V. Mountainous villages with a new relationship between "Forest"and "people"

1. Present State of Mountainous Villages

Mountainous villages cover 50% of Japan's national land area and 60% of its forest area, and 90% of mountainous villages are covered with forest. The population there decreased by 30% during the period from 1965 to 1995, and depopulation and aging have advanced. In particular, the ratio of the population who are over 65 years old reached 24%, far beyond the national average of 15%.

Settlements play an important role in maintaining and forming communities. Settlements with 19 households or less and those with 100 households or more are increasing, and there is probably an increase in settlements that are too small to maintain their functions as settlements.

2. Measures for Revitalizing Mountainous Villages

It is important to promote development of industries that make the best use of various local resources, including the bountiful forest resources in mountainous villages.

In order to keep young members of mountainous village settled and to encourage people in cities to move into or to establish second houses in mountainous villages, it is necessary to improve medical and educational facilities, water supply and sewage systems, drainage facilities, etc., as well as forest roads.

Mountainous villages are rich in renewable natural energy resources such as woody biomass, wind power and water power. Various mountainous villages are developing communities by taking advantage of such natural energy.

Both cities and mountainous villages are attractive but in different ways. It is necessary to create a new relationship that is mutually beneficial to both city and mountainous village residents through a symbiosis and interchange between cities and mountainous villages.

Mountainous villages enjoy bountiful nature, and have the aptitude to establish a large cyclical society which effectively utilizes local resources in multi-stages and have them return to the soil in the end. Such resources include agricultural and forestry products, which are produced by a close work with nature.

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