Feasibility analysis of acquiring forest certification systemin the Monobe river basin’s forest
Yuta Inoue and Tsunemi Watanabe
Kochi University of Technology
ABSTRACT:In late years the price of domestic woods has been low due to falls of import prices of foreign product woods
in Japan. This invites a decline of management motivation of forestry managers. As a result, giving-up of an
artificial plantation, advancement of dilapidation, frequent occurrence of natural disasters, and lowering offunctions of the forest are concerned about. The situation is similar in the forest of Kochi Monobe river basin,and immediate measures are demanded. In Japan, the forest certification system acquisition is considered forone of the remedies of the forest management problems. Forest certification system is a system to certify theforest managed adequately. Specific logo marks are put to forestry products from the certified forest. Thesystem promotes the purchase certified goods by consumers with priority by adding values to forestry
products, and help to achieve desirable forest management. In this research, the authors pay attentions toforest certification system expected as one of the remedies of the forest management problems and examine
a possibility of the certification acquisition in the Kochi Monobe river basin’s forest. The authors focus on
Yusuhara town that had already acquired the forest certification in Kochi. Comparative analysis with theMonobe river basin’s forest is made, and a possibility of the certification acquisition in the forest of Monobe
river basin is studied. As a result of the analysis, the feeding damage by wildlife was remarkable. Thus, atfirst Monobe river basin should concentrate on developing necessary measures. It is concluded, therefore,that a possibility that Monobe river basin’s forest can acquire the forest certification is low now.
KEYWORDS: Forest functional decline, The Monobe river basin’s forest, Forest certification system
1. INTRODUCTION

Thus, daily wage of forestry employee came toexceed the wood price of the cedar per 1m3 (Figure

1.1 Background1-1). As a result, forestry management becomesdifficult, and the above wage and price situation

1.1.1 The present situation of the Japanese forest

causes a decline of the management motivation ofmaintenancethe forestry manager. In addition, aging of a number

Forest covers about 67% of the country, and Japanis called eminent forest country in the world.

of forestry employees is advanced, and the total
number of employees decreases year by year.

This forest has versatile functions (Table 1-1).

The forest management such as the thinning is not

Such functions support our daily life although they

performed, and the forest is “abandoned.” Artificial

are difficult to be felt. However, in recent years,

forest is in condition to be ruined. In this situation

since import prices of the foreign product wood fall,

the forest may not be able to show versatile original

the slump of the domestic wood price continued.

functions, and the frequent occurrence of the natural

woods consisting of the trees which have alreadydisaster is concerned about.

inhabited there, natural update is hard to beperformed. Much of the artificial forest was planted

Table 1-1 Multiple functions of forest① Biological diversity maintenanceduring the above-mentioned period, and the age of② Global environment maintenancetrees is becoming 40 and 50 years old, which needs③ A prevention of earth and sand disasterthinning.

function, a soil conservation function

However, maintenance such as thinning was not④ Source of a river cultivation function

performed enough in Kochi by factors of the aging⑤ A

comfortableenvironmental

formationof the forestry employees and decrease in theirfunction

numbers. As a result, the artificial plantations with

⑥ Health and a recreation function

insufficient⑦ A culture function

outbreak of disasters in mountainous district and⑧ A material production function

lowering of the forest function is concerned about.

(Source: Forestry Agency homepage)

maintenanceareincreasing.

TheSuch situations are also observed in a forest belt inMonobe river basin. Improvement of the forest

Money (yen)management is needed.

25000

Forest w orkers w age
20000

Price of ceder

1.2 Aims

15000

In this research, the authors pay their attention to10000

forest certification system expected as one of the5000

remedies of the forest management situation. We
Year

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1985

1975

0

Figure 1-1 Change of the forestry workers wage andattempt to measure its effect and examine possibilityof the certification acquisition in the monobe river
basin’s forest.

a wood price of a cedar（In Japan）(From change (index comparison) of logging and

2. FOREST CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

lumber production worker wage and wood price in
In Japan, being awarded forest certificationmountain)

system is considered as one of the remedies of the1.1.2

The

present

situationoftheforest

maintenance of Kochi

forest management situation. Forest certification
system is to evaluate and certify the forest practicing

