関東森林研究 68-2(2017)

論 文

水源林管理のための神奈川県森林再生パートナー制度の現状
Current status of Forest Restoration Partnership System in Kanagawa Prefecture for water source
forest improvement activities
杉浦克明＊1・鈴木智子＊1
Katsuaki SUGIURA＊1 and Tomoko SUZUKI＊1＊1 日本大学生物資源科学部
College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
要旨：神奈川県には，県土の 40％近くを占める森林を次世代に引き継ぐため企業・団体の社会貢献活動を推進し，協働で森林再生に取り組んでいく森林再生パートナー制度が 2009 年より開始されている。そこで，本研究の目的は，神奈川県の森林再生パートナー制度の仕組みと現状を把握し今後の展開について考察することである。その結果，前身の水源林パートナー制度から 2013 年に完全に移行を完了し，年々参加者数も増加傾向にあったが，近年では横ばいもしくは減少している。一方，企業・団体は，森林管理費用を寄付することで森林の命名権や CO2 吸収量算定証などが得られ，CSR 活動の一環として説明責任を果たすことにつながる。さらに，企業・団体は寄付だけではなく，その制度には森林管理活動への参加もできるため，企業・団体の構成員の意識向上といった教育にもなる。しかし，県としては多くの人に参加してもらいたい一方で，安全面で非常に注意を要する。
キーワード：水源林・森林再生パートナー制度・神奈川県・企業の社会的責任（CSR）
Abstract: Forests account for nearly 40% of the prefectural land in Kanagawa, and need to be managed and protected to provide asecure, high-quality water supply for future generations. The Forest Restoration Partner System (FRPS) started in 2009 is aprefecture-led mechanism for participation and cooperation between companies and organizations for water source forest
improvement. The purpose of this study was to assess the current status of the FRPS in Kanagawa Prefecture and analyze possible
future development opportunities. It was found that the number of partner organizations from 2011 to 2013 had not changed;
however, as of 2016 the number of partners had decreased. Partner organizations benefit by showing accountability through the CSR
activities, by gaining the naming rights of a forest, and by the issuance of a CO2 absorption amount calculation report, in exchange
for donating the forest improvement costs. In addition, the FRPS also has educational value in raising awareness of forest ecosystems,
gained when members of the partner organizations participate in forest improvement activities. However, the prefecture wants toencourage the involvement of many people in these activities and so must exercise great caution in terms of safety.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), water source forest, Forest Restoration Partnership System, Kanagawa
Prefecture
cooperation in water source forest improvement.

I Introduction
Kanagawa Prefecture has been promoting the improvement

In recent years, companies and organizations haveand appropriate management of private forests through “forestincreasingly moved to fulfill their CSR, to ensure a positive

improvement activities in Kanagawa water source” with theimpact on economic, social, and environmental factors throughaim of ensuring a high-quality and reliable water source (3).

their business activities (2). Furthermore, a partnership that

Kanagawa Prefecture is attempting to secure the water source

promotes CSR attracts attention, and is therefore beneficial toforest area for the next generation by improving the watershed

an organization that wants to raise its profile. A partnership is afunction in cooperation with local residents, companies, andmutually independent equal relationship, not a hierarchicalorganizations. There is currently a prefecture-led Forest

relationship based on authoritarian and paternalistic interactions

Restoration Partner System (FRPS), which was started in 2009,(9). A forest partnership is a social and economic cooperative

to improve corporate and organizational participation andsystem between the stakeholders (local residents, forest owners,－117 －（受理日 2017 年 6 月 19 日）

government, etc.) involving shared awareness and sharing roles

respectively (5). Both approaches offer the same common

relating to forest management and use by the local community

benefits.
Partner organizations can decide the name of the specified(1).
Companies and organizations are seeking effective CSR

forest. The prefecture issues a CO2 absorption amountactivities and the image boost gained through such activities incalculation report for partner organizations, and promotes thethe forest (7). To the best of our knowledge, little investigation

CSR activities on the prefecture homepage, including thehas been conducted on the FRPS and how organizations mightnamed forest on the map, the CO2 absorption amountbe using FRPS activities as part of their CSR. The purpose ofcalculation report, and images of forest activities. Moreover,this study was to analyze the current status and possible future

employees, organization members, and their families can joindevelopment of the FRPS in Kanagawa Prefecture.

in forest improvement volunteer activities (Fig. 1 and 2) (5).

II Methods

the required donation is three million yen for forest

If the partner organization chooses to support the prefecture,
In order to clarify the basic mechanism of the FRPS,

maintenance costs over five years (4). On the other hand, if theinformation was collected from Kanagawa Prefecture website

partner organization wants to support the forest owners, thenand related materials. The survey of existing conditions of

they agree to donate the cost of forest management by the forest

partnership forests was conducted on August 21, 2014.

owners for five years (5). The prefecture coordinates partner

Following on from this, we interviewed staff at the Kanagawa

organizations and forest owners, and provides direct support toPrefecture Natural Environment Conservation Center on

the forest owner (Fig. 2) (5).

