Last night, Yuka described to me Japan’s policy of planting single species tree to counter pollution from industrial expansion and output, done with good intention, has back fired disasterously. The pollon has caused wide spread allegy.
Researching this, I read this article in 1995. After WW2, the Government ‘applied their agressive industrial policies to the environment as well as the economy. They financed a reforestation project, with single species commercially productive tree, the Cedar, because of the usefulness of its wood and the speed of its growth. Previously forests were mixed oak, maple and other broadleaf as well as evergreens.
The reaction to the pollen, called cases of pollenosis, are a product of the unprecedented concentration of mature cedars; it is believed that never before have humans been assaulted by such huge waves of pollen.
The unexpected bonus, was that with everyone wearing masks already, come COVID, mask wearing was not such a novelty and generally widely accepted.
Kaliwood 