Forest covers about 84% of all areas of thesustainable forest management. The label of theprefecture, and Kochi is a forest prefecture eminent

specific logo mark is attached to the forestry

in Japan. Because a large-scale afforestation wasproducts from the certified forest. This label adds

performed in Kochi from 1945 to 1955, the ratio ofvalue and promotes consumers to prefer thesean artificial plantation with cedar and Japanese

products to others. The consumer can support

cypress reaches about 65% of the forest cover.

managers of forestry that performs appropriate forest

The artificial forest cannot be kept a healthy state

management and further contribute to world forest

unless it is maintained artificially. Since thesemaintenance by choosing products with the label.

artificial plantations are different from the naturalThe system adds value to forestry goods in this wayand supports desirable forest management on theBecause forest certification system attracted
attention, various groups tried to develop thebasis of markets.
As systems which can be acquired in Japan, there

certification label. Then, many labels were possibly

are two forest certification systems: "FSC forest

jumbled up, and there was a danger of being fallen

certification

green

into the situation that consumers could not

circulation certification system." Many forest areas

understand which label should be trusted. Therefore,

receive the certification by now. The forest in

unification of the certification systems was necessary,

Yusuhara town and Taisho town in Kochi acquired

and the WWF which wasthe forest certification.

conservation of nature group led to establish asystem"

and"theSGEC

aglobal major

certification system called FSC. Because the world's
greatest conservation of nature group established and2.1 FSC forest certification systemrecommended FSC, consumers can rely on judging
FSC(ForestStewardshipCouncil)

forestcertification system is a most reliable certification

whether

reasonable

forestmanagement

wasperformed or not.

system in the world. This is mainly because theWWF (World Wide Fund for nature), a society for2.1.2 The principle of the FSC forest certification

the conservation of nature working on a global scale,systemrecommends this system. Another reason for thereliability is that this system uses the common

Principles of the FSC forest certification system
are described in Table 2-1.

standard to examine whether sustainable forest
management is practiced or not.

2.1.3 The effect that is expected by FSC forest
certification system

2.1.1

Starting

processoftheFSCforestA

prospectiveeffectbytheFSC

forestcertification acquisition is summarized as follows.

certification system
The process that this FSC forest certification“The first one is improvement of the forest

system started is as follows. In the United Nations

management standard as a social effect. Another

Conference on Environment and Development

effect is the improvement of multiple functions of(UNCED) of 1992 sustainable development (as onethe forest by the improvement of the managementofSustainablestandard, too. Furthermore, it is hoped thatDevelopment), “Sustainable Forest Management”

management motivation is improved by acquiring

was confirmed. In addition, with "forest principle

the certification for the manager of forestry.

theimportantelementsofstatement" and "Agenda 21" Chapter 11, necessity of

Expected effects for producers of wood goods are

sustainable management is written down for all

increase in possibility to enter the market withkinds of the forest including temperate forests andincrease in value-added effects with the certification

the northern forests.

label.”As a result of argument in the No. 15 board of
directors of the International Tropical Timber
Organization (ITTO), labeling and certification
system of the wood attracted attention as effective
technique afterwards.

Table 2.1 Principle list of the FSC forest certification

2.2.1 The start process of the SGEC greensystem

circulation certification system
They follow all laws and anPrinciple 1

Principle 2

Principle 3

Principle 4
Principle 5
Principle 6

Principle 7

Principle 8
Principle 9international

decisionand

It is from the latter half of 1990 that forest
certification system has begun to attract attention inprinciples of FSC.

Japan. It was judged that a role of the forest was

A right to own the forest and a rightimportant as absorption source of the greenhouse gas

to use become clear.

for prevention of global warming in Japan. Therefore,

They respect the traditional right ofwhen the improvement of the forest management

people (indigenous people) living instandard was planned, needs were born to evaluate

the forest from old days.

the forest as the absorption source appropriately and

They have a good relation with ato certify the well managed forest. Other needs tocommunity and a worker.

establish certification standards were to judge

A crop provided from the forest iswhether forestry products certified abroad flowingrich.

into the Japanese forestry market were really usefulIt is the rich forest where manyfor Japan or not.
It was particularly needed to prevent the situation

creatures live.
Based on the basic data that forestfrom occurring that domestic lumber is put on amanagement was investigated, it isdisadvantage because it was not certified due tocarried out premeditatedly.

unpopularity of forest certification systems in Japan.

