Nature conservation plan and afforestation project for Mt. Oiwa
Nature Conservation and Afforestation
From 2019 onward, with the support of Tochigi Prefecture and Ashikaga City, we plan to plant trees on the west slope of Oiwasan West Park. Targeted Forest The previous afforestation and logging plan involved planting cedar and cypress trees all together. In this afforestation plan, instead of planting a single coniferous tree all at once, we plan to conduct afforestation with the goal of creating "mixed forests," which is the forestry style practiced in Germany and other countries. In Japan, some efforts have been made in Akita Prefecture and other areas, but these efforts are said to be very limited. In planting, we will also make use of native species that grow naturally in the forests, aiming to create forests and mountain forests that are home to a diversity of plants.
We will report progress on this website in due course.
History
During the reign of the 92nd abbot, he participated in a suburban afforestation project in Tochigi Prefecture, planting cedar and cypress trees in the mountain forests concerned.
Almost 50 years later, in 2018, Tochigi Prefecture took the lead in clear-cutting the forest in question.
The forest is not designated as a landslide hazard area, and Tochigi Prefecture has judged that the risk of landslides after clear-cutting is low.
Tree-Planting Program
We plan to plant trees on the west slope of Mt. Oiwa West Park in 2019 and beyond.
The tree planting will be supported by Tochigi Prefecture and Ashikaga City.
In the previous afforestation and logging plan, cedar and cypress were planted all over the area.
In this afforestation plan, instead of planting a single coniferous tree all at once, we plan to conduct afforestation with the goal of creating "mixed forests," which is the forestry style practiced in Germany and other countries. In Japan, some efforts have been made in Akita Prefecture and other areas, but these efforts are said to be very limited.
In planting trees, we will also make use of native species that grow naturally, aiming to create forests and mountain forests that are home to a diversity of plants.
What kind of forest should we aim for?
In the previous afforestation and logging plan, cedar and cypress were planted all over the area.
In this afforestation plan, instead of planting a single coniferous tree all at once, we plan to conduct afforestation with the goal of creating "mixed forests," which is the forestry style practiced in Germany and other countries. In Japan, some efforts have been made in Akita Prefecture and other areas, but these efforts are said to be very limited.
In planting trees, we will also make use of native species that grow naturally, aiming to create forests and mountain forests that are home to a diversity of plants.
Oiwasan is currently engaged in a clear-cutting and reforestation project on the west side of the main-temple and the west park side of the mountain. Here we describe the history of the project up to the present and our plans for the future.