Deer Countermeasures in the Senjogahara Wetland
In the Senjogahara Wetland, fences keeping deer out are used to protect wetland plants against damage from deer, and generally to conserve the natural environment. The deer population in Oku-Nikko has grown considerably since the 1980s. This has had a serious impact on the flora, with more and more deer feeding on plants. In 2001, the Ministry of the Environment installed these fences in order to help preserve the delicate balance that has sustained vegetation and the forests in and around the wetlands. The fences allow species other than deer to pass freely, while at the same time not affecting the integrity of the natural wetland landscape.