Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
#### 1.2. Forestry Management

In Japan, most of the private forests are owned by a large number of small scale forest owners.

Aging of forest owners and increasing number of forest owners who live away from their forests make it more onerous to identify forest owners and forest boundaries. The revised “Forest Act” in 2011 introduced a mandatory notification system that requires new forest owners to register with the local municipality and also promotes the sharing of forest owners’ information within relevant departments of local governments. Cadastral surveys are being conducted in forests.

Small portion of forest owners depends for their livelihood on the income derived from forestry activities. Generally, small-scale forest owners entrust the management of their forests with others such as the Forest Owners' Cooperatives, but some of them conduct thinning operations by themselves and transport the thinned wood to sell to chip mills, firewood consumers or woody biomass energy plants.

The Forest Owners' Cooperatives are major forest management bodies, accounting for more than half of forestry activities, including planting, weeding and thinning. Approximately 70% of regeneration cutting is conducted by private forestry contractors.

#### 1.3. Improvement of Forestry Productivity

To improve forestry productivity, the “coordination and consolidation of forestry practices” among groups of small-scale forest owners is necessary. To this end, the Forestry Agency is implementing the training program for “Forest Management Planners” who should lead proposal-based coordination with forest owners and consolidation of forestry practices, taking major responsibility in operating the forest management planning system under the “Forest Act” in a flexible manner in accordance with the on-the-ground situation. Conducting field surveys and consensus-building activities are supported for this purpose.

It is a matter of importance to accelerate the development of the forestry road system using the best applicable combination of three forest road types: the mainline “forest road” for general vehicles, the “forestry exclusive road” for truck vehicles and the “forestry operation road” for forestry machinery. Fostering technical experts who can implement the planning and construction of forestry road systems is also needed.

Furthermore, it is significant to expand the efficient log production system utilizing forestry machines (Fig.III-3) and to develop and improve the performance of those machines that is suitable for the forest conditions in Japan.

To improve the working efficiency of planting of seedlings and treatment of saplings, new technologies such as growing seedlings in containers and planting large seedlings with fewer numbers per unit area, are being developed.

Fig. III-3: Number of advanced forestry machines
#### 1.4. Forestry Workforce

In recent years, there have been signs that the decrease in the size of the forestry workforce is bottoming out (approximately 51,000 in 2010). The share of aged workforce (aged 65 or older) still remains high at 21%, however, the ratio of the young workforce (aged 35 or younger) has risen up to 18% (Fig.III-4).

Since FY2003, the Forestry Agency has been implementing the “Green Employment Program” to teach introductory skills and basic forestry knowledge to new workers. The outcome of the Program has led to a significant increase in the number of new forestry workers (Fig.III-5).

The Forestry Agency is also promoting to educate forestry workers who own advanced knowledge and skills in stages and systematically.

The forestry industry’s occupational accident rate remains high, and therefore the development of safe working environments is crucial.

Fig. III-4: Number of forestry workers

Fig. III-5: Number of new entrants to forestry workforce

### 2. Non-Wood Forest Products

In 2013, the total value of non-wood forest products production was 261.5 billion yen, of which nearly 90% was derived from mushroom production. Mushroom production has been decreasing since 2011 and was 458,000 tons in 2013, a 1% decrease from the previous year. The number of households producing mushrooms has also been decreasing, particularly in shiitake mushrooms.

In 2013, the price of fresh shiitake mushrooms rose, while that of dried shiitake mushrooms declined. The Forestry Agency is supporting initiatives to expand consumption and stabilize supply of mushrooms.

New initiative concerning firewood: Produce and sell firewood made of larch that is superior in combustibility and can be stored for periods

Production of firewood has been on an increasing trend since 2007 and was 53,000 m $ ^{3} $ in 2013. Production of charcoal has been declining in a long term and was 30,000 tons in 2013. Production of bamboo to be used for products such as paper has been increasing since 2010. In addition, wild vegetables, medicinal herbs and lacquer are also produced as non-wood forest products.
### 3. Rural Mountain Communities

#### 3.1. Current state of Rural Mountain Communities

Rural mountain communities, where people engaging in forestry are living, play a significant role in securing multiple functions of forests. In Japan, mountain village areas due for development designated pursuant to the “Mountain Villages Development Act” cover 50% of the total land area, accounting for 60% of the total forest area. It is becoming more difficult to maintain the management of forests due to continuing depopulation and aging population in such communities.

On the other hand, some of urban residents have come to show greater interests in the life of rural mountain communities as they are equipped with rich forest and water resources, beautiful landscapes, traditions and cultures.

