Nanki-kozagawa - Wakayama Experimental Forest, Hokakido University - Japan

The Wakayama Experimental Forest (approx. 450 ha) was established in 1925 for education and research of warm temperate forests. The mean annual temperature is 15.2℃ (max. 37.8℃, min. -9.5℃), and annual precipitation is frequently over 4,000mm. The elevation ranges from 260 to 840 m. The mountainous areas are rather steep with slopes mostly over 30°. More than 70% of forest area is covered with plantations of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). The remaining area supports natural forests composed of evergreen broad-leaved trees (mainly evergreen Fagaceae and Lauraceae) and deciduous broad-leaved trees (Zelkova serrata, Aesculus turbinate and Mallotus japonicas). Near the mountain ...