Abstract
We investigated local forest management practices in Osaka, Japan aiming to clarify mechanisms that hinder long-term, sustainable forestry operation by carrying out forest surveys and interview surveys. Because mountain districts in Japan now face declining and aging populations, forestry work has shifted to forest owners’ associations, with efficient forest management being required on an ad hoc basis as a result of the subsidy system. We found that the forest management plan for the study site utilized only one-seventh of the economic value of the forest, mainly due to the local forestry structure and an inefficient subsidy system that requires efficiency. The income yielded by timber undergoing such forest management and distribution processes is too low to permit forest owners to carry out sufficient forest cultivation. To effectively utilize the wood, a subsidy system that takes a long-term view and a timber market that puts an appropriate price on wood are needed. We argue that it is important to bolster the management position of the Japanese Forest Owners’ Associations for design an institutional scheme that enables to practice forestry management from a long-term perspective.
Highlights
Demand for timber in Japan rose steeply after the Second World War as a result of the massive nationwide reconstruction effort, and a large number of conifers were planted
This study looked into the case of the Mishima branch of the Osaka Prefecture FOA (OFOA)
We investigated about the current situation of OFOA by meeting with four persons in total from November 2013 to April 2014
Summary
Demand for timber in Japan rose steeply after the Second World War as a result of the massive nationwide reconstruction effort, and a large number of conifers were planted. Due to increasing competition from foreign timber and decreasing overall demand, the value of domestic timber peaked in the early 1980s and began declining thereafter [1,2,3]. The timber self-sufficiency rate in Japan is only about 30%, the Japanese government has implemented measures to support forestry [4]. The domestic forestry industry is highly dependent on national and local government subsidies [5,6]. Because the amount and purpose of use is limited by the management policy depending on the country’s situation, it is difficult to create a management plan from a long-term perspective. Forest management is practiced with an emphasis on immediate profitability, and not enough attention is paid to its sustainable management
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