#### 3.2. Revitalization of Rural Mountain Communities

The comprehensive strategy for regional revitalization, which was established in December 2014 by the GOJ, states that it is necessary to transform forestry into a growth industry, while ensuring circular utilization of forest resources.

The Forestry Agency promotes the development of forestry and wood products industries, which are backbone of industries in rural areas as well as the creation of new businesses that utilize forest resources, including energy generation from woody biomass. In March 2015, the “Mountain Villages Development Act” was revised and extended with the aim of enhancing measures for developing

rural mountain communities.

The Forestry Agency supports initiatives by self-harvesting forest owners and other local residents to conserve and revitalize satoyama forests and increase utilization of forest resources. The GOJ further promotes effective communication between rural mountain communities and urban societies through hands-on activities in agriculture, forestry and fishery; use of forests for therapeutic activities; and forest environmental education.

Revitalization of a local community through effective utilization of bamboo forest resources: Use chipped bamboo for soil improvement for agriculture
### 1. Demand and Supply

#### 1.1. World Wood Demand and Supply

The total volume of industrial roundwood consumption in the global level had decreased since the autumn of 2008 but turned to increase again in 2010. Sawn softwood consumption is recovering in North America but continues to remain stagnant in Europe, where export of sawn softwood increased.

In Russia, exports of industrial roundwood are decreasing, while exports of sawn softwood are increasing. China is increasing both imports of industrial roundwood and exports of plywood.

#### 1.2. Wood Demand and Supply in Japan

Japan’s wood demand is showing signs of recovery after hitting the bottom in 2009 and increased by 4.6% from the previous year in 2013, reaching 73.87 million $ m^{3} $ (roundwood equivalent), with an increase in the number of new housing starts.

Domestic wood supply has been increasing since bottoming out in 2002. In 2013, it increased by 7.3% from the previous year, reaching 21.12 million m $ ^{3} $ (roundwood equivalent).

The volume of imported wood increased to 52.75 million $ m^{3} $ (roundwood equivalent), up by 3.5% from the previous year, due to the increase in the total demand, in 2013.

The self-sufficiency rate for wood has been recovering since bottoming out in 2002, and was 28.6% in 2013, up by 0.7 points from the previous year.

#### 1.3. Wood Prices

Price for domestic log increased in 2013, especially toward the yearend, due to favorable demand from the housing sector. The price was on a decline in the beginning of 2014 but the annual average price exceeded the level of the previous year (Fig.IV-1).

The prices of wood products (lumber, plywood and wood chips) also increased in 2014.

Fig. IV-1: Wood prices in Japan (2013-2014)

#### 1.4. Combating Illegal Logging

The GOJ promotes the use of legally and sustainably produced wood products based on a basic philosophy of “not using wood products from illegal logging.”

Based on the “Basic Guidelines for Green Purchasing,” the GOJ uses wood products with certified
legality and sustainability in government procurements. It is also engaging in dissemination activities that encourage private companies and general consumers to use legally-harvested wood products.

#### 1.5. Wood Exports

In 2014, the value of wood exports reached 17.8 billion yen, a 45% increase from the previous year. Roundwood exports showed particular growth.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) sets a target of increasing forest products exports from 12.3 billion yen in 2012 (of which wood products accounted for 9.3 billion yen) to 25.0 billion yen by 2020.

Export of domestic wood has been promoted including through exhibiting domestic wood at housing exhibits abroad and participating in the revision work of Chinese wooden building standards.

Fig. IV-2: Japan's wood exports

### 2. Wood Use

#### 2.1. Significance and Dissemination of Wood Use

The use of wood materials contributes to mitigation of global warming, sustainable demonstration of forests' multiple functions and vitalization of local communities, as well as to help create comfortable and healthy living circumstances.

The Forestry Agency is promoting the “Kizukai” (attention to wood use) initiative to educate ordinary consumers on the significance of wood use as well as the “Mokuiku” (wood use education) initiative to give children and adults an opportunity to gain familiarity with wood and learn about wood culture.
#### 2.2. Wood Use in Housing Sector

In Japan, approximately 40% of wood demand and more than half of demand for domestic wood are for building construction. Approximately half of new housing starts in Japan are wooden constructions. Use of pre-cut lumber is expanding at construction sites.

Efforts are being made for developing systems for processing and distributing wood that can respond to the needs of housing manufacturers. Local housing projects are also promoted, which support cooperation among forest owners, log producers, lumber producers, and local home builders.

