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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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MOUNT ODAIGAHARA & MOUNT OMINE |
 © Photo: Mt Odaigahara & Mt Omine BR |
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| General Description | The Mount Odaigahara & Mount Omine Biosphere Reserve is located 60 km from the southern tip of Kyushu Island. The area includes several mountain ridges and the peaks of Mount Odaigahara 1,695 metres above sea level and Mount Omine 1,719 metres. Many of the valleys are deep, with waterfalls up to 200 metres caused by geological uplifty and rejuvenation of the rivers. There is a clear vertical zonation of vegetation from the warm-temperate zone to the sub-alpine zone. The Biosphere Reserve exhibits sub-tropical and temperate rainforests with evergreen, and coniferous forests, temperate deciduous broadleaf forest, sub alpine coniferous forest and conifer plantations. Most species of large mammals found in Japan inhabit this area. The high population of Macaca fuscata fuscata is second only to Yakushima Island. The presence of insect species characteristic both of cold and warm regions is noteworthy. The Biosphere Reserve is part of the National Park, which is zoned to protect certain areas. It receives 270,000 visitors each year. The core area is largely intact from human influence. The buffer zone includes an area where timber production is permitted to different degrees depending on the condition of the site. There are seven villages in the Biosphere Reserve, with a population of 19,000 (1999). Mt. Omine and Mt. Odaihagara have been little touched by human activities, because of the difficulty of access and religious beliefs. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Sub-tropical and temperate rainforests | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Evergreen broad-leaf forests with Quercus salicina, Q. sessilifolia etc.; coniferous forests dominated by Abies firma, Tsuga sieboldii, Pseudotsuga japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa; temperate deciduous broadleaf forest with Siebold’s beech (Fagus crenata), Acer shirasawanum etc.; subalpine coniferous forest with Veitch’s silver fir (Abies veitchii), Nikko fir (A. homolepis), Hondo spruce (Picea jezoensis), Cryptomeria japonica etc.; conifer plantations | |||
| Location | Latitude 34°10'N; Longitude 136°00'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 36,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | 1000 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 35,000 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +200 to +1,915 | |||
| Year designated | 1980 | |||
| Administrative authorities | The Ministry of the Environment, the Forest Agency and the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO | |||
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| Brief description |
Landscape monitoring Conservation project for Hondo spruce (Picea jezoensis) forest Monitoring and research on decline of forest and ground vegetation caused by tree barking and foraging by Sika deer (Cervus nippon centralis) Sika deer (population density, distribution, herd composition, seasonal migration, food habits; population quality etc.) Life and physiology of component woody plants of forest for examination of restoration |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | n.a. | |||
| Biodiversity | Conservation, ecology, methodologies, plants, population genetics/population dynamics, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, sub-tropical and temperate rainforest/sub-tropical forest. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Landscape inventorying/monitoring. | |||
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| Contact address |
Kinki Regional Office for Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Midorigaoka 2-4-20 647-0043 Shingu City - Wakayama Prefecture Japan |
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| Telephone | (81.735) 220342 | |||
| Fax | (81.735) 231344 | |||
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KINKI@env.go.jp |
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| Contact address |
Yoshino National Park Ranger Station 133, Kamiichi, Oaza Yoshinocho 639-3111 Yoshino, Nara Japan |
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| Telephone | (81.7463) 4 2202 | |||
| Fax | (81.7463) 4 2204 | |||
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| Last updated: 12/10/2007 |
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