119Nature Conservation and Invasive Plant Removal Activities
in Tateyama, Japan
Tohru OHMIYA
Forestry Research Institute, Toyama Prefectural Agricultural,
Forestry & Fisheries Research Center3 Yoshimine, Tateyama-machi, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama 930-1362, Japan
E-mail: ohmiyat1958@gmail.com

Abstract
Tateyama is a preserved natural area featuring several types of vegetation from 1,000 to 3,000 m above sea
level. The development of tourism in the 20th century had strong impacts on its natural environment. Greening
was necessary to stabilize land that had been left bare by road construction. A unique method of greening was
adopted, using local plant resources. However, roadway construction resulted not only in disturbance to thevegetation but also unintentional introduction of invasive plants. A movement to remove the invasive plants
was organized in 1980 with several volunteer groups continuing these efforts to this day. Such activities havebeen based on local values. Global standards for nature conservation have been established recently, but local
values may also work efficiently in sustainable promotion and should be evaluated.
Key words: alien plant species, global standard, greening, invasive plant removal, local plant resources,
local values, sustainable movement, volunteer group

1. Introduction
In the spread of alien plants, roads have beensuggested to function significantly as corridors (Meunier& Lavoie, 2012). Mountain trails also play a role asdrivers of non-native plant invasion (Liedtke et al., 2020).
Honshu, the largest island of the Japanese archipelago, islocated mainly in the temperate zone, with alpine areas
separated from each other like small islands. Therefore,
any alien plant derived from abroad or from lower
domestic regions can become invasive here. Tateyama islocated within Chubusangaku National Park, in central
Japan. It consists of mountains that reach altitudes ofaround 3,000 m on the ridgelines with a lava plateau
beneath. For tourism and hiking, bus roads and mountain
trails are provided along the plateau. Oritani (1976)
investigated alien plants along the roadside and reported
the presence of alien species derived from abroad. In 2014,
the Toyama Prefecture Biodiversity Conservation
Promotion Plan (Toyama Prefecture, 2014) was publishedand it reported that alien plant species were invading thevegetation of Tateyama, explaining the necessity ofremoving them. The plan also reported that the invasiveplants had been continuously removed by volunteers. The
objectives of this paper are to follow the history of humanGlobal Environmental Research
27/2023 119-123
printed in Japan

impacts and the conservation movement on Tateyama to
examine a philosophy of nature and biodiversity
conservation derived not only from the global values but
also based on local respect for nature.

2. Background
Human beings have been continuously visiting
Mt. Tateyama for more than 1,000 years. Pilgrimages toclimb Mt. Tateyama are estimated to have begun in the10th century (Yonehara, 2010). Tateyama also appeared inliterature. In the 8th century, Tateyama was admired byverses in the Man’yoshu, an anthology of ancient poetry.
In about the 12th century, Tateyama became well known
through the tales of the Konjaku Monogatari with its
volcanic valley as a gateway to Hell. In the medieval ages,
a Noh Play named Utoh denoted Tateyama as a harsh
mountainous terrain. An interesting line in this story iswhere a pilgrim says there are “a lot of trails” on
Tateyama, and they are “frightening and steep.” Thisimplies that there was already some degree of humanimpact at that time.
In the 17th century, pilgrimages to the Tateyama
mountains became popular among common people. One
can see a hut built in 1726 for the visitors’©2023 AIRIES