October 7, 2014. The contents of the interviews illustrated theframework of the FRPS and the effects of the system’s adoption.

・Showing the location of naming rights forests and offer of naming right of the forests
・Issuance of CO2 absorption amount calculation report

III FRPS in Kanagawa Prefecture

Prefecture

memorandum

1. Background to the establishment of the FRPS

Partnerorganization

・Donation

In January 1999, before the creation of the FRPS, the Water
Source Forest Partner System (WSFPS) was launched to・Name setting of the forest
・Signboard installation
・Forest improvement volunteer activities

・Execution of forest management

encourage participation and cooperation between stakeholders
Forestthrough water source and forest improvement activities such as
thinning, pruning, and weeding (6). The system was establishedthanks to donations from Toyota Motor Corporation Kanagawa
in July 1998 (6) and their involvement in forest activities.

Fig. 1 Cooperation in forest improvement activities by Kanagagwa
Prefecture. Source: (5)The WSFPS required prospective partner organizations each・Showing the location of the activity forest
・Issuance of CO2 absorption amount calculation reportto commit to contribute three million yen to the prefecture over
five years, and the prefecture would then carry out forest

Partnerorganization

Prefecture

management. The prefecture would publicize the CSR activity
Tripartite memorandum(Coordinated by the prefecture)of the Water Source Forest Partner through a website and the・Donationprefecture’s brochure (6). Subsequently, the incentives of forest
naming rights and “CO2 absorption amount calculation” were・Offer of forest information(Forest current state and area, etc.)

・Offer of naming right forest
・Name setting request of the forest

added to the WSFPS offer, which was then re-launched as theFRPS in March 2009 (5).

Forest owner

2. Mechanism of the FRPS
Partner organizations have the choice of supporting forest

・Name setting of the forest
・Signboard installation
・Forest improvement volunteer activities

・Execution of forest management

restoration by supporting the prefecture, or by supporting theForest

forest owners. These approaches to participation are known as“cooperation in forest improvement activities by KanagawaFig. 2 Direct support to the forest owner. Source: (5)Prefecture,” and “direct support to the forest owner,”－118 －関東森林研究 68-2(2017)

IV Results and Discussion

organization. These naming rights forests are separate from the

1. Investigation of naming rights forests

partner forests, where the partner activities take place.

We performed the fieldwork in two of the naming rights

2.5 “Cooperation in forest improvement activities

forests: Enjyu forest of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, and Fujitsu

performed by the prefecture” or “Direct support to theFIP forest. The area of Enjyu forest was 7.58 ha, and the slopeforest restoration owners” As of October 1, 2014, there wereof the forest was relatively steep which discouraged access. The

39 forest restoration partner organizations. Thirty-six of thearea of Fujitsu FIP forest was 8.87 ha, and the slope of the forest

organizations were supporting the prefecture, two werewas steep; furthermore, the forest was some distance from theproviding direct support to the forest owner, and one wasparking lot, and access by car was difficult because of thesupporting both the prefecture and the forest owner. Support fornarrow width of the road approaching the forest. We therefore

the prefecture is probably the preferred option as the financial

concluded that the naming rights did not necessarily include

commitment required from the partner organization is fixed,

access to the forest for the partner organization.

whereas promised support to forest owners is potentially

2. Interview investigation

uncapped.

2.1 Publicizing the FRPS Promotion of the system by the

2.6 Selection of forest owners to receive direct support The

prefecture was limited to the production of a brochure andforest owner in the FRPS is the Forest Owners’ Cooperative in

information on the website, and was not actively pitched toeach city, town, or village. Depending on the requests ofpotential partner companies and organizations. If the prefecturepartners and the business status of the Forest Owners’

wants to increase the number of partners, a new active public

Cooperative, either one may turn down the partnership. An

relations strategy will need to be adopted.

example of a successful partnership was the introduction of the2.2 Advantages and disadvantages of the FRPS for theForest Owners’ Cooperative around Atsugi city.

prefecture Two main benefits exist for the prefecture. Firstly,

2.7 Role of mediating the “direct support to forest owners”

donations from the partner organizations provide a fund ofby the prefecture The forest volunteer activities desired by theapproximately 45 million yen per year, which is used directly

partners are diverse, and some activities such as large-scale tree

by the prefecture for water source improvement. Secondly, theplanting are difficult for the prefecture to implement. Instead,public awareness generated creates a driving force forthe partners can provide “direct support to forest restoration

continued improvement and appropriate forest management

owner,” which is mediated by the prefecture. Companies

through partner activities. A disadvantage though is theinterested in tree-planting activities in many cases will also use

involvement of untrained volunteers in arboricultural and land

this system (2). The role of the prefecture is to ensure that themanagement activities, as well as recreational forest activities,

various requirements of the partners are being met.

which poses health and safety challenges requiring careful

2.8 Donation only option, or donation plus forest

management and vigilance on the part of the prefecture and theimprovement activities option The prefecture is seeking topartner organizations. Overall, however, the system is highly

involve as many parties as possible in forest improvement

beneficial for the prefecture.