New initiative in the furniture industry: Manufacture furniture utilizing softwood materials with enhanced strength by heating and compression

#### 2.3. Wooden Public Buildings

The “Public Buildings Wood Use Promotion Act” was enacted in 2010 with the aim of promoting wood use mainly in public buildings, many of which are not made of wood. In FY2013, the national government constructed 484 low-rise public buildings, out of which 24 were made with a wooden structure and 161 public buildings were renovated with wooden exterior/interiors.

Construction of wooden school buildings and other public buildings has been promoted and building standards for three-story wooden school buildings were revised in June 2014.

Wooden public facilities

(Left: New town office building of Sumita Town, Iwate Prefecture; Right: Meeting place of Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture)

#### 2.4. Energy Use of Woody Biomass

The “Forest and Forestry Basic Plan,” revised in July 2011, set a target of wood use for pulp/chip production including fuel use at six million m $ ^{3} $ by 2020. Utilization of unused thinned wood (estimated at 20 million m $ ^{3} $ annually) is crucial for achieving the target.

In recent years, boilers and stoves fueled with woody biomass are being introduced and used in public facilities and ordinary homes as well as for horticulture facilities, and production of wood pellet is increasing.

Woody biomass power plants are being developed in various areas utilizing the “Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Scheme for Renewable Energy” (introduced in July 2012). While woody biomass is expected to contribute to local economies, it is necessary to ensure stable supply.
### 1. Roles of National Forests

#### 1.1. Distribution of National Forests and Their Roles Expected

National Forests represent approximately 30% of the total forest area, or almost 20% of the total land area in Japan. Widely distributed in remote mountainous areas and headwater areas, National Forests perform vital roles in fulfillment of multiple functions of forests, including land conservation, watershed conservation, and biodiversity conservation.

90% of the National Forests are designated as protection forests in accordance with the “Forest Act.” Furthermore, 95% of the land designated as World Natural Heritage sites in Japan (Shiretoko, Shirakami Sanchi, Ogasawara Islands, and Yakushima) is located in National Forests.

#### 1.2. National Forest Management

National forests, an important asset of the country, are managed in an integrated manner under the National Forest Management Program. Since FY2013, this program has being executed under the General Account Budget with a view to further promoting sound management of national forests aiming to enhance public benefits and to contribute to revitalization of Japan's forests and forestry.

### 2. Specific Initiatives under the National Forest Management Program

#### 2.1. Further Promotion of Management with Emphasis on Public Benefit

The Forestry Agency manages national forests in accordance with the five forest types categorized based on the functions they are primarily expected to play, namely “landslide prevention,” “natural conservation,” “recreational use,” “comfortable environment development” and “watershed conservation.” It implements the forest conservation projects aiming at the restoration of devastated areas to maintain protection forests. The restoration project is carried out by the Forestry Agency in private forests where their damage is severe.

In managing national forests, some key thematic activities such as thinning as a forest sink activity and wood use in forest conservation projects are also pursued.

Furthermore, in order to conserve biodiversity, the Forestry Agency designates and manages “Protected Forests” which have seven classifications, including Forest Ecosystem Reserves as well as “Green Corridors.” It is also executing measures to deal with damage by deer and other wild animals.

Based on “Agreements for Maintenance and Development of the Public Benefits of Forests” with private forest owners, the Forestry Agency manages private forests located in close proximity to national forests in an integrated manner. It has concluded five agreements for forests of 143 hectares as of the end of FY2013.
Promotion of wood use in construction of conservation facilities

Countermeasures against deer damage

#### 2.2. Contribution to Forest and Forestry Revitalization

In accordance with the National Forest Management Program, the Forest Agency is (i) developing and disseminating technologies for low-cost forest practices, such as utilization of seedlings raised in containers and consistent operation of harvesting and planting, (ii) developing human resources including forestry contractors and technical experts (“Foresters”), (iii) promoting development of forestry road systems and forest operations in collaboration with private forests by establishing cooperative forest management areas, and (iv) promoting stable wood supply through “System Sales” contracts with major wood processing companies, such as large-scale lumber mills or plywood factories. It is notable that in FY2013, roundwood supply by “System Sales” contracts accounted for 50% of the whole roundwood supply by the national forests.

#### 2.3. National Forests as “Forests for People”

In accordance with the National Forest Management Program, the Forestry Agency provides various organizations with access to field activities such as forest environmental education and forest management and conservation, by designating such fields as “Forests for Students,” “Forests for Voluntary Groups,” “Forests for Wood Culture,” and “Forests for Corporations.” It further implements model projects in collaboration with local parties and nature conservation groups.

Some of the fields in the national forest can be lent to local governments and local residents. “Recreational Forests” are managed and administered in partnership with those concerned in local communities.

