IUCN Management Category V (Protected Landscape)

Biogeographical Province 2.14.05 (Manchu-Japanese Mixed Forest)

Geographical Location The national park is located 100km to the east of Sappora bwteen Obihiro and Asahikawa, in the central part of Hokkaido. The park is approximately 60km by 55km in area. 43°13'-43°48'N, 142°19'-142°38'E.

Date and History of Establishment 4 December 1934 (designated by the Natural Park Law).

Area 230,894ha (inclusive of five special protected areas totalling 35,193ha; 84.3% (195,416.6ha) of the park is a multiple use area and 15.7% (36,512.4ha) is a wilderness area.

Land Tenure 224,794ha state land, 7,135ha public land

Altitude 300-2,290m

Physical Features Largest of all the Japanese National Parks, the area is called the 'roof of Hokkaido' and consists of the Ishikari volcanic mountain range with three volcanic peaks including Mt. Tomuraushi, Mt. Asahi (2,290m) and Mt. Tokachi. The Ishikan highlands were formed from faulting and subsequent elevation thousands of years ago, which led to the formation of the Daisetsuzan range and plateau lands. The Daisetsuzan group consists of ten peaks and a great plateau formed by a volcanic crater of 2km diameter. The rivers within the park have many basalt gorges in their upper reaches (Sounkyo and Tenninkyo gorges have 200m cliffs with extensive exposures of rhyolite). Many hot springs occur in the piedmont zones around Shikaribetsu (Sutherland and Britton, 1980).

Climate Average temperatures vary from a mean of 20.4°C in August to a mean of -8.6°C in January; there is a mean total of 1,277mm of precipitation per year. Snow lasts until May/June.

Vegetation The vegetation of the park is essentially Palaearctic in character. Extensive coniferous forests on the mountain slopes rise to a high montane alpine flora with an arctic element. Forests are characterised by yezo spruce Picea jezoensis, red yezo spruce P. glehnii, white fir Abies mayriana and dwarf pine Pinus pumila. Deciduous forests consist of yezo water oak Quercus crispula var. sachalinensis, white birch Betula tauschii, B. ermanii var. communis, elm Ulmus laciniaple, maple Acer sp., Sorbaria sp., and alder Alnus maximowiczii (IUCN, 1975). The montane area is rich in alpine species including dwarf shrub heath with Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum, Rhododendron aureum, Gentiana nipponica, Prila cuneifolia, Phyllodoce caerulea and Therorhodion camschaticum (IUCN, 1975; Sutherland and Britton, 1980).

Fauna Mammals include rare northern pika Ochotona hyperborea yesoensis in the alpine zone, Ezo chipmunk Tamias sibiricus lineatus, brown bear Ursus arctos yesoensis, Japanese macaque Macaca fuscata fuscata and uncommon Ezo sable Martes zibellina brachyura (IUCN, 1975). Birds include Tridactylus inouei, mountain-finch Leucosticte arctoa brunneonucha, grey bunting Emberiza variabilis, ruby throat Luscinia c. calliope as well as Kurile pine grosbeak Pinicola enucleator urupensis and red crowned crane Grus japoneusis. Hazel grouse Tetrastes banasia is restricted to the alpine zone (Martins et al., 1980; Sutherland and Britton, 1980; Robinson, 1987).

Cultural Heritage Numerous Ainu legends refer to the spirits of the Daisetsuzan mountains.

Local Human Population The region is renowned for its state subsidised wine, rice, agriculture and forestry (Sutherland and Britton, 1980).

Visitors and Visitor Facilities There are estimates of 4.08 million tourists having visited the park in 1972 (IUCN, 1975). Facilities include hotels, inns, huts, campgrounds, picnic areas, mountain and nature trails and a 'forest' museum. The area is particularly important for its ski resorts and hot spring resorts. Cable cars ascend the Kurodake peak and Mount Asahi from Yukomanbetsu (Robinson, 1987).

Scientific Research and Facilities Studies of vegetation have been undertaken by the Environment Agency (IUCN, 1975).

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management The area is one of the most important for alpine wildlife in the Japanese archipelago and is essentially managed for "conserving nature" (Sutherland and Britton, 1980). Management is made easier than for many of the other Japanese parks by the fact that it is a single entity and under state ownership. The recreation areas and zones for logging and reforestation are restricted to the north-west and south-east periphery of the park. The main Daisetsuzan forests are completely protected from exploitation (IUCN, 1975; Ionescu et al., 1985).

Management Constraints Several hydroelectric barrages and installations have been built in the park (Sutherland and Britton, 1980).

Staff Two rangers (employed by the Environment Agency) and 21 seasonal patrol men (Hokkaido Prefectural Government) (IUCN, 1975).

Budget In the mid-1970s support came from the annual allocation by the Environment Agency to National Parks of US$700,00. In addition US$10,800 per annum came from Hokkaido Prefectural Government (IUCN, 1975).

Local Addresses

Yukomanbetsu Ranger Office, Environmental Agency, Yukomanbetsu, Higashikawa town, Hokkaido; Sounkyo Ranger Office, Environmental Agency, Sounkyo, Kamikawa town, Hokkaido.

References

Ionescu, M. and Condurateanu-Fesci, S. (1985). Parcuri si rezervati naturale pe Glob. Colectia cristal, Bucuresti.

IUCN (1975). World Directory of National Parks and other Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Martins, R.P. et al. (1980). Report on a birding expedition to Japan, 8 March - 14 May 1980.

Nature Conservation Bureau (1985). Nature Conservation Administration in Japan. Environment Agency, Japan.

Robinson, J.W. (1987). A birder's guide to Japan. Ibis Publishing Co., California.

Sutherland, M. and Britton, D. (1980). National Parks of Japan. Kodansha International Ltd., Japan.

Date July 1987

1310V