History

Tomakomai Experimental Forest, hereafter TOEF was established in 1904, as a field of research and education about forest science through the transference of forest land from Hokkaido Prefecture to Sapporo AgriculturalCollege, the forerunner of Hokkaido University.

In 1st April, 2001, the Botanic Garden, the Museum, the Livestock Farm, the Experimental Farms and the University Forests became independent from Faculty of Agriculture and joined the newly established The Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere. The Tomakomai Experimental Forest takes change of Forest Research Station of the center.

The first working plan was formulated in 1906 and the first dormitory for students was built in 1910. Most of the present facilities were constructed within the last 30 years, The Forest Museum and the Forest Observation Tower in 1977, and the Administration Office of this forest instituted in 1979.

The forest covers 2,715ha of lowland area near the Tomakomai city, and it has been used as a study site in various field of research and education for many years.

Disturbance History

There are two important natural disturbances around TOEF: volcanic eruptions and typhoons. There reported four eruptions in Shikoku-Tarumae volcanic belt since 9000 years ago. The last eruption was about 330 years ago. Even in present time, whole TOEF are is covered with 1-2 m thick volcanic ash layer originated from the eruption. The eruption most probably caused crushing damage to the vegetations around TOEF.

Since TOEF was established in 1904, two big typhoons were recored: Typhoon No.5 ("Touyamaru" typhoon, named from a ship which sunk then) in 1954 and Tyhoon No 5 in 1981. Wood volume damaged by each typhoons in TOEF counted to 90,000 and 30,000 m3, respectively. In particular, Touyamaru typhoon caused so serious damege that TOEF forest now mainly consists of trees which regenerated after then.