A Report on the Forests of Japan
"Forest powerhouse" where about 70% of the land is covered with forest
A "Forest Powerhouse"
Japan is a "forest powerhouse" with about 70% of its land covered by forests. Japan's forest area has increased as the country encouraged plantations centered on Sugi and Hinoki to solve the postwar timber shortage.
On the other hand, the number of poorly maintained plantations are increasing. A poorly maintained forest will become an unhealthy one because the forest soil can not receive any sunlight.
In addition, it is said that there are more than 500 types of trees in Japan, but only two species, Sugi and Hinoki, occupy about 70% of the planted trees, and the diversity of the forest is lost.
Furthermore, the plantations have reached their harvest season, having been planted 50 to 60 years ago. As the country has been promoting the use of domestic timber in recent years, there has been a movement to clear-cut selected areas.
To rehabilitate these poorly maintained forests, thinning will be conducted and a diverse forest will be created by planting a variety of tree species suitable for the area, replacing them with the original single species environment.
more trees forest Oguni KumamotoOriginal Source: moretrees
Discover 11 important forest in Japan
A deeper look into the woods and the forest industry
more trees forest Yusuhara KochiOriginal Source: moretrees
1) Yusuhara, Kochi: Tosa Tibet
Yusuhara Town, which is embraced by the magnificent Shikoku Karst and located at the headwaters of the Shimanto River, is also called a "town above the clouds" because you can see an ocean of clouds below if the weather conditions are right.
more trees forestOriginal Source: moretrees
"Creating a Diversity Forest" initiative started planting broad-leaf trees in this area in 2020.
more trees forest Nakatosa KochiOriginal Source: moretrees
2) Nakatosa, Kochi: A town of cypress and skipjack
Nakatosa Town is a small town consisting of a plateau area and a coastal area. The forest and the sea seem to be far apart, however they are deeply connected. Nakatosa Town is a town that has developed by taking advantage of that connection.
more trees forest Shimokawa HokkaidoOriginal Source: moretrees
3) Shimokawa / Bihoro / Asyoro / Takinoue, Hokkaido
more trees has signed an agreement with the "Forest Biomass Absorption Activity Promotion Council" consisting of 4 towns (Shimokawa, Ashoro, Takinoue, Bihoro) in Hokkaido, and is working on forestation and utilization of offset credits.
more trees forestOriginal Source: moretrees
The more trees "Creating a Diversity Forest" initiative got involved in this area in 2019, by planting multiple species of broad-leaf trees.
more trees forest Komoro NaganoOriginal Source: moretrees
4) Komoro, Nagano: A plateau city at the foot of Mt. Asama
Komoro City is a historic city located on the southern slope of the magnificent Mt. Asama. It once prospered as a transportation hub centered on Komoro Castle and the Hokkoku Highway, and developed as an important commercial city during the Meiji era.
more trees forest Morotsuka MiyazakiOriginal Source: moretrees
5) Morotsuka, Miyazaki: Machu Picchu in Kyushu
Morotsuka Village is a village with active efforts to pass on folk performing arts such as Kagura and traditional culture to the next generation, as well as complex management of agriculture and forestry that coexists with the mountainous environment.
more trees forest Oguni KumamotoOriginal Source: moretrees
6) Oguni, Kumamoto: hot springs at the foot of Mt. Aso
Oguni Town is suitable for growing sugi due to its climate and soil, and the town's forestry has a history of about 250 years. Also known as a hot spring region, the geothermal heat from the hot spring source is also used in the wood drying process.
more trees forest Hita OitaOriginal Source: moretrees
7) Hita, Oita: Rich clear stream and Hometown of Mibayashi
Kamitsuemachi, Hita City, is a basin that extends to the headwaters of the Chikugo River, the largest river in Kyushu, and has prospered as a forestry town since the Edo period
more trees forest Akihaku NiigataOriginal Source: moretrees
8) Akiha, Niigata City: the wood energy village
Akiha Ward, Niigata City, has three sides, the Shinano River, the Agano River, and the Koagano River. Surrounded by hills, it is a town with abundant water and greenery.
more trees forest Sumita IwateOriginal Source: moretrees
9) Sumita: aims to be the best Forest / Forestry in Japan
Sumita Town is an inland town located in the southeastern part of Iwate Prefecture. This town aims to be "the best forest and forestry town in Japan" due to its abundant forest resources and wood processing facilities, and has obtained a FSC certification.
more trees forest Higashishirakawa/Nakatsugawa Kashimo, GifuOriginal Source: moretrees
10) Higashishirakawa / Kashimo Nakatsugawa, GIfu
Higashishirakawa village and Kashimo, Nakatsugawa City is called the Tono area, and has been famous as a hinoki cypress producing area since the Muromachi period, and its wood is fine and durable and of good quality.
more trees forest Chidu TottoriOriginal Source: moretrees
11) Chizu Tottori: Historical sugi town
Chizu Town, Tottori Prefecture, located at the headwaters of the Sendai River, which nurtured the Tottori Sand Dunes, is a sugi town with a history of tree planting for over 350 years.
more trees forestOriginal Source: moretrees
more trees have started "Creating a Diversity Forest" in Chizu in 2020, by strong thinning and tree planting of multiple broad-leaved species of trees in this clear-cut area.
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