Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
Fig. 1-6: Relationship between buildings damages by Great East Japan Earthquake tsunami and their submerged depth

In the Great East Japan Earthquake, the damage of wooden buildings caused by the earthquake itself was relatively minor. This is because the earthquake-resistant performance of wooden buildings has been improved following the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, with the revision of building codes and the development of advanced construction techniques. It should be also pointed out that the seismic waves with the unique period of wooden houses (1-2 seconds) were less apparent in the Great East Japan Earthquake than the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

## (Challenges)

Based upon the previous analysis, the following measures need to be implemented.

- Development of a nationwide wood supply system to meet the increased wood demand to build the wooden reconstruction houses

- Development of emergency temporary houses using locally produced wood and their supply system

Promotion of earthquake-resistant performance of wooden houses

- Further promotion of wooden structure and wooden interior decoration in public buildings
##### 3.2.3. Promotion of Woody Biomass Use for Stable Energy Supply

## (Background)

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the supply capacity of electricity has been reduced, because the operation of many nuclear power plants has been suspended. The reconstruction policy of the Government proposes to promote the introduction of renewable energy sources including biomass. In August 2011, the “Act on Purchase of Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity by Electric Utilities” was adopted in the Diet for the introduction of the “Feed-in Tariff Scheme for Renewable Energy” from July 2012.

As a result of the Earthquake, approximately 23 million tons of disaster debris has been piled up in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. Woody disaster debris is expected to be used for the production of wood-based panels or as a fuel input for boilers and power plants. Some wood processing facilities and biomass power plants have already begun to use wooden disaster debris as a raw material input.

## (Analysis)

In order to use wooden disaster debris submerged under the tsunami, sea salt needs to be removed from the debris to avoid machinery malfunctions. Much of the salt can be removed by rainfall if the debris is left outside.

The energy efficiency of power generation by woody biomass is reported to be relatively low (Fig.1-7). Therefore, woody biomass should be used for heat production or cogeneration of heat and power (CHP) in principle. In Europe, woody biomass is a popular energy source for “local heat supply.” In Japan, woody biomass could be used for local heat supply in areas where a concentrated thermal demand is expected and there is sufficient volume of forest resources and woody biomass.

Fig. 1-7: Energy efficiency of woody biomass use Source: Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (2010)

## (Challenges)

Based upon above analysis, the following measures need to be implemented.

Information collection on the volume and location of woody disaster debris

- Introduction of local heat supply system with woody biomass in community reconstruction policies

- Development of a stable woody biomass supply system in preparation for the end of debris disposal
#### 4.3. Mitigation Measures to Nuclear Accident

MAFF conducted a survey of the spatial dose rate and concentration of radioactive cesium in soil layers for all over forest areas in Fukushima prefecture (Fig.1-8). MAFF also investigated the concentration and accumulation of radioactive cesium in each part of the forest stand, including the soil, fallen leaves, leaves, and trunk, at three points in Fukushima prefecture (Fig.1-9). The result showed that the concentration value of each part was different among tree species, even at the same location. MAFF further investigated the concentrations of radioactive cesium in male flowers of sugi, whose pollen causes hay fever, revealing that the highest internal exposure to radiation of a person who inhaled sugi pollens would be $ 0.000192\muSv/hr $ .

Fig. 1-8: Distribution of spatial dose rate in forests in Fukushima prefecture

The Ministry of Environment (MoE) developed the “Guidelines for Decontamination,” which provide guidance for forest decontamination activities as follows:

- Removal of fallen leaves is effective in non-coniferous forests.

- Removal of fallen leaves should be conducted for a zone extending 20 meters inside of the forest boundaries.

- Removal of fallen leaves should be continued for a long period in coniferous forests.

- When the removal of fallen leaves is not shown to be effective in reducing the level of nuclear contamination, leaves and branches of standing trees on the forest boundary should also be removed.
The Forestry Agency is studying the contamination situation of forests and is also developing efficient and effective decontamination methodologies. Further, the Agency will allow the National Forests to be used for the temporary storage of contaminated soil, when requested by municipalities.

In August 2011, the Nuclear Damage Compensation Dispute Examining Committee developed the “Temporary Guidelines for the Judgment of the Range of Nuclear Damage.” The Guidelines cover “reputation damage” of forest products produced in Fukushima and other prefectures for compensation. Accordingly, the Fukushima Prefecture Forest Owners Cooperatives Association requested that TEPCO provide compensation to the Association for its damage.

Fig. 1-9: Distribution of radioactive cesium in forests Note: Result of survey of sugi forests in Kawauchi village in Fukushima prefecture, conducted in August 30-31, 2011.

