The follow-up of my post on August 23rd. Early August, I found a Quercus serrata affected by Japanese oak wilt in Niiharu Citizen Forest 新治市民の森. I reported it to the seniors of Lovers of Niiharu organization 新治市民の森愛護会, and the City Office. They checked the situation nearby and searched any other tree that was also infected by the disease … Sadly there was another, a very formidable tree far larger and taller than the one I’ve found. The first one I noticed was right next to a very popular road for Niiharu visitors. If that one dies and starts crumbling, as often the case of victims of the disease, it poses VERY high risk of fatal accidents. The second tree we identified as contracted individual is in the middle of the forest away from the trekking route. So, the immediate measure the City and the Lovers organization have chosen is “Cut the one on roadside. Pls give us more time to think what to do with the next.”
 |
| The latest
photo of a tree affected by Japanese oak wilt that I found early August. It seems to me the wilted branches are going up to the tree crown. |
 |
| On the
foot of the above tree, the frass created by Platypus quercivorus was increasing. Oh my … |
“Look. Treating Japanese oak wilt is difficult. Say, we cut that big one surrounded by another large trees.” “Thank God, they are not oaks!” “We have to carry out all the trunks and boughs from there without spreading the Raffaelea quercivora. If we left logs in situ, that becomes home for more Platypus quercivorus, right?” “Yes. The remnant of the tree can be a cradle for the bugs with the virus and the disease will spread more.” “Now, how can we take out the logs of 80cm or so diameter with 20 or 30m long?” “Heavy machinery cannot enter unless we destroy the forest.” “………..” “Above all where is money to do that?” “Good point.” “Moreover, there is no guarantee only those two are affected in Niiharu Forest.” “Indeed.” “Do we do a research of the entire Forest?” “Some landlords do not allow us to enter their property.” “Yeah. If a large tree is contracted the infection, whose roots reach to the lands of different owners, what to do with it?” “We need permits from all the proprietors to treat the issue.” “Dear, dear …”
 |
| Another
one found with the disease. It really has an impressive shape, but, dying … |
 |
| The lower trunk of the above tree |
The seniors of Lovers organization are a sort of sanguine. Niiharu Forest is not on a public land alone. It’s a combination of lands owned by the city, the prefecture, the national government, religious entities, educational or business institutions, and the private households. The number of owners regarding 70ha of Niiharu is roughly 90. It’s extraordinary we can call the place as “Citizen Forest” where Lovers organization can engage in the maintenance together with the City. Though, when this kind of issue happens, the miracle could end. “So, the eventual conclusion will be just like the way we took for pine wilt disease.” “Yeah … we’re gonna let the forest to endure by itself.” “…”
 |
| Niiharu
Forest is still OK as of August 31st. Can we keep this green for how long? |
As some of you may know, when Dutch elm disease was first recognized as rampant, people spread DDT et al in a vast area of forests to kill the vector insects that were many species. Entire fauna in food chain became casualties, and masterpiece “Silent Spring (1962)” by Rachel Carson was born. With this background, although Japanese government institutionalized the usage of insecticides for pine wilt disease in 1977, aggressive chemical treatment against the infection has not been taken. It’s like we humans are crouching low to wait for very strong storm to go away. Many formidable pine trees have been dead in Japan. Researchers are busy finding resistant pine DNA to replant the affected area. The struggle is going on for decades now. Japanese Oak Wilt was first recognized serious in the 1990s. History-wise, it’s still a young ailment for Japanese Forest, compared with that for pines or elms. And this time, the same approach would be taken. We will just sit and see the green oak forest of Niiharu to die in brown, hoping to replant some other resistant species afterword. “But what else can we do?” “*Sigh* ...”
To begin with, our neglect for Satoyama forest is the reason why we have so many “suitable” big oaks for Platypus quercivorus to nest and multiply. If we have coppiced the Quercus serrata and Quercus acutissima every 10-15 years for daily use, as our ancestors did until some 70 years ago, there would have been a very limited supply for the insects to find home, and hence no fear for pandemic in the forest. During the 1960s, we abandoned such lifestyle and opted for the convenience of petrol energy. Oaks are now inviting big trees for Japanese oak wilt. Our browning forest due to the disease is a consequence of our way of doing. With forest we have to wait for decades to know what the result would be of our action. I’m sad our beloved Niiharu Forest covered with oaks may be all desiccated brown even during high summer. It could happen in a couple of years, just like for Koajiro Forest 小網代の森. We are so sorry we’ve neglected you, Niiharu Forest, for such a long time. Now you’re suffering the trauma, facing the attacks of Japanese Oak Wilt … We irresponsible humans are powerless …
If you find an
environmental issues, like Japanese
oak wilt, in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a
contact with Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center
神奈川県自然環境保全センター
657 Nanasawa, Atsugi
City, 243-0121 〒243－0121 厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323
You can send an
enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/
If you sighting is in the northern part of City
of Yokohama, the office you may call is
Office
for Northern Parks, City of Yokohama 環境創造局公園緑地部北部公園緑地事務所
Phone: 045-353-1166
FAX： 045-352-3086
Or for the southern part, the address to call
is
Office
for Southern Parks, City of Yokohama 環境創造局公園緑地部南部公園緑地事務所
Phone： 045-831-8484
FAX： 045-831-9389
We Really
thank you, for your kindness to rescue our forest!
No comments:
Post a Comment