Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## Chapter I New challenges for forestry

—Supporting steady supply of domestic wood and sustaining healthy forests for the future—

1. Nation’s growing expectations for forests and the role of forestry

(1) Growing expectations for the mitigation of global warming

According to the Public Opinion Poll on Forests and Lifestyle conducted by the Cabinet Office in May 2007, respondents ranked “contribution to mitigate global warming” as their highest expectation for forests.

As the nation’s expectations for forests diversify, there is a growing need —now more than ever—to take adequate measures to enhance the multifunctional roles of forests, in particular of planted ones.

☐ 58% of forests in Japan are privately owned, while 31% are national forests and 11% are public forests owned by local authorities. Planted forests share 31% in national forests and 46% in private ones, which means that forestry practices are required more in private forests.

☐ Forest owners have the discretion to undertake forestry practices in their forests in accordance with Forest Plans including the Local Forest Improvement Plan. However, forestry practices are often outsourced to forestry contractors given the ageing of forest owners.

While there is a need to accelerate forest carbon-sink measures, it is vital to promote forest management in an efficient and sustainable manner by fostering dedicated forestry contractors to which forest owners can entrust their forestry practices.

## (2) Expectations for domestic wood as readily available resource

With increased wood demand from China and the Middle East and rising oil prices, the outlook for world wood trade is unclear.

On the other hand, as the availability of wood from planted forests has been increasing, the use of domestic wood has risen six times in plywood and doubled in laminated wood for the past five years.

Amidst this backdrop, the expectation for steady supply of domestic wood is rising. An urgent response, including the collection of forestry practices and the efficient implementation of thinning, is required.

## (3) Importance of forestry

In developing healthy forests fulfilling public interest functions such as mitigation of global warming and in providing steady supply of wood to wood industry, it is essential to foster dedicated forestry contractors and create forestry industry that both provides for the steady supply of wood and supports forest management and conservation well into the future.

Japan’s forestry industry has overcome many obstacles and now finds itself in an upturn. Now more than ever, it is crucial for the forestry industry to establish its stability and sustainability and develop the nation’s forests to meet the needs of the people.
Expected Functions of Forests

Source: Cabinet Office “Public Opinion Poll on Forests and Lifestyles” (2007)

## Area and Planted-to-Natural Ratio by Forest Ownership Type

Note: National Forests include those forests under the jurisdictions of agencies other than the Forestry Agency. Forests not subject to the Improvement Plan are included in Private Forest.

Changes in the Amount of Domestic Wood Used for Plywood and Laminated Wood

Ratio of Materials Received by Output Volume in Sawmills Specializing in Domestic Wood

Source: MAFF "Wood Demand and Supply Report"
2. Development of forestry and current condition of mountain villages

(1) Current condition of forestry industry

According to the 2005 Census of Agriculture and Forestry, there are 920,000 forest owners that own forestlands of more than 1 ha. The ownership structure is characterized by small ownership in that 57% of forest owners own less than 3 ha.

Forest areas where forestry practices are entrusted to forest owners’ cooperatives or forestry contractors such as log producers are on the rise. For example, areas where thinning is entrusted almost doubled.

☐ Profitability of forestry industry is in dire straits. It is necessary for the industry players to reduce both production and distribution cost through collecting forestry practices to achieve economies of scale, building efficient and low-cost forestry practices and simplifying distribution at every level.

## (2) Securing and training forestry workforce

The number of forestry workforce continues to fall over the long term to approximately 50,000 in 2005.

☐ “Forestry new Employment Training Project” was launched in FY 2003 to provide new employees for forestry technical training in an effort to secure forestry workforce. Over the past 4 years, 6,000 employees have completed a one-year training program.

☐ Forestry contractors accepting new employees need to make efforts to improve working conditions by enhancing social security and by securing enough projects to keep full-time employment.

## (3) Condition of rural mountain areas

☐ Rural communities in mountain areas are especially at risk for becoming non-viable due to declining population. Forest management, which is traditionally sustained by the rural communities, is becoming more and more difficult due to wildlife damages, pests and diseases and illegal dumping.