#### 4.4. Challenges

In order to reconstruct forest and forestry in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster, the following measures need to be implemented.

Study of the contamination situation in forests located around the TEPCO Fukushima Nuclear Stations

- Investigation of radioactive cesium movement in forest ecosystems

- Safety assurance of forest workers from radiation

Study of influences on wood and special forest products from contamination and introduction of necessary measures to assure the safety of those products

- Development of efficient and effective decontamination methodologies

- Smooth compensation of damages caused by the nuclear accident

- Continuation of necessary measures in the long-term

### 5. Recovery and Reconstruction from Earthquake and Revitalization of Forest and Forestry

For the recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, forest and forestry need to be revitalized as an independent local key industry for the supply of wood for reconstruction and energy sources.

The Forestry Agency will contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of the damaged area, through the development of a nationwide supply system of wood for reconstruction.

The Agency will also promote the revitalization of forests and forestry nationwide by using advanced projects in damaged areas as “leading models.”
## Chapter II: Global Warming and Forest

### 1. Global Warming

According to the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), warming of the climate system is unequivocal and very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. The Kyoto Protocol sets legally binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions and developed countries are bound to reduce their overall emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 5% below 1990 levels in the first commitment period which covers 2008-2012. Japan’s emission reduction commitment is 6%.

In 2010, the total volume of Japan’s greenhouse gas emission was 1.256 billion $ CO_{2} $ -tons, a 3.9% increase from 2009 and a 0.4% reduction from the base year of 1990 (Fig.2-1).

Fig. 2-1: Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions for first commitment period (2008-2012)

### 2. Actions toward the Achievement of the Kyoto Protocol Commitment

#### 2.1. Promotion of Forest Sink Activities

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the net change in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from “afforestation,” “reforestation,” “deforestation,” and “forest management” can be used to meet the emission reduction commitments. Japan set a domestic target for greenhouse gas removal by forest management at 13 Mt-C/year (47.67 Mt- $ CO_{2} $ /year, or 3.8% of the volume of total emissions in the base year).

To meet the removal target of 13 Mt-C/year, Japan has been conducting comprehensive activities including the promotion of proper forest management, stable wood supply, and aggressive wood use.

#### 2.2. Credit Systems in Forest Related Area

In Japan, several systems provide “credits” for emission reduction or carbon sink through the use of woody biomass or proper forest management.

As of December 2011, the “Domestic Credit System” has issued 101,000 tons- $ CO_{2} $ of credits for 135 forest-related projects, including the boiler fuel transition from fossil fuel to woody biomass, while the “Offset Credit (J-VER) System” has issued 155,000 tons- $ CO_{2} $ of credits for 70 forest-related projects, including the fuel transition and proper forest management through thinning.
### 2.3 Wood Use for Mitigation of Global Warming

Wood use contributes to mitigation of global warming. Wood products store carbon as wood fiber, require less energy for production than energy-intensive materials such as steel and concrete, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by substituting for fossil fuels.

As tools to help quantify the contribution of wood use towards the reduction of environmental loads, systems such as the “Carbon Footprint” and “Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE)” are becoming popular.

### 3. International Negotiations on Global Warming after 2013

The COP17 of UNFCCC, held in Durban, South Africa, in November-December 2011, made a decision that the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action shall complete its work as early as possible but no later than 2015 in order to adopt this protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force at the COP21, and for it to come into effect and be implemented from 2020.

It was also decided that the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol shall begin on 1 January 2013 and end either on 31 December 2017 or 31 December 2020. Japan has decided not to participate in the second commitment period, arguing that the second commitment period without other major emitting countries would be pointless for the construction of a future comprehensive framework.

In the forest area, the COP concluded that greenhouse gas removals through forest sequestration should be accounted by the “reference level system” (Fig.2-2). The COP also decided that all changes in the carbon pools of harvested wood products (HWP) could be accounted for as emissions or emission reductions of greenhouse gas (Fig.2-3). The COP also discussed the issue of “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD-plus)”.

● Count the difference of carbon volume sequestrated by forest between the “reference level” and the commitment period as emission reduction

Fig. 2-2: Accounting approach of forest sequestration for the Second Commitment Period

Fig. 2-3: Accounting approach of Harvested Wood Products (HWP)
### 1. Forest Management

#### 1.1. Multiple Functions of Forests

Forests have multiple functional roles, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. In order to fulfill those functions, vigorous and diversified forests need to be developed.

#### 1.2. Forest Resources

Two third of Japan’s land area is covered with forests, with the total forested area being 25 million hectares. Approximately 40% of these forests are artificially planted forests and the major planted species are sugi, hinoki, and karamatsu (larch). Forest ownership in Japan can be divided into approximately 60% for private owners, 30% for national government, and 10% for local governments.

