上名川演習林

Yamagata University Research Forest Guide
Ostrich fern (Mateuccia struthipyeris)
Rose of winter（Camellia japonica var. decumbens）
Survey of a secondary beech forest
Sketch of Beech (Fagus crenata)
Fuki（Patasites japonica）
Snowcat during winter in YURF
Watershed Conservation Laboratory, Yamagata,
Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture
Introduction
The Laboratory of Watershed Preservation of the Yamagata Field Science Center attached to the Faculty
of Agriculture of Yamagata University with the YU Research Forest (YURF) and the Experimental
Research Site for Biodiversity, focuses education and research on building environment-friendly
sustainable forest management that includes forest restoration and conservation.
YURF is located 26 km south of the Faculty of Agriculture and it is characterized by very steep slopes
as well as heavy snowfall in the Asahi Mountains. Almost 80% of the 753 ha of YURF territory is
occupied by natural beech forests. The Laboratory of Watershed Preservation carries long-term
monitoring of water and energy cycles of the interaction of the forest-ecosystem and the heavy snow
environment. Moreover, YURF and the Experimental Farm are located in the same watershed and share
the same geographical and locally typical agriculture and silviculture characteristics. In order to farther
promote joint activities, the Eco-Agriculture Laboratory and the corresponding Department collaborate
and made the land arable in the forest by the slash and burn method to grow Atsumi Turnip. The
application of silviculture and agriculture as a single unit is the teaching material for what is called
Agro-forestry. Moreover, in order to give back to the community the results of Education and Research,
we conduct events that target the general public. The Experimental Research Site of Biodiversity is
located in Tsuruoka and it is used for students’ experiments and nursery practices.
History
Kaminagawa YURF
May 1949
As part of the establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture in Yamagata University,
411 m2 of state owned forest and 12 m2 of constructed building is borrowed from
the Prefecture from a total of 753.05ha
All the forest is received from Yamagata Prefecture
New buildings were made in an area of 79 m2 for storing machinery and a room for
drying clothes.
Construction of a building in a 709.39 m2 for the student’s dormitory.
As part of the formation of Yamagata Field Science Center, the name was changed
to Watershed Preservation Laboratory (Kaminagawa YURF).
Remodeling of the administration building and the student’s rooms.
April 1953
November 1967
October 1982
July 2006
November 2007
Experimental Research Site for Biodiversity Conservation
April 1953
March 1970
March 1981
October 1982
Part of the student’s dormitory area was taken to establish a nursery.
Building for compost of 23 m2.
Construction of a 137.60 m2 for administration.
The name for the Wakabamachi nursery is changed into the Experimental
research site for biodiversity conservation.
Departments
Department
Watershed Preservation Lab.
KaminagawaYURF
Experimental Research Site
for Biodiversity Conservation
Support team
Address
〒997－8555 Tsuruoka, Wakabamachi 1-23
〒997－0405Tsuruoka, Kaminagawa Azagasadagawa
〒997－8555 Tsuruoka, Wakabamachi 12-5
〒997－0369 Tsuruoka, Ooazatakasakakomachi 5－3
Telephone
0235-28-2961
0235-53-2755
0235-24-4060
0235-24-2278
Personnel
Section
Watershed Preservation Lab.
Kaminagawa YURF
Support team
Faculty
1
Office
Technician
3
2
Total
1
3
2
Location
The Kaminagawa YURF is located at the Echigo Range at the northern end of the Asahi Mountains
and occupies a part of the Wasada River watershed tributary of the Bonji River. The shape of the
YURF has almost a rectangular shape. It has an extension from north to south of approximately 2.1
km and an extension east to west of approximately 3.5 km, with a total perimeter of 13.2 km and a
total area of 753 ha. YURF is crossed almost exactly at the middle by the Wasada River. On the
southern border YURF is in contact with the National forest under the Administration of the
Japanese Forest Agency and on the North, West and East side it is surrounded by Tsuruoka city
owned forest. The building for the administration and the students’ dormitory is located almost in
the central point of the YURF. It is 26 km away south of the Faculty of Agriculture or 45 minutes by
car. On the other hand, the Experimental Research site for Biodiversity Conservation is 10 minutes
walk from the Faculty of Agriculture and has an area of approximately 0.64 ha.
Climate
YURF is located in northeastern Japan on the Japan Sea side and has mountainous climatic
characteristics with an average annual air temperature of 13.4℃, annual precipitation of about 2,500mm
and annual average maximum snow depth of approximately 4.0 m.