To revitalize the rural communities in mountain areas, it is essential to promote forestry—the core industry—and to make the best use of regional resources to create new business opportunities. For example, it is useful to create opportunities for employment and settlement through long-term and experience-based interregional exchange with urban residents.
Number of Forest Owners by Area of Forest Owned

Forest Area where Forestry Practices are Entrusted in the Past Year

Source: MAFF

“2000 World Agriculture and Forestry Census”,

“2005 Agriculture and Forestry Census”

Changes in Number of Forestry Workforce (By Age Bracket)

State of Villages in Depopulation Zones

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

“Survey of Current Village Conditions for the National Land Sustainability Plan” (Released August 2007)

Note: “Mountainous Areas”: Villages with 80% or more forested land,

“Intermediate Areas”: Villages located between mountains and flatlands,

“Flatlands”: Villages with less than 50% forested areas and at least 20% cultivated land.
### 3. Movement toward new forestry industry

(1) Securing dedicated forestry industry players to support multifunctional roles of forests and realize steady supply of wood

In order to overcome the inefficiency of forestry practices due to small-scale forestlands tenure, forest management and its associated forestry practices must not be left to the forest owners alone but should be entrusted to dedicated, regionally-based industry players.

To further advance the entrustment of forestry practices, it is important to promote proposal-based forestry practices with clear description of revenues and cost and seek out an understanding with forest owners on the proposals.

As forestry practices are collected and the efficiency of forestry practices improves, domestic wood will be steadily supplied to the industry, thus boosting profitability and increasing returns to forest owners.

It is important that these initiatives are effectively implemented in consideration of the human resources, machinery, information technology and financial resources of forestry contractors including Forest Owners' Cooperatives, log producers and sawmills all while ensuring adequate competition and collaboration among them. Official support should be provided for these initiatives.

In the future, it is expected that, as a number of forestry contractors that can efficiently conduct thinning and other forestry practices gain a foothold in certain regions, forest owners will have more choices of forestry contractors and various forestry practices including low-cost ones or long-term forest management are pursued.

## (Promoting the proposal-based forestry practices)

In order to promote proposal-based forestry practices in the earliest stages, training programs have been organized for “Forestry Practice Planners” who encourage forest owners to entrust their forestry practices to forestry contractors.

In addition, training sessions and on-site excursions have been organized by local authorities, universities and regional forest offices of the National Forests for the introduction of innovative forestry practices based on the combination of forest road networks and high-performance forestry machinery.

It is expected that participants in these training sessions play central roles in proposal-based efficient forestry practices in each region.

## (Increasing profitability of forestry)

For increasing profitability of forestry, it is necessary to reduce both production and distribution cost through collecting forestry practices to achieve economies of scale and building efficient and low-cost forestry practices based on the combination of forest road networks and high-performance forestry machinery.

The forest road networks must be simply and long-lastingly developed in consideration of actual forestry practices, types of high-performance forestry machinery, topography of the site.

☐ Introducing high-performance forestry machinery requires the collection of forestry practices that allows for year-round operations along with the measures to boost the utilization rates of the machinery.
Log Producers Responses to “Who Should Collect Forestry Practices?”

Proposal-Based Forestry Practices and Anticipated Forestry Contractors

Type	Forestry Practice Proposers and Implementers	Example
Forestry Practice Proposals to Forest Owners	Implementation of Proposed Forestry Practices
I	Forest Owners' Cooperative Independent Type	Forest Owners' Cooperatives (FOC)	FOC owns work groups for logging and high-performance machinery
II	FOC + Log Producers Type 1	FOC	FOC	FOC contracts a part of logging to regional materials producers
III	FOC + Log Producers Type 2	FOC	Log Producers	FOC does not have work group for logging. Contracting thinning to regional log producers is more efficient.
IV	Log Producers and Large-Scale Forest Owner-Operated Type	Log Producers or Large-Scale Forest Owners	Dedicated log producers are expanding their scope of management. Large-scale individual or corporate forest owners manage surrounding forests in addition to their own
Other Types	Wood Industry Collaborative Type	Wood industry is actively involved in one of the types mentioned above	Wood industry which aims for stable resource procurement collaborates with FOC and Log Producers in proposed work
Other (Combination of the above)
(Collection of forestry practices by forestry contractors)

Forestry contractors require information on owners and boundaries of forests in order to collect forestry practices. There is a need to create the necessary databases on this information.

