2. Reconstruction from Nuclear Accident

#### 2.1. Response to the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident

With regard to the areas where evacuation was ordered in 2011, the Government of Japan (GOJ) completed their reorganization into “the areas where evacuation orders are ready to be lifted,” “the areas where the residents are not permitted to live,” and “the areas where it is expected that the residents have difficulties in returning for a long time” in August 2013.

#### 2.2. Measures for Forests

The Ministry of the Environment (MoE) is conducting decontamination work in “forests in the neighborhood of communities” in the “Special Decontamination Areas.” In the “Intensive Contamination Survey Areas,” local municipalities are conducting the work in nearby-community private forests and the Forestry Agency in nearby-community National Forests.

For “bed log laying yards” that produce raw wood mushrooms, the Forestry Agency is currently studying how the removal of fallen leaves and the addition of soil control the transfer of radioactive cesium to shiitake mushrooms.

It is also studying changes in the distribution of radioactive cesium in forests and the dose-reduction effects of fallen leaf removal and cutting trees.

With regard to decontamination activities which handle contaminated soils, as well as forestry activities in forests where spatial doses exceed $ 2.5 \mu $ Sv/h, dose measurement and other measures to ensure the safety of the workers are required.

#### 2.3. Supply of Safe Wood Products

As of December 2013, shipment restrictions were ordered for 21 non-wood forest products including mushrooms and wild plant shoots, for which the radioactive cesium was found to exceed the standard values (100 Bq/kg for general food, etc.).

Shipment restrictions are lifted when it is determined that cultivation management is being practiced based on the “guidelines concerning cultivation management of roundwood mushrooms to decrease radioactive cesium” and that no mushrooms exceeding the standard values are produced.

In response to a decreasing supply of roundwood for mushrooms from Fukushima Prefecture, the Forestry Agency is providing matching assistance to help coordinate the supply and demand of roundwood used for mushroom production. It is also supporting the introduction of facilities and materials for continuing mushroom production.

#### 2.4. Disposal of Contaminated Bark and Roundwood for Mushroom Production

Tree bark from lumber mills in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures, which had been used as fertilizers and beddings for livestock, also lost its outlet due to the possibility of contamination and some is retained in the lumber mills. The Forestry Agency is providing assistance in the disposal of the bark in waste disposal sites. The disposal of roundwood for mushroom production which cannot be used for the similar reason is also an issue.

#### 2.5. Damage Compensation

Forestry organizations and mushroom growers in Fukushima and other prefectures are requesting compensation from TEPCO for income loss caused by the nuclear accident. Compensation for the loss of value in real estate of forests is still under consideration.