They check whether they perform

Furthermore, Japan has a very large-scaled artificial

appropriate

plantation, which is not comparable with foreign

forestmanagement

regularly.

forests. The original "forest plan system" andThey protect precious natural forest.

"protected forest system," which are considered

The formation of the artificial
Principle 10 plantation

does

nothave

aninfluence on the natural forest.
(Source: Non profit organization Japan forest
management meeting HP)

superior to other countries, are legislated.
It was considered that the forest certification
system in Japan should be established on the basis of
the viewpoints of incorporating characteristics ofnature such as ecology and of the society. Thesystem needs to incorporate Japanese natural and

2.2 A circulation certification system of the SGEC
green

living environment and maintenance of biologicaldiversity maintenance so that the support of manynations can be obtained. In addition, it was also

SGEC green circulation certification system(Sustainable Green Ecosystem) is forest certification
system established originally in Japan. Its standard
incorporates the Japanese peculiar topography andvegetation distribution.

considered necessary to establish the original
Japanesetypeofforest

certification

systemincorporating the actual situation such as property
structure, the artificial plantation rate, and theforestry management.
However, such a certification system should also
be consistent with other systems in the world andwith measures of the existing country such as forest

plan system or the protected forest system. A new

objective examination, restructuring of a businesscertification

entity by a check of problems such as safety andsystemshouldcontributeto

morale (environmental awareness) improvement of

improvement of the forest management.
The circulation certification system of the SGEC

an employee by it, demand expansion of wood, andgreen was established from these points.

image improvement of a management body.”

2.2.2 The standard of the SGEC green circulation

3. COMPARISON ANALYSIS

certification system
The standard of the SGEC green circulation
certification system is set as follows.

certification systems

Table 2.2 Standard of the SGEC green circulation

Standard 2
Standard 3

Standard 4

Clear statement of the certification

examineobject forest and the decision of theacquisition for the Monobe river basin’s forest. As amanagement policy

result, the authors observed common standards in theMaintenance of biological diversity

forest certification. They are summarized as follows:

The soil and maintenance and theProduction

capacity

ecosystemandofforest

maintenanceof

Standard 6
Standard 7

sustainable forest management
maintenanceofofforestcertification

1) formation of the frame of the system for2) production capacity of the forest ecosystem andmaintenance of the soundness,and4) monitoring and information disclosure.
3.2 Comparison with the precedent example

theeconomic advantage and an increase
Monitoring

possibility3) maintenance of the biological diversity, andA frame of the system of the law forSociety,asustained forest management,

maintenance of aquatic resources

soundness
Standard 5

The authors compared the standards of theexisting two certification systems in Japan tocertification system
Standard 1

3.1 The standard comparison of the forest

informationdisclosure

The author tried to study a case of Yusuhara,
Kochi, which was a precedent example of the forest
certification and make a comparison of the monobe（ Source: SGEC green circulation certification

river basin’s forest.

meeting HP）
3.2.1 Precedent example of the forest certification
2.2.3 Expected effect by SGEC green circulation
certification system

An example which has already acquired forest

Next is expected effect by the SGEC green
circulation certification acquisition.
area that cares about environment by acquiring thecertification. In addition, it is expected to haveofmanagement

certification system is Yusuhara town in Kochi. Theyacquire the FSC forest certification in 2000.

“At first local brand effect can be expected as theimprovement

acquisition（In Yusuhara）

technology

byThey succeeded in increasing certification areas
by visiting an individual forest house in the town andasking them whether each would like to participate
in a certification system. In addition, they planned

that they raised the interest of the person concerned

3.2.2 The present situation of the Monobe riverwith forestry by performing study party andbasin’s forest

performed

thedocumentmakingforpublic

In the Monobe river basin’s forest, by naming

information expansion.

