Uryu Experimental Forest - North Hokkaido Experimental Forests - Japan

The Uryu Experimental Forest (ca. 25,000ha) was established in 1901. The forest is located in the basin of the Uryu River, a branch of the Ishikari River, and it surrounds Lake Syumarinai, the largest artificial lake in Japan. The climate is characterized by cold temperature (-35 degrees C) and heavy snowfall (200 cm depth or more) in winter. The northern part of the forest is largely dominated by mixed stands of conifer and broadleaved tree species, including pure stands of Quercus crispula, wetland stands of Picea glehnii, and large riparian forests. In the southern part, Picea glehnii stands on serpentine soil are common as well as second-growth broadleaved stands established following large artificial disturbances. The major ...