The total volume of the forest inventory reached 4.4 billion m $ ^{3} $ in 2007 and the share of the planted forest area exceeding 50 years in age will exceed 60% in 2017 (Fig.3-1).

Fig. 3-1: Distribution of planted forest area by forest age class

#### 1.3. Forest Management

In order to maintain the multiple functional roles of forests, forests need to be properly managed and conserved.

The Forestry Agency is promoting “thinning” through assistance for joint thinning projects among forest owners, construction of forest roads, and use of thinned wood for public works, with the goal of achieving 3.3 million hectares of thinning between 2007-2012. In 2010, the total area of thinned forests was 560,000 hectares (Fig.3-2).

In Japan, the “Japanese cedar (sugi) pollinosis” is acknowledged to be a nationwide problem. The Forestry Agency is promoting the conversion of existing cedar forests to lower-pollen cedar forests, through the development and planting of lower-pollen Japanese cedar variations. The number of
lower-pollen variation seedlings grown in 2010 was 1.18 million, 13 times as many as in 2005.

#### 1.4. Conservation of Forest Biodiversity

In June 2011, UNESCO decided to register the Ogasawara Islands in the World Heritage List in the 35 $ ^{th} $ World Heritage Committee which was held in Paris.

In January 2012, the Japanese Government submitted a recommendation to register the “Mount Fuji” in the World Heritage List to the UNESCO Heritage Centre.

#### 1.5. Progress toward the “Forest and Forestry Revitalization Plan”

In April 2011, the Forest Law was revised to introduce the “Forest Management Plan” system to promote coordination and consolidation of forestry practices among groups of small forest owners and the administrative order system to halt logging without permission and oblige those loggers to replant, in accordance with the Forest and Forestry Revitalization Plan.

In July 2011, the “Fundamental Plan of Forest and Forestry” was also revised to set the policy direction for the coordination and consolidation of forestry practices and the acceleration of forest road system development, while setting the goals of “fulfillment of multiple

Fig. 3-2: Area of thinned forests in Japan

Fig. 3-3: Goal of domestic wood supply and outlook of wood demand in the “Fundamental Plan of Forest and Forestry”

functional roles of forests" and "supply and demand of forest products" (Fig.3-3).

The “National Forest Plan,” a national guideline on forest management, was also revised to introduce a system to allow municipalities to set forest areas in accordance with the expected functions of each forest, while setting the objectives of forest management and conservation.

#### 1.6. People’s Participation in Forest Management

The number of organizations of “forest volunteers” who are willing to participate in voluntary forestry activities reached 2,677 in 2009. Also, many private companies are interested in participating in forest management and conservation as a part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

The year 2011 was the “International Year of Forests.” During the year, many promotional activities were conducted, including conferences and planting ceremonies, under the national theme of “Walk in Forests.”
#### 2.1. Conservation Forests

Under the Forest Law, forests providing particularly important public benefits, including securing water resources and preventing disasters, are designated as “conservation forests.” As of 2010, the total area of conservation forests reached 12.02 million hectares, or 48% of the total forest area and 32% of the total land area in Japan. In the “conservation forests,” general forest management is allowed with specific limitations for each type of conservation forest.

#### 2.2. Disaster Control

In 2011, a number of typhoons and local rainstorms, as well as the great tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, caused many natural disasters in mountainous regions. In response to these disasters, the Forestry Agency dispatched technical staff to the damaged areas soon after the disaster and is now conducting recovery works in those areas.

#### 2.3. Wildlife Control

In Japan, approximately 5,000 to 7,000 hectares of forests are damaged by wild animals every year, 70% of which is caused by deer. For the control of wild animals, comprehensive approaches through “reduction of wildlife population,” “prevention of damages,” and “proper management of habitats” is important (Fig.3-4). The Forestry Agency held a symposium on the methodologies for the protection of damage and regeneration of forests.

Fig. 3-4: Comprehensive approach to wildlife management

#### 2.4. Pest Control

The volume of pine wood damaged by pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) has declined to approximately one-fourth of its peak year of 1979, but such damage is still the worst among all forest pests and diseases in Japan. The Forestry Agency is implementing “preventive measures” through the application of chemicals and “combating measures” through logging and fumigation of affected trees.