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T. OHMIYA

accommodation.
Despite such human involvement during all this time,
the unique landscape of Tateyama features fragile
vegetation that has been well preserved. This is probably
because the landscape of Tateyama was itself worshiped
as a sacred place (Hirose, 1984).
However, from the beginning of the 20th century, therelationship between Tateyama and people changed. Freedfrom religious restrictions and introduced to modern
mountaineering, people began climbing Tateyama as asport or expedition (Tateyama Museum of Toyama, 2008).
Improved transportation access accelerated the
popularization of climbing. More and more people began
to visit Tateyama as an educational activity for school
children (Tateyama Museum of Toyama, 2005). As thenumber of climbers increased, the total length of themountain trails doubled (Ohmiya & Kobayashi, 2019).
Overuse of these trails caused erosion of the soil andvegetation everywhere.
In 1953, the construction of a bus road started in thelowest end of the plateau, Bijodaira (977 m), and the nextyear, the Tateyama Cable Car began service between
Senjugahara (475 m) and Bijodaira followed by theHighland Bus service, with the roadway extending
gradually to the Murodo terminal (2,450 m). In 1971, theentire route was completed with a tunnel running throughMt.Tateyama, below the 3,015 m peak of Oyama. People
could then visit the alpine zone simply by riding the bus.
These days, the most important issue in nature
conservation on Tateyama is considered to be
countermeasures against looting of alpine plants. The
Forestry Office has taken the lead in raising awareness ofnature conservation and preventing the plundering ofalpine plants (Yonezawa, 2023).
The roadway construction disturbed the naturalenvironment of Tateyama on a larger scale than everinexperienced. At the same time, the opening of the bus
road reduced the use of mountain trails for visitors’ accessalong the roadway. Some trails were abolished after thebus road opened. Estimating from maps, the total lengthof the mountain trails in the Tateyama area reached amaximum of 74.3 km in 1971 just when the Tateyama
Alpine Route opened, and they have decreased to a
current total length of 32.0 km.

3. Recognition of Alien Plant Invasions andLocal Movements against the Spread of
Alien Plant Species
The roadway construction left some of the ground cut
and filled. The bare land needed to be revegetated. At thattime, it was common to use alien species for greening,
even in protected areas such as sub-alpine areas(Yamadera et al., 1976). During the construction of the
Tateyama route, the focus of nature protection graduallychanged. A nature conservation movement spreadthroughout Japan with a special emphasis on opposing
development in nature conservation areas. In Toyama
Prefecture, the Association for Nature Conservation of
Toyama was established in 1962. This association lodged
several requests and objections to the development. With
expanded development becoming controversial in 1965,
supplementary articles for approval by the nation wereannounced. These were mainly concerned with greening
methods. The Ministry of Health and Welfare approved
the construction of the Tateyama route with the condition
that “the greening method should be based on local plantresources” (Wakabayashi, 1974).
To meet the conditions imposed, the Tateyama RouteGreening Research Committee was organized to fulfill the
Ministry’s demand, including by developing newtechniques. The committee examined 60 species growing
spontaneously in places on Tateyama to seek propermaterials for greening (Kobayashi, 1974, 1980; Oritani,
1974, 1980).
In 1971, the year the Environment Agency wasestablished, the Tateyama Mountain Range Nature
Conservation Society was established, with a membershipconsisting mainly of researchers such as Shoichi Kawano,
students and general citizens. The society still operates
under the Tateyama Nature Conservation Network. Public
opinion was becoming important for administering nature
conservation.
Despite the policy of not using non-native species, anaccident occurred in which alien seeds wound up mixed inwith the greening materials. Izumi (1976) recognized thatalien plants were being found in the Murodo area.
Kawano (1977) pointed out that several alien plants werebeing used for greening along the roadway. The Tateyama
Route Greening Research Committee has been engaged inremoval of introduced alien plants since 1980
(Wakabayashi, et al, 1997).
Unexpected introduction of non-native plants was
also thought to be the result of vehicles carrying them in,and of being brought in on visitors’ shoes, which set them
directly into the alpine zone from lower areas. Alien
plants were rapidly expanding their distribution, so
fundamental countermeasures became necessary. The
Tateyama Mountain Range Nature Conservation Society(presently the NPO Tateyama Association for Nature
Conservation) has repeatedly researched alien plants
along the Tateyama Route since 1997 (Masuda, 2004).
The Toyama Forest Management Office has added theremoval of alien species to its alpine plant protection
patrol activities since 1998 (Yonezawa, 2023).
In the latter half of the 1990s, activities to remove
alien plants became popular among various groups andvolunteers (Fig. 1). In 2004, removal activities by fourgroups were recorded, increasing to 17 groups in 2014. Asinterest in alien species increased, information on target
species and appropriate removal methods became
important. Matsuhisa (2004) enumerated sixteen species

