open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/47656

Influence of clear-cutting on the chemistry of runoffs in a mixed forest watershed under heavy snowfall, Hokkaido, Japan

英語

2011-10-31

Session 2.1: Biodiversity and Environmental Protection in the North

The global environmental change caused by human activity is supposed to alter the life and the situation of those living in northern region drastically. A couple of subjects are lying to protect our surroundings in the North, the thinning of sea ice due to global warming, the land use change through the development of tourism, the destruction of forest caused by acid deposition and/or commercial logging operation. Hokkaido and Finland have several similarities about natural conditions (cold and snowy climate, abundant boreal forest, the presence of sea ice, deer and reindeer etc.), though Hokkaido locates relatively lower latitude compared with Finland. From this point of view, it is natural that the researchers of both sides join together and discuss those facing environmental problems. The Hokkaido University Forests has the vast area of forests (ca. 70,000ha) in Hokkaido, which ranged from boreal forest to warm temperate forests, and is the largest experimental station in Japanese university system. Many environmental and ecological studies have been conducted in the University Forests. In addition, long term monitoring researches have been launched during last two decades in our forests and produced lots of useful data for global environmental and ecological monitoring system. In this context, the Hokkaido University Forests can contribute the collaborative research and projects through the environmental and ecological fields concerning to boreal forests. Especially, what we consider as an adequate cooperation is about the impact of human activities such as global warming, acid deposition, forest fire, logging operation and so on. Long term monitoring sites are set up to estimate the forest disturbance caused by human impacts in the University Forests. As an example of possible collaborative research, I will focus on the long term field experiment about the influence of logging operation, which includes timber harvesting and the scarification of ground surface, on the elution process of the forest watersheds. To demonstrate the relationship between the forest disturbance and the response of watersheds, a large spatial scale of practical research is introduced in the watersheds. Commercial logging and its influence on the surrounding environment is one of the common subject to Japan and Finland. In order to discuss this subject, it is necessary that the forest vegetation and environmental condition are similar as much as possible between the targeted areas. In this meaning, only Hokkaido can make a comparative research with Finland about this subject in Japan.

会議発表資料

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