The things to come: Winter for coming summer in Niiharu Citizen Forest 新治市民の森

Last Saturday, it finally snowed in Niiharu Citizen Forest 新治市民の森. So far, this is a very odd winter … Statistically speaking, Niiharu is the coolest (for summer) or the coldest (for winter) in the City of Yokohama. But this winter the Forest had had only sleet, not snow. Moreover, the snow last Saturday was not enough to cover the ground white even for few minutes. It’s too mild, and very wet, winter. Strange, strange, strange …

There are murmurs saying in coming spring, and summer, there will be outbreaks of insects in the forests of Kanagawa. If the place could not become cold enough during winter, too many eggs and overwintering critters will survive. They surely start their battle for food when it becomes warmer. Will birches of Tanzawa 丹沢 endure the attack of Fagineura crenativora? What happens with those affected areas of Japanese oak wilt, such as in Hakone 箱根, Miura Peninsula 三浦半島, or beyond? (My post on August 23, 2019) Not only that. Lots of insects mean numerous chics to be adult birds. Many ordinary birds mean many raptors. If we unusually often meet birds of pray flying over the forests in Tanzawa, it could indicate overpopulated birds in the forest. Normally, watching them circling calmly over the ridge is very soothing. But, this year, it could suggest different, or even cynical, things in the forest. Sad. Further more, few snow in Tanzawa means many bambis will survive over the winter. In few months, they become mass of voracious adult deer denuding the vegetation of the mountains. For our forests in Kanagawa, the nature may not be capable of overcrowding insects, birds, hawks, deer … Will we frequently encounter the starved dead bodies of deer in Tanzawa Mountains again (my posts on 7, 14, 21 July 2017) this summer?

Yet, at this moment, we are having a bit of strange population of birds for Niiharu. I tell you next week what we have found this winter for birds’ life in our beloved Niiharu Citizen Forest. Warm, wet, with scars of super typhoons for Niiharu …

If you find environmental issues 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/