“Forest Shih business model housing complex

In examination of the forest certification, thesystem,” the Kami forestry owners' association has

following points are given for the point wherebeen developing work roads within 911ha of theYusuhara was evaluated.

forest in Kami City since 1995. By these measures,

・ The point that has relations with a community

the road network density increases to 47.5 m/ha inwell2004 from 27.0 m/ha in 1997, which is about 76% of・ The point where an artificial plantation prospers

increase.
This density increase leads to improvement of theadequately
・ The point where the age structure of the tree iswork efficiency about the thinning. About 22% ofdisplayed adequately

cost cut was achieved. In this manner the forest

・ The point where data about the forest are managed

maintenance has been conducted in Kami City. Thus,

by introduction of the GIS

further progress of forest maintenance was expectedby acquiring forest certification system.

The following is nominated for the effect that
Yusuhara got the forest certification from by

3.3 Problems in the court official abandonment

acquiring it.

area forest“Yusuhara established a system to provide with a

It is thought that the Monobe river basin’s forest

grant of 100,000 (yen/ha) for the forest house

fulfills a standard of the forest certification aboutcarrying out thinning if the house registers itself with

forest maintenance as mentioned in the previous

the FSC certification forest. As a result, the forest

paragraph. However, they face a serious problem

houses with the certification increases 1.9 times as

now in the other items.

much as before, and a thinning area increase rapidly.
Aiming at enhancement of public functions of the3.3.1 The issue of feeding damage by the wildlife

forest and activation of the regional forestry, they are

One of the problems in particular in the Monobe

currently wrestling for the forest maintenance withriver basin’s forest is a feeding damage problem by

the emphasis on quality improvement of forest

the deer. In addition to the damage for the lower

resources such as certification of FSC. Due tovegetation, the tree skinning is frequent. The feeding

lowereddamage by the deer has a great influence on forest

profitability,

however,

theeconomic

situation of the forestry becomes severer. Because ofvegetation.

the aging of the forestry worker and the slump of theIn Kochi, there is the area where a lot of deerwood price, there is much forest stand where shihinhabits in the east and west, and Monobe river basin

business of thinning and nurturing are insufficient.

in Kami city belongs to the area where theThus, further development of logging roads are

distribution of the eastern part is centered. Therefore

needed as infrastructure for wood production.”

the damage is remarkable in Kochi (Figure 3-1 andFigure 3-2).
In the area that has already acquired the forest
certification, Tosa-cho and Yusuhara-cho, inhabitantFigure 3-1 Forestry damage by deer in monetary
terms by municipality（2006）

Figure 3-4 Captured head count of the deer in Kochi(Source: Kochi specific animals (deer) protection(Source: Kochi specific animals (deer) protection

management plan)management plan)of much deer is not confirmed yet (Figure 3-3, andFigure 3-4). These areas with certification do notseem to suffer from the feeding damage by the deer.
4. CONCLUSIONSAn attempt is made to examine Monobe river
Figure 3-2 Tree classification damage ratio of thebasin forest with common standard components offorestry by deer in Kami City

the forest certification discussed in Section 1 in(Source: Kochi specific animals (deer) protection

Chapter 3. Regarding the formation of a frame of amanagement plan)system for sustainable forest management, they havealready performed logging road maintenance as
forest maintenance project. Thus, there seems no
problem particularly.
However,inotherstandards,

thecurrent

conditions in Monobe do not seem to satisfy
standards. In particular, evaluation of the production
capacity of forest ecosystem and maintenance ofsoundness would be low because of frequent
Deer habitation density andManagement area classification

occurrence of feeding damage.
It is concluded that a possibility to acquire theforest certification is low in Monobe river basin’s

Figure 3-3 Deer habitation density distribution andforest. The region should take an anti-feeding

management division (2007)

damage measure immediately.

(Source: Kochi specific animals (deer) protection
management plan)

REFERENCES
Kochi

specificanimals(deer)protection

management plan,
URL:
http://www.pref.kochi.jp/~tyoujyu/sikatokutei2-ann.pdf
A basin and the natural environments of the river,
URL:
http://www.mlit.go.jp/river/gaiyou/seibi/pdf/mono
begawa87-5-02.pdf
Forest certification system meeting for theresearch,
URL: http://www.re-forest.com/fcnet/index.html
SGEC green circulation certification meeting,
URL: http://www.sgec-eco.org/