Nature conservation and invasive plant removal activities in Tateyama

121

Fig. 1 Left: The Tateyama Association for Nature Conservation has continued invasive plant removal activities(photo courtesy of Terutaka Kato). Right: A representative alien species Taraxacum officinale on theroadside at Midagahara, Tateyama (22 May 2008).

from abroad and fifteen species from lower regions asalien plants on Tateyama. Nagai (2006) discussed thebackground of the alien plant invasion of Tateyama,
Oritani (2006) discussed soil factors for alien plant
introduction, Ohta (2006) suggested a priority for alienplant species removal and Matsuhisa (2006) explained theremoval methods in detail.
In 2008, at the behest of the prefectural government,these academics and related organizations launched astudy group on measures for removing alien plants from
Tateyama. A report was submitted that recognized forty
species as non-native and invasive to Tateyama areas(Ohta et al., 2011). In addition, from this study group, theToyama Prefecture Naturalist Association, which consistsof nature commentators certified by the prefecture, hasstarted training instructors for the removal of invasiveplants by volunteers and others.
In parallel with these activities, the Tateyama
Vegetation Research Society has been conducting
fixed-point observations of invasive plants as part of the
Tateyama Vegetation Monitoring Survey commissionedby the prefecture. Yamashita and Ohta (2018) reported theinterim results of that monitoring survey.
The current issues are enhancing measures to share
information on the status of alien plants amongorganizations and groups engaged in alien species
removal and information on removal activities and theirresults, and disseminating information beyond theprefecture. Progress is being made through loose
consensus and cooperation.

Promotion Plan (Toyama Prefecture, 2014) could beconsidered a local version. In the convention and theaction plans, three levels of biodiversity were defined:
specific, ecological and genetic. Before discussions on the
CBD began, the latter two levels of biodiversity wereignored, and plans for greening or vegetation
reconstruction usually depended on alien resources
selected for their vigorous growth, even in nature
conservation areas (Yamadera et al., 1976). The Ministrry
authorized a unique method of conducting greening trials
on Tateyama while avoiding alien species for materials.
Some involvement by local demand is surmised, but thisis not certain. Conserving landscapes and relying only on
locally grown plant resources were probably considered
rational by the local people upholding traditional values.
This consideration in 1965 effectively prevented theintroduction of non-native genes, resulting in theconservation of genetic diversity described in modern
terms. This was fortunate for Tateyama, because thatpolicy reduced the future cost of invasive plant removal.
Although the global standard for nature conservation
has developed remarkably, we must not forget that local
activities originating from local values have beensustaining real natural environments, ecosystems, species
and their genetic background. The author believes that
activities for sustainable conservation of local naturalenvironments should be based essentially on
self-awareness. Activities on Tateyama are relevant andadvanced.
At the same time, local movements should cooperatewith the global standard as well.

4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
In 1992, the Japanese government signed theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and adopted
its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 1995.
The Toyama Prefecture Biodiversity Conservation

These days, almost all groups engaging in theremoval of invasive plants in the Tateyama region meet
together annually to discuss problems they have122

T. OHMIYA

discovered when taking their actions. Together with
scientific and technical issues they have uncovered,funding problems are always presented. Public funds arealways limited, so these groups are usually covering
expenses with their own money. Recent global
movements may provide several types of funds as
investment in Nature Positive, Carbon Neutral and otherchallenges in environment conservation. A little
modification in disclosure would be required whenattempting to raise funds. That would also improve theiractions and lead to the next stage of the movement. Thoseengaging in activities on Tateyama should participate in
the global discussion with confidence in their experiencein nature conservation.
Acknowledgement
The author would like to thank Dr. Kato Terutaka for
information on Japan’s nature conservation movement in
its early period, and members of the Toyama Forest
Management Office for providing historical materials.
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Tohru OHMIYA
Tohru Ohmiya is a researcher at the Toyama
Prefectural Forest Research Institute and vicechairman of the NPO Association for Nature
Conservation of Toyama (Toyamaken Shizenhogo
Kyoukai). His research interest is the relationshipbetween local culture and nature conservation,
especially regarding social issues derived from human impacts. Based on
his studies at the Prefectural Institute, he has engaged in several
environmental education programs on invasive plants and rehabilitation of
Satoyama forests.

(Received 25 December 2023, Accepted 31 December 2023)