journal article Aug 17, 2007

Effects of forest harvesting on the occurrence of landslides and debris flows in steep terrain of central Japan

Abstract
AbstractLandslides and debris flows associated with forest harvesting can cause much destruction and the influence of the timing of harvesting on these mass wasting processes therefore needs to be assessed in order to protect aquatic ecosystems and develop improved strategies for disaster prevention. We examined the effects of forest harvesting on the frequency of landslides and debris flows in the Sanko catchment (central Japan) using nine aerial photo periods covering 1964 to 2003. These photographs showed a mosaic of different forest ages attributable to the rotational management in this area since 1912. Geology and slope gradient are rather uniformly distributed in the Sanko catchment, facilitating assessment of forest harvesting effects on mass wasting without complication of other factors. Trends of new landslides and debris flows correspond to changes in slope stability explained by root strength decay and recovery; the direct impact of clearcutting on landslide occurrence was greatest in forest stands that were clearcut 1 to 10 yr earlier with progressively lesser impacts continuing up to 25 yr after harvesting. Sediment supply rate from landslides in forests clearcut 1 to 10 yr earlier was about 10‐fold higher than in control sites. Total landslide volume in forest stands clearcut 0 to 25 yr earlier was 5·8 × 103 m3 km−2 compared with 1·3 × 103 m3 km−2 in clearcuts >25 yr, indicating a fourfold increase compared with control sites during the period when harvesting affected slope stability. Because landslide scars continue to produce sediment after initial failure, sediment supply from landslides continues for 45 yr in the Sanko catchment. To estimate the effect of forest harvesting and subsequent regeneration on the occurrence of mass wasting in other regions, changes in root strength caused by decay and recovery of roots should be investigated for various species and environmental conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Earth-Science Reviews
Earth Surface Processes and Landfor...
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173
Citations
42
References
Details
Published
Aug 17, 2007
Vol/Issue
33(6)
Pages
827-840
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Cite This Article
Fumitoshi Imaizumi, Roy C. Sidle, Rieko Kamei (2007). Effects of forest harvesting on the occurrence of landslides and debris flows in steep terrain of central Japan. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 33(6), 827-840. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1574