The following is a report on the event by ARC’s Foreign Researcher, Dr. Iwahana.
On March 4 (Sat.), 2023, from 12:30 to 17:30, a public lecture on the research of the summit areas of the Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido (supported by the Arctic Research Center and others) was held at Hokkaido University’s Academic Exchange Center (53 in-person audiences and 64 Zoom attendees).
The event was moderated by Research Assistant Professor Go Iwahana, University of Alaska Fairbanks, an overseas researcher of the Arctic Research Center HU. Lectures were given by Professor Nobuyuki Takahashi, Hokkai-Gakuen University, on “The Natural Environment of the Daisetsuzan High Mountains” and by Nature Photographer Yasuyuki Watanabe on “The Ecology of Alpine Insects on Daisetsuzan and the Impact of Global Warming.” Professor Emeritus Ken Sato, Hokkai-Gakuen University, gave a lecture on “Alpine plants of Daisetsuzan,” and Assistant Professor Toshio Sone, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, gave a lecture on “Current Status of Permafrost on Daisetsuzan.”
They presented the changes in the alpine zone of the Daisetsu Mountains over the past 40 to 50 years from various aspects, including natural geography, insects, vegetation, and permafrost. They also reported on the similarities with the nature seen in the Arctic terrestrial regions, especially in the tundra regions, and its relationship with the temporal changes.
Iwahana then commented on the “Summer Mountain Weather in the Daisetsu Mountains” as secondary information from permafrost observations on Daisetsuzan, followed by a general discussion on the future of Daisetsuzan research. A question-and-answer session from the audience and online participants led to a lively discussion, including comments from citizen researchers, young researchers, and graduate students. The importance of networking among researchers in Daisetsuzan research was also reaffirmed. We would like to continue providing opportunities for such networking by holding similar lectures in the future.