For the recovery and reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Forestry Agency is implementing the restoration of coastal disaster-prevention forests within the national forests devastated by the great tsunami as well as the decontamination of national forests contaminated by the nuclear accident of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). Some national forest sites are being used for the temporary storage of soil removed through decontamination work.
### 1. Recovery of Forest, Forestry, and Wood Products Industry

#### 1.1. Recovery of Forest, Forestry, and Wood Products Industry

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, there were reports of damaged forest conservation facilities and forest roads as well as collapsed hillslopes in 15 prefectures. Recovery works have been implemented in more than 90% of the damaged areas, the majority of which have already been completed.

As many as 115 wood processing/distribution facilities also suffered major damage by the earthquake throughout Japan. The Forestry Agency is helping those damaged firms to abolish, restore or reconstruct, while 98 of them have resumed operation to date.

#### 1.2. Restoration of Coastal Forests

The tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake damaged a total of around 140km of coastal disaster-prevention forests in six prefectures.

The recovery works in the damaged coastal disaster-prevention forests are underway, with a timeline target of completing the recovery works within ten years. The recovery works have been commenced in a total of around 107km of coastal disaster-prevention forests, except for areas requiring adjustments with local reconstruction plans, while the works have been completed in 28km. Verification tests for various tree types and planting methods are also being conducted.

In the course of recovery works, citizens' participation in planting and tending of trees is being promoted. For the completion of the recovery, stable supply of a large number of seedlings as well as continuous treatment of planted trees needs to be assured.

Planting ceremony

#### 1.3. Promotion of Wood Use for Reconstruction and Contribution by Forest and Forestry

Local governments have provided approximately 54,000 “emergency temporary houses” with a quarter of those houses (approximately 15,000 houses) being built with a wooden structure. They also constructed or plan to construct approximately 7,000 public houses (reconstruction houses) with a wooden structure.

Also seen are moves to rebuild houses of victims affected by the disaster with wood constructions, along with initiatives to utilize wood in recovery and reconstruction works taking place in the civil engineering sector.

Public housing utilizing wood

A large amount of woody debris that occurred due to the earthquake and tsunami was used to produce wood-based panels and as a fuel input for boilers and power plants. In Aizu-wakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture, Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture, and Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture, power plants which burn wood as fuel input have already started operation.
### 2. Reconstruction from Nuclear Accident

#### 2.1. Measures for Radioactive Materials in Forests

The GOJ and municipalities concerned are conducting decontamination work such as through removing fallen leaves and placing higher priority on forests in the neighborhood of communities.

Decontamination work in forests is carried out by the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) in the “Special Decontamination Areas,” by the local municipalities in the “Intensive Contamination Survey Areas” within private forests and by the Forestry Agency within national forests.

The Forestry Agency has been conducting a survey on the distribution of radioactive materials in forests on an ongoing basis as well as monitoring and verification tests on the performance of decontamination work in forests.

In implementing decontamination work which handles contaminated soils, as well as forest management activities in forests where spatial doses exceed $ 2.5 \muSv/h $ , dose measurement and other measures for the safety of the workers are ensured.

#### 2.2. Supply of Safe Forest Products

As of December 2014, shipment restriction orders were effective with 22 non-wood forest products including mushrooms and wild plant shoots, in which radioactive cesium was found to exceed the standard values (100 Bq/kg for general food).

Shipment restrictions are lifted when it is determined that cultivation management is being practiced based on the “Guidelines Concerning Management of Mushroom Cultivation from Roundwood to Decrease Radioactive Cesium” (established in October 2013) and that no mushrooms exceeding the standard values are produced. The Forestry Agency is providing support for continuation or resumption of mushroom production.

In response to a decreasing supply of roundwood for cultivating mushrooms from Fukushima prefecture, the Forestry Agency is also providing matching assistance to help coordinate the supply and demand of roundwood used for mushroom production.

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

Some of the tree bark from lumber mills in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures, which had been generally used as fuel or compost, is retained in the lumber mills due to the possibility of contamination with radioactive cesium. The GOJ is also providing assistance in the disposal of the bark in waste disposal sites and the amount of retained bark is decreasing. The disposal of roundwood for cultivating mushrooms which can no longer be used has also become a challenge.

#### 2.4. Damage Compensation

Forestry organizations and mushroom growers in Fukushima and other prefectures are requesting compensation for inconvenience in their business caused by evacuation orders as well as for damages and/or losses concerning roundwood for shiitake mushroom production. In September 2014, the acceptance of applications for the compensation for the loss of value in real estate pertaining to the forests in evacuation order areas started.