To increase domestic wood use in wood industry, forestry industry must provide the wood industry with information on the amounts and species of logs and their location.

This information sharing between forestry industry and wood industry will lead to increased business opportunities and contribute to steady trade, more efficient distribution, transparency in the pricing system and improved price bargaining power for vendors.

## (2) For sustainable forest management

It is crucial to train dedicated forestry workforce with a sense for management and to efficiently carry out forest practices in order to maximize multifunctional roles including mitigation of global warming. Providing steady supply of wood is the first step in developing stable, long-term relationships between the forestry industry and wood industries.

Under this process, forestry management will stabilize and forest owners will enjoy an increased return of profits from stepped-up forestry practices. This will lead to healthier forests.

## (3) New challenges for forestry

Taking new challenges by dedicated forestry industry players to collect forestry practices and reduce costs is indispensable for maintaining healthy forests for future generations.
Forest GIS (Example: Posted on the website of Gifu Prefecture)
## Chapter II Accelerating forest carbon-sink measures to achieve Kyoto Protocol commitment

1. International efforts to mitigate global warming

Global warming is one of the most important environmental issues that affect the very foundations of human existence.

According to the 4th Assessment Report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), society that continues to enjoy high rates of economic growth depending on fossil fuels—is expected to see temperature increase by approximately $ 4^{\circ} $ C by the end of this century. Additionally, several organizations in the world have made observations on increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere and rising temperature.

Efforts are activated to build frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the first commitment period (2008 to 2012) under the Kyoto Protocol. In the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP13) and the 3rd session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP3) held in December 2007, it was agreed that a new forum for party nations to discuss post-first commitment period frameworks would be established to reach final decision by 2009. One agenda item at this forum is reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.

### 2. Japan’s initiative to mitigate global warming

In order to evaluate the progress of measures stipulated under the Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan approved by the Cabinet in 2005 and take necessary steps during the first commitment period, the Plan was revised in FY 2007.

The carbon dioxide removals by Japan’s forests under the Kyoto Protocol in FY 2005 was calculated at 9.66 million carbon tons (35.42 million $ CO_{2} $ tons). This is equivalent to 2.8% of Japan’s total emissions in the base year.

## (Securing 13 million carbon tons in forest carbon sinks)

According to preliminary estimates (released in November 2007), total greenhouse gas emissions in FY 2006 were 6.4% higher than those in base year, which means that 7.0% reduction of emissions would be necessary to achieve the 6% emission reduction commitment, even if Japan implemented the Kyoto mechanism and forest carbon-sink measures as planned.

To meet the removal target of 13 million carbon tons (47.67 million $ CO_{2} $ tons) by forest carbon sinks for achievement of the 6% emission reduction commitment, it is necessary to boost the area eligible for forest management by conducting adequate thinning and other forestry practices in managed forests. Thinning will be needed on additional 200,000 ha of forest per year for the 6 years from FY 2007 through FY 2012, the end of the first commitment period.

It is necessary for Japan to continue to promote the program of "National Movement for Utsukushii Mori Zukuri (Fostering Beautiful Forests) in Japan" and accelerate the implementation of carbon-sink measures including thinning and other forestry practices.
Removals by Forest Carbon-Sink under the Kyoto Protocol (FY 2005) Unit: 10,000 carbon tons (10,000 CO $ _{2} $ tons in parentheses)

Total emissions in the base year	Absorption Amounts Under the Kyoto Protocol
Afforestation, Reforestation, Deforestation	Forest management	Total	Percentage to total emissions in the base year
Total	34,390 (126,100)	-57 (-209)	1,023 (3,751)	966 (3,542)	2.8%

Japan’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions for FY 2006
Countries with the Highest Percentage and Largest Areas of Forest

Ratio (%)	Forest area (million ha)
Forest cover: Top 5 countries	Finland	73.9	23
Japan	68.2	25
Sweden	66.9	28
Malaysia	63.6	21
South Korea	63.5	6
Total forest area: Top 5 countries	Russia	47.9	809
Brazil	57.2	478
Canada	33.6	310
USA	33.1	303
China	21.2	197

Source: Created based on FAO’s “State of the World’s Forests 2005”

Note: This indicates the top 5 countries in forest percentage and forest area from among OECD member nations or countries with at least 10 million ha of forest area and populations of at least 10 million people.