activities. Whilst the prefecture is grateful to partners regardless

2.3 Advantages of the FRPS for companies andof whether they directly participated in activities or whetherorganizations In recent years there has been an increase in CSR

they supported forest improvement through donations, active

activities, and people have become more aware of the need toparticipation is desirable. In order to undertake these forest

maintain and protect our forests. Thus participation in the FRPS

improvement activities though, funds are required in advanceis attractive to companies both because it provides CSR

for preparation and resources, and even more so where travel isactivities with the associated positive impact on public relations,required to reach the more distant activity forests. Therefore,

and also because of the kudos and enhancement of the company

donations for the prefecture are the central requirement for

profile resulting from the naming rights of a forest.

participation of partner organizations, and forest improvement

2.4 Naming rights forests and partner forests The

activities are offered as an option.

proposed locations of forests with naming rights are in the

2.9 Location of naming rights forest In many cases, theprefectural forests around Lake Tanzawa, Lake Miyagase, andnaming rights forests were on steep slopes running down to aLake Tsukui, and can be viewed and chosen by the partner

reservoir. This presented safety concerns as footing was bad,－119 －and activities in these forests would involve an unacceptable

FRPS has the potential to provide a similar offer. However,degree of risk or would simply be impossible because of thecaution must be exercised if the prefecture is to attempt togradient. Therefore, volunteer activities do not take place in theemulate such a model, as ensuring safety in such activities

naming rights forest, but in activity forests. The importance ofrequires a high level of experience and expertise that not all

the naming rights forest is to provide publicity and to beforest activity companies would be able to provide.

promoted by the organization in their literature, and on thehomepage of the publication of the prefecture. Therefore, it is
the naming of the forest, not its location, which is important.

References(1) AKIHIRO T. (2005) Socioeconomic discussion on public

2.10 FRPS volunteer involvement The number ofparticipation and partnership for forest management in local

participants in forest improvement activities from partner

communities (I): Categorizing the stages of constructing aorganizations has increased. Volunteer participation has furtherpartnership. Jpn. J. For. Plann. 43: 123-142

been boosted by the involvement of members of the Kanagawa(2) IKEDA, S. (2014) Direction of the environmental CSR

Trust Green Foundation volunteer group, which now has more

activity: case study of reforestation by the baby goods company.

than 18,000 members participating every year despite starting

J. Tokyo Univ. of Info. Sci. 17 (2): 21-40

with only 800 members in 1990.

(3) INAMOTO, K. (2012) Forest improvement activities in

2.11 Changes in the number of partner organizations AllKanagawa water source. In: Natural restoration of Tanzawa.

partners participating in the WSFPS moved to the FRPS at theKONOHIRA, Y., KATSUYAMA, T., TAMURA, A., YAMANE, M.,

end of 2013. The number of partners had increased every year

HAYAMA, S., ITONAGA, K., HARA, K., and TANIKAWA, K. (eds)and plateaued between 2011 and 2013, but at the time of writing

Japan Forestry Investigation Committee, 91-96

the number had reduced to 35 (Table 1) (4). If we are to keep(4) KANAGAWA Prefecture (2015) Forest restoration partne

these partner organizations into the future and recruit newrship system. http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/cnt/p20736.html

partners, then the prefecture needs a new public relations(Accessed 8 August 2016)

strategy to raise awareness of the FRPS and its benefits to all(5) KANAGAWA Prefecture (2015) Regarding forest restoratparties.

ion partnership system. http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/cnt/p20723.html (Accessed 8 August 2016)

Table 1 Changes in the number of partner organization
YearWSFPSFRPSTotal

2009

18927

2010

122234

2011

83139

2012

43539

2013

03939

(6) KANAGAWA Prefecture (2015) Regarding water source
forest partnership system. http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/cnt/p20724.html (Accessed 8 August 2016)(7) KOBAYASHI, K., and MIYABAYASHI, S. (2012) The featuresof creation of a forest by CSR. J. Agric. Sci., Tokyo Univ.
Agric. 56 (4): 275-283(8) KUBO, S. （2012）Volunteer activities in the Yadoriki water
source forest. In: Natural restoration of Tanzawa. KONOHIRA, Y.,

V Conclusion
The FRPS is highly beneficial for the prefecture in order toprovide funds for water source forest management. In addition,
the CSR activities of the partner organizations are highly
beneficial to the water source forests and a powerful incentive
for companies to become partners. It is a successful system thatmeets the interests of all parties. However, the number ofKATSUYAMA, T., TAMURA, A., YAMANE, M., HAYAMA, S.,
ITONAGA, K., HARA, K., and TANIKAWA, K. (eds) Japan Forestry
Investigation Committee, 511-517(9) SATO, T., and NAGAGUCHI, T. (2013) Actual situations ofenvironmental public-private partnership organizations in cities.
Takasaki City Univ. Econ. 48 (2): 17-30

partners has decreased in recent years. If this trend is to bereversed and the number of partner organizations increased, a
new public relations strategy is required. The number ofcompanies planning activities in the Yadoriki Water Source
Forest as part of their CSR activities is increasing (8) and the－120 －