Because the understory vegetation within a forest is effective for reducing soil erosion and biodiversity, thinning of conifer plantations have been promoted to intend the recovery of understory vegetation. On the other hand, the decrease of understory vegetation by deer overbrowsing is widely reported throughout Japan. In this study, we therefore examined the effects of deer fence for the recovery of understory vegetation after the thinning of a plantation.

The study area was a hinoki plantation located in the Somon district, Odai town, Mie Pref. The 16 plots (5 m × 5 m) were established within the plantation after the thinning in late summer of 2010. 8 plots (fenced plots) of the 16 plots were enclosed by deer fence and the remaining 8 plots (unfenced plots) were not enclosed. We monitored the change of vegetation cover and light environment since spring in 2011. In addition, we conducted the soil and topographic surveys in all plots.

Uunderstory vegetation appeared more in fenced plots than in unfenced plots. However, the change of vegetation cover was not significantly differed between fenced and unfenced plots. Although the deer fence might be effective for the recovery of understory vegetation, the further monitoring and analyses should be needed.