II. Forest Management and Conservation
1. Global Warming and the Role of the Forests
The concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by more than 30 percent
since the time of the Industrial Revolution. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in the
Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change
held in Kyoto, Japan, to indicate the reduction goals of the greenhouse gasses by each country.
In the Protocol, Japan committed to reduce the emission of the greenhouse gasses by 6 percent
from the base year.
Currently, under the g10 Year Action Plan on the Mitigation of Global
Warming by Forest Carbon-sink,h measures are taken to ensure approximately 13 million carbon
tons (3.9 percent of Japanfs greenhouse gasses emission in base year) of removal by the
forests. It must be noted, however, that present level of readiness will result in a figure that is
not even close to this goal. Need for steady promotion of measures to improve this situation have been
pointed out. The Forest Policy Council, in fact, states that the measures should be promptly
implemented with ensured source of financial support.
2.Forest Management and Conservation to bring out the Multifunctional Roles
of Forests
In 2004, the natural disasters, such as heavy rainfall by the typhoons
and the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake, brought about devastating damages to the mountain areas, causing
over 250 billion yen worth of damages to the forests. Forest conservation activities are
inevitable for prompt recovery of the damages as well as for prevention of
further damages from future disasters.
Measures against pollinosis have been taken through
production of seedlings of Japanese cedar (sugi) varieties that produce less pollens than conventional varieties. Supply
systems of these seedlings have also been in preparation. Effective methods of selective
cutting and thinning of cedar and other trees in planted forests are other measures that can contribute
to the mitigation of pollinosis. It is also notable that the Forest Tree Breeding Center
developed pollen-free cedar trees in January 2005.
3. Public Participation in Establishment of Forest and Forest Environment
Education
In recent years, forest volunteer groups have been increasing their number
and expanding their range of activities. Currently, their activities include not only forest
maintenance but also forest environment education and other areas. This movement means that more support
is required to further improve the techniques and safety regime. At
the same time, public awareness of the necessity of forest management and conservation supported by the whole
society should be raised through further promoting fund-raising drive gMidori no Bokin (Greenery
Fund)h and establishment of forest activities by corporations and
other private organizations.
4. Trend in World Forests and Roles of Japan
Forests in developing countries and regions have been being lost and degraded
due to various causes including overexploitation, illegal logging and forest fires. This
issue should not be considered as a problem merely for developing countries and regions, but
should be treated in the whole picture of promoting sustainable forest managements
in the world.
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