As of October 2011, the volume of damage to Quercus spp. trees caused by oak platypodid beetle (Platypus quercivorus) has declined to 160,000 m $ ^{3} $ , down by 170,000 m $ ^{3} $ from the previous year. The Forestry Agency is combating the beetle through logging and fumigating of damaged trees and the development of preventive measures including the installation of adhesives.
### 3. International Cooperation

#### 3.1. Sates of World's Forests

Between 2000-2010, the world forest area declined by 5.21 million hectares annually, according to FAO. In Africa and South America, 3.00 million hectares of forests were lost annually, while in Asia, the forest area increased by 2.24 million hectares annually.

#### 3.2. Promotion of Sustainable Forest Management

To promote sustainable forest management, the development of “criteria and indicators” has made progress in various international processes. Japan belongs to the “Montreal Process” in which developed countries other than European countries participate.

Illegal logging substantially hinders the efforts of sustainable forest management. The Japanese Government is promoting international efforts to combat illegal logging under the principle that “illegally harvested timber should not be used.”

In October 2011, Japan and China concluded an agreement titled “Memorandum of Agreements to Combat Illegal Logging and Related Trade for the Promotion of Sustainable Forest Management.”

## Forest certification is a

private-sector system to advocate consumers' purchase of legally produced wood products for the promotion of sustainable forest management. In Japan, the area of certified forests is increasing, although the speed of that increase has begun to moderate (Fig.3-5).

(ten thousand hectares)

#### 3.3. Japan's Cooperation

## Japan is promoting

international cooperation for the promotion of sustainable forest

FSC: Forest Stewardship Council. SGEC: Sustainable Green Ecosystem Council

management in developing countries, through bilateral and multilateral

Fig. 3-5: Area of certified forests in Japan

schemes including provision of technical and financial assistance.

The International Tropical Timber Organization is an international organization located in Yokohama. ITTO, established in 1986, celebrated its 25 $ ^{th} $ anniversary in 2011.
### 1. Forestry

#### 1.1. Value of Forestry Production

In 2010, the value of gross forestry production was 421.7 billion yen, a 2.3% increase over 2009. Among the value of gross forestry production, wood production accounts for 46%, while mushroom production for 52% (Fig.4-1).

Fig. 4-1: Value of gross forestry production

#### 1.2. Forestry Management

The share of forestry management bodies with wood sales income as the major income source is as low as 5%. Most forestry management bodies depend on income from activities other than forestry.

In Japan, most forests are owned by a large number of small scale forest owners. Further, because the costs for growing forests are very high, forest owners tend to be reluctant to engage in forestry practices, including logging and planting, due to its low profitability.

In 2012, a new system to postpone the payment of inheritance tax on forests was established, following the introduction of the “Forest Management Plan” system by the revision of the Forest Law.

#### 1.3. Forestry Contractors

In Japan, forestry contractors consist of three categories: forest owners, the Forest Owners' Cooperatives, and private forestry contractors. Among those categories, the Forest Owners' Cooperatives are major forestry contractors, conducting more than half of forestry activities, including planting, weeding, and thinning. The National Federation of Forest Owners' Cooperative Associations is promoting the “proposal-based coordination and consolidation of forestry practices” and the development of new “Forest Management Plans,” with the objective of consolidating all of the forests owned by its members.

In Japan, the scale of private forestry contractors is relatively small, with 54% of the private forestry contractors producing less than $ 1,000m^{3} $ of roundwood annually. In contrast, only 8% of the private forestry contractors produced more than $ 10,000m^{3} $ of roundwood annually, although those large contractors account for 55% of total roundwood production annually.

Recently, women have begun to increasingly contribute to the promotion of forestry activities.
#### 1.4. Forestry Workforce

The size of the forestry workforce has been declining, reaching 47,000 in 2005. Although the share of the aged workforce (aged 65 or older) has reached 26%, the ratio of the young workforce (aged 35 or younger) has begun to rise.

The Forestry Agency is implementing the “Green Employment Program,” which educates introductory skills and knowledge of forestry to the new entrants to forestry. Thanks to the Program, the number of new entrants into forestry was 4,013 in 2010 (Fig.4-2).

Fig. 4-2: Number of new entrants to forestry workforce

### 2. Forestry Revitalization Projects

#### 2.1. Improvement of Forestry Productivity

To improve forestry productivity, the “coordination and consolidation of forestry practices” is very important. Such activities will help to coordinate multiple small forest owners and conduct forestry practices at a large scale.

In 2011, the Forestry Agency introduced the “forest management and environmental conservation direct payment system,” in order to directly support forest owners and contractors who conduct consolidated forest management at a large scale. The system also supports forestry practices, including thinning for material use and development of the forest road network.

In Japan, forest road networks are underdeveloped. The Forestry Agency will accelerate the development of such networks through the construction of

Fig. 4-3: International comparison of forest road network

“forestry roads” for vehicles and “forest work paths” for machinery (Fig.4-3).