V
Promotion of National Forest Management Reform
1. The
Role of National Forest Management and Past Efforts
National Forest make up 30% of
total forest areas in Japan and many are clustered around
remote in-land mountain ranges and headwater areas. They play major roles in
fulfilling public functions.
To fulfill the roles expected
of the National Forest, administration to sustain and improve the public
functions has been promoted based on the two reform-related laws since the
fiscal year 1998.
Consignment of logging,
planting and weeding to private corporations are being promoted and, as of fiscal
year 2002, have reached 100%, 90% and 80% of total work, respectively.
The Basic Management Plan has been revised, aiming to realize "forests
for the people," in both name and reality, based on the framework
to develop a simple and efficient administration established in the concentrated
reform period of the past five years.
Specifically, the Plan sets
forth the further promotion of administration for the sustainment and
development of public functions, active roles of National Forest in taking
initiatives on new policy issues such as mitigation of global warming, and
full-fledged promotion of forest environment education and public participation
in creating forests.
2. Efforts towards a "Forests for the People"
Each National Forest is classified as "forest for water and land conservation,"
"forest for symbiosis with people" or "forest for cyclic
use of resources," based on the most significant functions that should
be fulfilled in each forest, and management and creation of forest is promoted
according to this classification.
Under the cooperation with people involved in privately-owned forests,
NPO groups and others, the establishment of new protected forests and the
installation of "Green Corridors," which aim to create a network
between protected forests, are being promoted to sustain and preserve a
superior natural environment.
As a mitigative measure against global warming, National Forest has been
taking the initiative in creation of healthy and lively forests and the
use of lumber in forest civil engineering work. Such use of lumber in 2002
is three times that of four years ago.
"Interaction forests," which are National Forest provided as
a workplace for forestry volunteer groups, "Forestation to support
the culture of wood", which contribute to the continuation of traditional
culture, and "Corporation forest", where profit-sharing forestry
system is implemented are being promoted.
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