Challenge of Trail Restoration – Mt. Kurofu – Part 2｜Joshin’etsukogen National Park

Part 1    • Challenge of Trail Restoration – Mt. Kurof...   Rangers (national park managers and nature conservation officers) are Ministry of the Environment staff who work on-site to protect Japan’s outstanding natural areas and pass them on to future generations. This video introduces Kenta Nakamori, a ranger from Joshin’etsukogen National Park. Mt. Asama lies on the border of Gunma and Nagano Prefectures. On the trail of Mt. Kurofu, the first outer rim of Mt. Asama, there are sections where the surface has been deeply eroded by foot traffic and rainfall induced sediment runoff. Furthermore, another issue is that users avoid the degraded areas when passing through, which results in the surrounding vegetation being trampled and multiple informal trails being created. To address these issues, restoration work will be carried out at locations where degradation is particularly severe. Local mountain stakeholders, trail restoration groups from other regions, and Ministry of the Environment rangers will participate in the work. The video follows the rangers as they carry logs from the foot of the mountain, climb the trail, and apply their knowledge and skills to the restoration work. [Joshin’etsukogen National Park] Joshin’etsukogen National Park is a vast park composed of mountain ranges and highlands stretching from Mt. Tanigawa (1,977 m), Mt. Naeba (2,145 m), Mt. Kusatsu Shirane (2,160 m), and Mt. Azumaya (2,354 m) to Mt. Asama (2,568 m). The park features dramatic landscapes, including the towering rock walls of Mt. Tanigawa and the iconic peaks of Mt. Asama and Mt. Kusatsu Shirane. Cool highlands spread across these mountains, dotted with clear lakes and wetlands that create beautiful scenery. The mountains offer fields for hiking and skiing, while the highlands serve as summer retreats, making this national park a place where visitors can enjoy seasonal activities alongside nearby hot spring towns. ■ National parks of Japan https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/ ■Facebook   / nationalparksofjapan   ■Instagram   / nationalpark_japan