21. has been hosting a series of international workshops, which will continue until FY 2000, for the promotion of model forests as a field-level application of sustainable forest management. 22. in FY 1999 started to provide funds for an FAO regional project which aims at demonstrating sustainable forest management at the field level through strengthening the national capacity building for formulation and implementation of national forest programs in partner countries in Asia. 23. has been conducting the transfer of technology through JICA's Development Studies for the formulation of national or specific regional forest resources master plans in partner countries, and has been carrying out projects to build the partner countries' national capacity to formulate and implement their national forest programs. Japan has also funded a number of other ITTO projects related to the ITTO's Year 2000 Objective. Protected Areas Japan 25. has designated various protected areas nationwide to conserve the forest ecosystems and restrict the development activities therein, on the basis of such legislation as the Forest Law, Law for Administration and Management of National Forests, the Nature Conservation Law, and the Natural Parks Law.
Japan also conducts research on protected areas.
26. has designated protection forests throughout the country, which are expected to provide the public functions including conservation of the unique natural environment. In line with this shift, Japan reorganized forest types into 3 new types categorized by their respective expected functions. While the former are the natural areas that maintain a wilderness condition having certain coherence as an area, the latter are the forests in which excellent natural forests account for a considerable part. In these Areas, the natural environment is protected through the regulations on human activities. In these natural parks, various human activities are restricted to protect wildlife and their habitats.