Trends and issues of landscape ecological studies on range expansion of bamboo forests in Japan -perspective for sustainable use of bamboo forests-

Abstract

Bamboo forests are distributed across sites with various natural and social properties, although distribution patterns and site properties vary widely with regions and periods studied. Abandoned Bamboo Forests (ABFs) have been invading the adjacent lands since the bamboo industry had declined in 1980s. Bamboo can invade sites with various natural properties such as slope degree, slope position, land-use types and so on, leading that ABFs has increased their area largely. Expansion of ABFs also are affected by human impacts as well as the land-use types neighboring the ABFs. Studies on awareness about the expansion of bamboo forests for local residents showed that the many residents recognized that expanded bamboo forests have been abandoned but had less recognition that many bamboo forests have been expanding. Further, urban and suburban residents had different opinions about the ecosystem services bamboo forests provide. Ecosystem services such as habitats for wildlife and carbon stock have deteriorated in ABFs. To enhance ecosystem functions of ABFs, various techniques could be used such as constructing the new uses for bamboo culm and effective logging methods. In order to use ABFs as part of green infrastructure, establishment of long-term management systems that can be enhance ecosystem services of ABFs are important.