Deer foraging pressure remains the biggest challenge

When we began maintenance work in this forest in 2010, deer had already eaten nearly all of their preferred grasses and shrubs (known as palatable species). To protect the few remaining palatable plants, we installed vegetation protection fences and planted additional trees inside the fences where needed.

These included mitsumata plants (Oriental paperbush), Japanese andromeda, redvein maple, epaulette tree, punctata fern, and ribbon fern—plants that normally aren’t eaten by deer. However, in this forest, the redvein maple is routinely eaten, and even the ribbon fern, while not killed, is being nibbled on.

Local hunting associations have been helping with deer control efforts, but the problem is far from solved. That said, with the forest floor receiving more sunlight after thinning, unpalatable plants are now spreading, and for now, soil erosion is under control.

In the cedar forest (left) and cypress forest (right), the ground is now covered with unpalatable plants

To move closer to our vision of a healthy forest, we need broadleaf trees to start growing up between the unpalatable plants. We will continue working toward that goal together with the local community, striving to make it a reality as soon as possible.

Experts involved in this Initiative

Tamotsu Hattori

Emeritus Professor, University of Hyogo

Institute of Rural and Urban Ecology Co., Ltd.