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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Nobuhiro Akashi, Principal Investigator, Forest Research Department, Forestry Research Institute, Forest Protection Division, Hokkaido Research Organization

Can biodiversity and logging coexist in managed forests? Experimentation with selective cutting and suggested methods for widespread adoption

Research grant

Project Description

Reducing logging allows for preservation of biodiversity and promotes forest health, but also incurs a negative impact on production. In order to look for a solution to this problem, we are conducting the world's first proof of concept experiment on selective cutting in a managed forest, sparing select trees from felling as a method of promoting forest health. We expand on the trade-offs between biodiversity and economic losses as a result of the selective cutting method and propose a plan to maintain both forest health and function and logging activities.

Grant year
FY2012 Research Grants
Grant term
3 years
April 2013 - March 2016
Grant amount
14,634,000 yen
Activity region
Ashibetsu/Fukagawa/Akabira, Hokkaido, Japan
Measuring the area of the forest floor prior to conducting research activities

Overview of the Organization

Nobuhiro Akashi, Principal Investigator, Forest Research Department, Forestry Research Institute, Forest Protection Division
Representative
Nobuhiro Akashi, Principal Investigator, Forest Research Department, Forestry Research Institute, Forest Protection Division
Profile
Specialist field
Forestry, Ecology
Affiliated academic societies
The Japan Forest Society, The Ecology Society of Japan, The Mammal Society of Japan
Background
In March 1996, leaves Kyoto University Graduate School Faculty of Science doctoral program having completed the course term. In April of 1996 joined the Hokkaido Research Organization Forestry Research Department, Forestry Research Institute as research personnel. Completed a PhD in Physics in March 1998. In April 2005, became Manager of Animals at the Hokkaido Research Organization Forestry Research Department, and assumed current position in 2014.
WEB site
http://www.hro.or.jp/
Collaborating researchers
Yamaura Yuichi, Assistant Professor, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University/Ozaki Kenichi, Woodland Bioecology Group, Hokkaido Research Centre, Independent administrative corporation Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute/ Sayama Katsuhoko, Chief Researcher, Woodland Bioecology Group, Hokkaido Research Centre, Independent administrative corporation Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute/Tsushima Toshiyuki, Hokkaido branch manager, Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Research Department, Forestry Research Institute/ Uno Akira and Oono Yasuyuki, Forest Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Protection, Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Research Department, Forestry Research Institute/Nagasaka Akiko and Nagasaka Yu, Forest Environment Division, Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Research Department, Forestry Research Institute/ Tsuda Takaaki, Conservation of Forest Resources Department, Forestry Research Institute
Research record
Research to assess biodiversity and policy in regards to Hokkaido deer in managed forest areas of Hokkaido's woodland.
Recent publications
  • (1) Akashi N (2009) Simulation of the effects of deer browsing on forest dynamics. Ecological Research 24: 247-255.
  • (2) Akashi Nobuhiro (2011) Evaluating forest functionality. Edited by Boreal Forest Research, Hokkaido's Forests. 129-132. The Hokkaido Shimbun Press.
  • (3) Akashi N, Unno A, Terazawa K (2011) Effects of deer abundance on broad-leaf tree seedling establishment in the understory of Abies sachalinensis plantations. Journal of Forest Research 16: 500-508.
  • (4) Toshihiro Akashi, Kazuhiro Nankano, Yoshio Kuamoto, Shigeo Iida (2013) Seed dispersion in Central Hokkaido's artificial forests adjacent to broad leaf forests, The Ecological Society of Japan. 63: 211-218.
  • (5) Nobuhiro Akashi, Masato Fujita, Osamu Watanabe, Hiroyuki Uno, Hiroshi Ogihara (2013) Using a simple check sheet to assess environmental impact of Hokkaido deer on the natural forest. Journal of the Japanese Forest Society. 95:259-266.