Efforts

Efforts in Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park

The conservation of alpine flora in Mt. Apoi

One of the significant conservation efforts in the Hidaka Mountains is the preservation of alpine flora in Mt. Apoi. The mountain is a treasure trove of rare species, but in the late 1990s, mass poaching of alpine plants led to the establishment of a local conservation group, which continues to patrol the area to prevent poaching of alpine plants and raise awareness among climbers. The local town of Samani established the “Mt. Apoi Environmental Science Committee in collaboration with researchers. It also has been working on a project to restore the alpine plant community in Mt. Apoi by creating a donation system to financially support conservation activities on the mountain.
Hokkaido Prefecture, which administers the land, designated the “Hidakasou Growing Area Protection Zone” in the Mt. Apoi and Mt. Horoman areas. The ordinance protects the endemic alpine plant, Hidakasou (Callianteum miyabeanum), by restricting entry to these areas. In addition, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has designated the alpine flora in Mt. Apoi and the native Goyomatsu (Pinus goyosanus) in Mt. Horoman as Special Natural Monuments.