Vegetation Observations at the Woodlands of Hitachi High-Tech Science

At the Woodlands of Hitachi High-Tech Science within the Hitachi High-Tech Science Fuji Oyama Works, biodiversity conservation activities have been underway since fiscal 2015. The aim of these activities is to transform the artificial forest of cedar and cypress into an environment more conducive to wildlife, reminiscent of the satoyama landscapes once integral to people’s lives in the Japanese countryside.

The secretariat periodically assesses how the vegetation has changed from its original state. This time, however, with eight years having passed since activities began, a vegetation observation event was held on November 7 (Tue) so that biodiversity conservation project members themselves could see the status of the vegetation and recognize the results of the team’s efforts so far.

Seven participants, including the secretariat members, participated in the observation event. Under a clear autumn sky, they compared the actual plants with those pictured in a botanical guide prepared by the secretariat beforehand.

The observation revealed that species planted in the past, such as kunugi and konara (both types of oak), Fuji cherry, and Japanese maple, have successfully taken root and are growing. Furthermore, species originally present in the area, like the golden orchid, Japanese cherry, yamamomiji (a subspecies of Japanese maple), and Korean raspberry, were also observed, along with a few new species, demonstrating the richness and diversity of nature.
The plan is to continue regular observations of the vegetation to monitor the development of the forest and to persist with activities aimed at facilitating an even healthier forest.

For information on the Hitachi High-Tech Group's efforts to conserve biodiversity, please visit the following website.