Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the Natural
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Larus crassirostris(Matsushima Bay) Fallen trees in the coastal forest immediately after the earthquake disaster Arahama, Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture April 2011 Bulrush (Typha orientalis) WEB The information gathered in this survey is published on the Ministry of the Environment, Biodiversity Center of Japan’s website“Shiokaze Natural Environment Log” URL http://www.shiokaze.biodic.go.jp Impact of Sanriku Fukko (reconstruction) National Park/Green Reconstrustion Project the Great East Japan The Ministry of the Environment is working on many programs in“Green Reconstruction Clam・Japanese littleneck clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) Project through Establishment of Sanriku Fukko (reconstruciton) National Park” aims at the reconstruction of the pacific coastal regions in Tohoku. The national park, the axis of the project, Earthquake on was established in May 2013, for the purpose of contributing to the reconstruction of the areas damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The park stretches about 220 km from north to south, with magnificent cliffs known as the “Marine Alps” in the north and elegant Rias coasts with intricate geographical features extending the Natural Environment towards the south. There are seabird breeding sites such as the black-tailed gull and streaked shearwater along the coast where people can observe wildlife in close proximity. It also boasts of several leading fishing ports in Japan such as Hachinohe, Miyako, Kamaishi, Ofunato, Kesennuma in Tohoku Coastal Regions etc. where people can enjoy fresh seafood. In addition, many people from all around the nation Pickerel weed (Pontederia) visit the area for eco-tourism. The pacific coastal regions in Tohoku are now on the road to recovery and the tourism industry has also resumed.“Michinoku Coastal Trail,” which connects the nature and life, traces of the earthquake, visitors and local people in the regions, is available. Do come and visit Sanriku Fukko (reconstruction) National Park to experience culture, life and the natural blessings!! Green Reconstruction URL http://www.env.go.jp/jishin/park-sanriku/ Michinoku Coastal Trail URL http://www.tohoku-trail.go.jp/ Crab (Helice tridens) Issued by Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment Biodiversity Center of Japan 5597-1, Kenmarubi, Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi 403-0005 Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment TEL:+81-555-72-6033 FAX:+81-555-72-6035 Edited by Asia Air Survey Co., Ltd. Biodiversity Center of Japan Published in November 2013 Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) On March 11, 2011 at 2:46 p.m., a great earthquake of magnitude 9.0 occurred offshore in Sanriku. In Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, tsunami waves measuring 40.5 meters high were recorded. The wide area along the Pacific Coast in the Tohoku region were assaulted by the tsunami, causing an Aomori Prefecture unprecedented disaster which is said to occur only once in a thousand years. Sanriku Fukko (reconstruction) National Park In 2011, the Ministry of the Environment started monitoring the coastal regions along the Pacific Akita Coast from Aomori Prefecture to Chiba Prefecture where the natural environment has changed Prefecture drastically. Iwate Prefecture Vegetation Changes The vegetation changes before and after the earthquake disaster were reported by creating and overlaying the vegetation Yamagata maps in areas submerged by the tsunami Prefecture Miyagi before and after the earthquake disaster. Takatamatsubara, Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture Prefecture Idoura, August 2012 Niigata Prefecture Sandy Beach Changes The sandy and muddy beaches within a range Minamisanriku- of about 100-500 meters inland from the Kinkasan coastline in three different periods ̶ the 1970s, Quasi-National Park before the earthquake (2000s), and after the earthquake̶were interpreted to analyze the Fukushima changes in the beaches. Arahama, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture Prefecture Change in the last Nakahama, Yamamoto town, May 2011 Tochigi Hundred Years Prefecture “Rivers”,“lakes and marshes”,“wetlands ”,“sand dunes”, etc. were interpreted the Old Edition from maps of the late Meiji Period (1903) to the early Taisho Period (1918). We used Saitama Ibaraki these information to identify the factors of Prefecture Prefecture Torinoumi, Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture Submerged areas due to the tsunami the flooding and to plan the future land use. Hiroura, Natori City, 1907 Ecosystem Monitoring Tokyo Chiba Tidal flats with benthos: 16 sites Ecosystem Monitoring Kanagawa Post-disaster surveys were carried out in 16 Prefecture Zostera beds: 6 sites Prefecture tidal flats, 6 Zostera beds, 5 seaweed beds and Seaweed beds: 5 sites 4 seabird breeding sites which were surveyed Seabird breeding sites: 4 sites previously before the earthquake to compare with the situation before the earthquake. Nakahama, Yamamoto Town, Miyagi Prefecture Yamada Bay, October 2012 Aerial photo: Taken by Asia Air Survey Co., Ltd.(March 2011) 1 2 Changes in Gamo, Sendai City Vegetation Changes before and after the earthquake In Gamo, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, there is a lagoon consisting of a mixture 2000s (before the earthquake) 2011 (after the earthquake) Sendai port Sendai port of fresh and sea water which extends inland towards to the sand dunes. At low tides, a mud flat appears as an extension of the surrounding wetlands where Miyagino Ward, Sendai City Miyagino Ward, Sendai City many plants and animals live and breed. However, that aspect has changed vastly due to the strong impact of the tsunami. N N Ecosystem Monitoring, Changes in the last one hundred years By comparing the coast and vegetation Legend Legend Sendai City Salix spp. tree community Arundinello-Miscanthion sinensis Vegetation Changes Sandy Beaches Changes before and after the earthquake disaster Arundinello-Miscanthion sinensis Phragmitetea by using past images such as the Old Pleioblastus chino community Salt marsh vegetation Nanakita River Phragmitetea Sand dune vegetation Edition maps and aerial photos taken in Miscanthetum sacchariflori Nanakita River Pinus thunbergii plantation Gamo Salt marsh vegetation Uncultivated field the 1970s, we identified‘what’ and Sand dune vegetation Uncultivated paddy-field ‘how much’ changes occurred. Pinus thunbergii plantation Weed community in vacant site Robinia Pseudoacacia shrub community Robinia pseudoacacia shrub community Field weed communities Debris Storage site Paddy-field weed communities Golflinks and Turf Weed community in roadside and vacant site Urban and residential district with many trees Golflinks and Turf Urban district with a few trees Urban and residential district with many trees Factory and industrial area Changes in the last hundred years Urban district with a few trees Land constructed for residence and factory Geographical map: 1/25,000 map of Factory and industrial area Natural bare land Geospatial Information Authority of Japan * * Natural bare land Changes in the sandy beaches survey range 1907 1970 2000s (before the earthquake) 2011 (after the earthquake) Changes in the sandy beaches survey range *Aerial Photos: Sendai port Sendai port Sendai port Large parts of the vegetation in the sand dunes (purple), Phragmitetea Taken by Geospatial Information Authority of Japan in the tidal flats (light blue) and Salt marsh vegetation (blue) growing along the sandy beaches were washed away. Gamo Gamo Gamo Gamo Nanakita River Vegetation Changes area Sandy Beach Changes Nanakita River Nanakita River Nanakita River before & after the earthquake before & after the earthquake (%) Before the earthquake (2002.9) Sendai port Nanakita River N N N N 100 Legend Urban and residential district with many trees 1000 Legend 90 Sandy Beach Uncultivated field 800 Wetlands used to extend inland Part of the wetlands was remained but most Sand dune vegetation, reed in the Most of the Black pine have either fallen Sand Dune Vegetation Uncultivated paddy-field along the Nanakita River which changed into fishery and Black pine tidal flats and salt marsh vegetation or withered away and black pine in 80 600 Coastal Forest meanders in the northeast. plantation. While a part of the sand dunes used to grow along the sandy areas that were once wetlands have Field weed communities 400 Coastal Structures etc. was planted with Black pine. beaches. been washed away. Paddy-field weed communities 70 Other 200 Geographical map: 1/25,000 map of *Aerial Photos: Taken by Geospatial Natural bare land Shoreline of 1970's Geospatial Information Authority of Japan Information Authority of Japan Extension of Occupancy (m) 60 Urban district with a few trees 0 250 500 750 Distance in Coastal Sand dune vegetation 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 Direction (m) Changes in the invertebrate habitats before & after the earthquake 50 Factory and industrial area After the earthquake (2011.5) 40 Weed community in vacant site Sendai port Nanakita River Debris Storage site 1000 Legend 30 Sandy Beach Open water 800 Sand Dune Vegetation Salt marsh vegetation 600 20 Coastal Forest Phragmitetea 400 Coastal Structures etc. 10 Arundinello-Miscanthion sinensis Other 200 Pinus thunbergii plantation Shoreline of 1970's Scopimera globosa Nuttallia japonica Grandidierella japonica 0 Extension of Occupancy (m) 0 Before the earthquake After the earthquake 250 500 750 Distance in Coastal Not seen before the earthquake, The bivalves known as Nuttalia olivacea and Ruditapes Several species of Gammarus which were not seen (2000s) (2011) 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 Direction (m) they have only recently appeared in philippinarum