulation showed that increasing the thinning rate of all forest layers from 20 % to 40 % resulted in an increasing trend of large-diameter trees in the future at all forest ages. In contrast, the total amount of biomass per forest stand, in accordance with the decreasing number of trees at higher thinning rates, was less than that of the current 100-year forest stand. The yield–density diagram that was constructed in this study can be used as a tool for new forest management and biomass evaluations that focus on carbon fixation by forests. To further increase the accuracy of the biomass dynamics simulation, a more accurate understanding of biomass growth is needed.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

Local residents’ attitudes towards wildlife play an important role in wildlife management. Previous studies have shown that bear-inflicted human injuries negatively change residents’ sentiments towards bears. From this perspective, we examined how a successful bear damage control program with community participation had changed residents’ attitudes towards this animal. The results show that the success in the program positively changed residents’ attitudes towards bears.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract