Shiretoko Lake, northeast Hokkaido, Japan Photograph by David Jack   Japan Temperate Coniferous Forests   17,700 square miles (45,800 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of New Hampshire Vulnerable

· Cold Conifer Forests
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Cold Conifer Forests

The nation of Japan is spread out across a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean. If you were to travel to the northern parts of this archipelago, you'd reach the island of Hokkaido. This island is so far north, in fact, that some areas have an almost arctic climate. Here you'll find a number of cold weather mammals inhabiting the extensive conifer forests, including the Yezo brown bear and the weasel-like sable.

Special Features

Hokkaido is situated in both cold-temperate and subarctic climate zones. It contains a central highland area that is largely volcanic in origin, and eastern hills and lowlands where the cold Chishima Current exerts a strong influence on the climate and conifers grow down to the sea. You'll find many conifers on this island, with the Asian spruce and Sachalin fir trees dominating. The coniferous species are sometimes accompanied by birch species, and these birches may form pure stands at the upper tree line and in areas recovering from fires.

	The sable is one of the most valuable animals to the fur trade. At one time they were nearly hunted to extinction. They have since made a comeback thanks to strict regulation established in the 1930s and 1940s.

Wild Side

The central mountain ranges in this ecoregion harbor many rare plants. Mt. Apoi contains by far the greatest number of species unique to Hokkaido. Japan's largest mammal species, theYezo brown bear, lumbers across the island. Rare and unique sub-species of northern pika and sable scurry under trees and over rocks. The northern pika in Hokkaido has a very narrow habitat range in the central mountains around Mt. Daisetsu and is of particular importance because it is a remnant of the glacial age.

Cause for Concern

The subalpine coniferous forests that once covered the northeast hills and coastal plains of this ecoregion have, for the most part, been cut down. However, there are still relatively large intact tracts of forests elsewhere on the island. Mt. Daisetsu National Park is the largest national park in Japan in terms of area, encompassing several volcanic mountains with extensive spruce and fir forests on its slopes. Unfortunately, protection from poaching, road construction, and tourism has not been very effective for plants and wildlife. For example, despite their protected status, sable are experiencing population declines due to habitat loss and poaching for their fur.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.