Geographical features
The bedrock of YURF is amphibolites Tertiary granite, mainly from pyroxene andesite. A glay soil layer
as well as can be seen in some of the terrain at the plateau at around 800m.a.s.l. The altitude ranges
between 200 to 840 m in a basically mountainous area with very steep slopes of almost 30 degree. Most
of the forest at YURF distribute in these slopes.
Trees and vegetation
YURF is covered extensively by beech forests, which is representative of the cold temperate area and
mixed-forests of Quercus 、 Japanese big-leaf Magnolia 、 Japanese maple 、 Korean whitebeam and
understory vegetation of Camellia Japonica、Himeaoki、Ezoyuzuriha、Haiinugaya that are typical of the
Japan Sea Coast. One part of the broadleaf forests was replaced by needle-leaf species such as Cedar,
Cypress, Red pine and Larch. At an altitude of about 800 m.a.s.l. in the Yachibaba bogs there are typical
plants such as Asian Skunk Cabbage, Numagaya, Yachizgaran, Round-leaved sundew、Iwashoubu、
Onishiogas, etc.
Beech in Spring
Mizubashi at the Yachibaba bog
Education
Field Science Education in YURF is attached to the Faculty of Agriculture mainly for undergraduate and
graduate students’s research but actually targets students from all the Faculties of the Universities. The
main subjects taught at YURF are:
●Techniques of Field Sciences ●Yamagata Field Science II ●Freshmen Summer Seminar ●Approach
to the Science of Environmental Biology ●Field Science Seminar III ●Watershed Preservation Course
(Joint Faculties) ●Watershed Preservation Seminar ●Bio-environment Experimental Seminar ●Snow in
Mountains Field Seminar （ Joint Faculties ）●Forest Snow and Ice Science ●Earth Environmental
Experimental Seminar ●Natural Environment Research Experimental Seminar ●River Environment
Research Experimental Seminar ●Forest Ecology Experimental Seminar I ●Forest Survey Field
Seminar●Forest Resources Use Experimental Seminar ●Forest Ecology Experimental Seminar II.
Research
We use the forest to write undergraduate, master and doctor students research thesis and for Education
and Research by Professors of Yamagata University and other Universities as joint researches. The main
topics of research are:
●Interaction of forest dynamics and snow behavior.
●Study on transpiration from Cedar and larch trees.
●Change of leaves in poor crop years and the following beech mast year.
●Effects of seed weight and germination time on beech growth and survival.
●Radiation level and the relationship between the forest canopy closure and density regulation in a
secondary beech forest
●The effect of acid rain and acid snow on the forest.
●Variability of aquatic insect in Wasada River.
●Research about grazing in the forest.
●Research about slash and burn practices.
●Ecological research on tree root systems.
●Conservation study of the Yachi bog.
●Development of Agro-forestry technology for Satoyama practices
Enjoying and learning the Science of snow
（Yamagata Field Science II）
Measuring snow depth cross-section
(Forest Snow Field Seminar)
Wood bended by snow and used for furniture
（Watershed Preservation Field Seminar）
Yachida Giant Trees Survey
(Water Shed Preservation Excursion)
Community participation
We implement a program in which school children and the community in general experience the
forest and learn about its environment in the YURF
Forest School-Activities during the four season
Forest school members and forest master craftsmen
Agro-forestry
Traditional slash and burnt practices in Shonai region combine forestry, agriculture, grazing and
husbandry in what is called Agro-forestry.
① Fire is set in an old cedar forest clear-cut
③Cultivated turnip with no fertilizer or pesticide
②Turnip seedling right after the fire
④Grazing in Cedar forests
Four seasons at YURF
Snow accumulation
Planting Japanese cedar
Setting fire for research
Beech forest in summer
Snow removal from the building roof
Cutting weed at the cedar plantation
One day after burning
Yachihaba bogs in autumn
Activities at the YURF
Making wood figures with the chainsaw
Grazing in the forest
Making a biotope
Trying to reach the YURF in winter
Making firewood
Planting mushrooms in beech stems
Making an artificial pond
The snowcat gives better results
Map of roads in YURF
北
Community-owned forest
Entrance
Mountain God
Daitokusawa road
Ashisawa road
Shakuhira bridge
Larch road
Yachihaba bogs
Building
State-owned forest
Distribution of tree species
Japanese Cedar
Oak
Deciduous
Forest
Beech
Beech