Willingness to Participate in Forest Volunteer Activities

Source: Cabinet Office “Public Opinion Poll on Forest and Lifestyles” (2007)

Mountain Disasters in FY 2007

Earthquake damage on the Noto Peninsula (Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture)

Damage from Typhoon #4 (Minami-Osumi Town, Kagoshima Prefecture)

Changes in Forest Area Damaged by Oak Platypodid Beetle

Changes in Forest Area Damaged

Changes in World Forest Area

Source: FAO “State of the World’s Forests 2005”
Supply of Domestic Wood (Industrial Wood) and Self-Sufficiency Rate

Source: Forestry Agency “Wood Demand and Supply Chart”

Changes in the Supply of Domestic Wood (Industrial Wood) Compared to Previous Year

Source: Forestry Agency “Wood Demand and Supply Chart”

Changes in the Supply of Domestic Wood for Plywood (10,000 m³)

Source: MAFF "Wood Demand and Supply Report", "Timber Statistics"

Kochi Station: A Station Built with Regional Wood (Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture)

Okhotsk Wood Plaza: “Mokuiku”

Educational Promotion with Wooden Play

Set (Kitami City, Hokkaido)
## Chapter V Measures for the “Forest for the People” in the National Forest

1. Expectations for the National Forest

The National Forest covers 30% of Japan’s land area. It is the national asset with vital roles in serving public interest functions such as mitigation of global warming, conservation of national land and water resources.

The National Forest includes a large area of natural, virgin forests as seen in the almost entirely government-owned forests of the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Yakushima, Shirakami-Sanchi and Shirotoko. These areas serve as vital habitats for wildlife.

☐ Moreover, 60% of special areas of National Parks are within the National Forest. The National Forest is also located along the coasts and in suburban areas where they play important roles as recreation areas for the people. Their proximity allows citizens to easily enjoy the abundance of Japan’s forests.

2. Various projects for achieving “Forest for the People”

In order to adequately meet the nation’s diversifying needs, the National Forest categorizes its forests into 3 types based on strategic functions. Various forestry practices aimed at developing broad-leaf forests, long-term forests and multi-storied forests, have been implemented to enhance the public interest functions thereof.

Thinning area increased 5,000 ha compared with previous year and reached 63,000 ha in 2006 as part of the carbon-sink measures required to meet the targets of the Kyoto Protocol. Local wood is utilized in Regional Forest Office buildings and thinned wood is actively employed in forest civil engineering projects.

Forests where primeval forest ecosystems remain have been designated as protected forests or “Green Corridors” which connect several protected forests. In FY 2007, monitoring surveys started in order to observe and ascertain the changes of protected forests after the designation.

☐ 88% of national forests are designated as protection forests in order to conserve water resources and prevent soil runoff, etc. In addition, forest conservation projects are systematically implemented to restore affected areas and achieve safe and secure living environment.

Forests suitable as natural sanctuaries and recreation are designated as Recreational Forests. The National Forest also promotes “Fun Forest”, “Friendly Forest” and “Corporation Forest”: programs designed to encourage and provide fields for environmental education and forest management by various entities.

The National Forest produces approximately 20% of Japan’s domestic wood. Not only do they play a vital role in providing steady supply of domestic wood, they also serve as well-planned suppliers of long, large-diameter logs that cannot be easily provided from non-national forests.
Ideals per National Forest Function Type

Function Type (Total 7.59 mil.ha)	Target Forest Ideal	Example Forests
Forest for public functions	Forest for water and soil conservation	National Land Protection type 1.49 mil. ha (20%)	Forests with strong tree root networks, plant litter and healthy underbrush.	Okushiri National Forest (Hokkaido Regional Forest Office)
5.02 mil. ha (66%)	Watershed Protection type 3.53 mil. ha (46%)	Forests with porous soil that easily absorbs water, diverse tree compositions, root networks and healthy underbrush.	Tonnoyama National Forest (Kyushu Regional Forest Office)
Forest for symbiosis with people	Nature conservation Type 1.52 mil. ha (20%)	Forest with primal ecosystem and habitats for rare wildlife	Tsurugisan National Forest (Shikoku Regional Forest Office)
2.11 mil. ha (28%)	Recreation Type 0.59 mil. ha (8%)	Forests home for outstanding natural beauty, historic sites, scenic views and other unique landscapes	Kiriyama National Forest (Kanto Regional Forest Office)
Forests for Cyclic Use of Resources	Forests suited for producing strong and healthy timber that also have road networks	Shimoashizawayama National Forest (Tohoku Regional Forest Office)

Source: Forestry Agency

Notes: 1) Area data are of April 1, 2007.

