page_title: Afforestation
section_title: Japan
hierarchical_section_title: Afforestation / Countries and regions / Japan
caption_attribution_description: Toyonaka Hattori Ryokuchi
context_page_description: Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover.
  Many government and non-governmental organizations directly engage in programs of afforestation to create forests, increase carbon capture.
  Sometimes special tools, such as a tree planting bar, are used to make planting of trees easier and faster.
  The rate of net forest loss decreased substantially over the period 1990–2020 due to a reduction in deforestation in some countries, plus increases in forest area in others through afforestation and the natural expansion of forests.
context_section_description: In Japan, demand for timber increased due to the construction of steelmaking fuel and large-scale castles in the Middle Ages, and forest resources decreased. As a result, forests have been planted to prevent timber resources and floods, and the Edo Shogunate enacted a law called the Liushan system, restricting the logging of timber and planting trees. The afforestation project that started after the reconstruction after World War II when large areas of forest were clear-cut for timber and to create pastures to attract immigrant farmers. A new management plan for the forests of Japan was instated after many pastures were abandoned and there was a recognized decline of old growth and secondary forests.
caption: Afforested botanical garden in Hattori Ryokuchi Park, Japan
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