2) Approximately 8,000 ha of forests with unclassified functions are included in “Forests for Cyclic Use of Resources”.

State of Protected Forests Established

(Units: Number / 1,000 ha)

Types of Protected Forest	Name	Purpose	No. of Sites	Area
Types of Protected Forest	Forest ecosystem conservation area	Protection of the ecosystems of forests, wildlife and genetic resources	28	494
Forests for the conservation of genetic resources	Protection of genetic resources of all flora and fauna comprising the forest ecosystem	12	35
Forest for the preservation of the genetic resources of tree species.	Protection of gene pool of timber species and endangered species	324	9
Forest for the protection of plant colonies	Protection of rare plants and trees in high mountains that are valuable for scientific research	363	181
Forest for the protection of specified wildlife habitats	Protection of habitats and breeding areas of rare and endangered fauna	36	21
Forests for the protection of specified geographical features, etc.	Protection against erosion of unique landforms and geological features such as types of rock, joint of rock, spring areas and glaciated places	35	35
Forests for the local culture	Protection of local forests that have cultural, spiritual and symbolic significance	35	4
Total	833	778

Source: Forestry Agency

Note: Figures are of April 1, 2007.
決算調整資金からの歳入組入れに関する調書
事項	組入年度	主管・部・款・項	組入額(円)	説明	組入年月日
決算調整資金に属する現金の一般会計の歳入への組入れ	平成20年度	10 財務省主管8000-00 決算調整資金受入8100-00 決算調整資金受入8101-00 決算調整資金受入	718,175,673,690	平成20年度における予見し難い租税収入の減少等により一般会計の歳入歳出の決算上不足を生ずることとなった額について、決算調整資金に関する法律(昭和53年法律第4号)第7条第1項の規定により補てんするため(決算上不足額の計算)(1) 決算調整資金に関する法律第7条第1項の規定の適用前における平成20年度の一般会計の収納済歳入額 88,490,053,861,927円(2) 平成20年度の一般会計において財政法(昭和22年法律第34号)第6条に規定する剩余金を全く生じないものとして算定した場合に得られるべき歳入の額に相当する額 89,208,229,535,617円(3) 差し引き決算上不足を生ずることとなった額 718,175,673,690円(組入額の内訳) 決算調整資金に関する法律附則第2条第1項の規定により国債整理基金から決算調整資金に繰り入れた現金の組入れ 718,175,673,690円
(参考) 上記組入れに係る歳入科目の目は、決算調整資金受入である。
## 政策評価調書（個別票1）

【政策ごとの予算額等】

政策名	基本法制の維持及び整備(社会経済情勢に対応した基本法制の整備)	評価方式	実績	番号	1
21年度	22年度	23年度	24年度	25年度概算要求額
予算の状況	当初予算(千円)	122,498	153,683	139,076	133,026	131,152

補正予算(千円)	0	0	0

線越し等(千円)	45

計(千円)	122,498	153,683	139,121

執行額(千円)	82,955	105,257	99,805

政策評価結果の概算要求への反映状況	評価結果を踏まえ,基本法制の整備事業を積極的に推進することとし,これに必要な経費を引き続き概算要求に計上した。
## 政策評価調書（個別票2）

【政策に含まれる事項の整理】

政策名	基本法制の維持及び整備(社会経済情勢に対応した基本法制の整備)	番号	1	(千円)
予算科目	予算額	政策評価結果の反映による見直し額合計
整理番号	会計	組織/勘定	項	事項	24年度当初予算額	25年度概算要求額
対応表において●となっているもの	A	1	一般	法務本省	基本法制整備費	基本法制の整備に必要な経費	133,026	131,152