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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Forest Management Association of Japan Takashi Hayami, Chairman

Creating a 'Japanese' forest management and administration model to contribute to a recycling-orientated society

Research grant

Project Description

Japan's forests provide a lot of social benefits, such as land conservation and water source protection, and in recent years the importance of their role in absorbing carbon dioxide has been recognized. However, changes in the environment around these forests mean that previous forest management techniques are no longer effective, and new solutions are needed to deal with this. This research aims to restore the social benefits of forests, enable sustainable timber production, rejuvenate rural villages, preserve forests as cultural assets, and implement forest management initiatives in partnership with urban communities by creating a 'Japanese' forest management and administration model tailored to Japan's unique situtation. Specifically this involves researching the conditions needed to form forestry enterprises as economic activities, and the evaluation methods and regulation needed for these, as well as considering the conditions required for forestry enterprises in Japan to conduct effective operations. We will then draw up the necessary factors for building a Japanese forest management and administration model, such as manpower, yield, and operational scale, and review forest policy and make new policy recommendations aimed at realizing this model.

Fields
Preservation of surface soil and forests
Grant year
FY2007 Research Grants
Grant term
2 years
April 2008 - March 2010
Grant amount
19,184,000 yen
Activity region
Across Japan
Mechanical harvesting of forest biomass

Overview of the Organization

Takashi Hayami, Chairman
Representative
Takashi Hayami, Chairman
Profile
Specialist field
Forest sector: forest administration, forest certification, etc.
Affiliated academic societies
None
Background
Graduated from the political science course at Keio University's Faculty of Law in March 1976, completed postgraduate research at the University of Tokyo Faculty of Agriculture's Department of Forest Science in April 1977, before pursuing forest administration. Has served as a member of the Chubu-no-Asu Research Advisory Board, a member of the Mie Educational Rejuvenation Vision Creation Committee, the director of the Owase Forest Creation Association, and as a member of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Forestry Policy Council and Commission for the Evaluation of Independent Administrative Institutions. Currently serves as a temporary member of the Ministry of the Environment's Central Environment Council, a specialist member of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism National Land Development Council's Planning Committee, and as chairman of the Forest Management Association of Japan.
WEB site
http://www.rinkeikyo.jp/
Co-researcher
Norihiko Shiraishi, professor, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Research record
  • (1) Forest sustainability (aiming to restore forest industry): A collection of thoughts on Japan's forests 33 and 35 (contributions by members) - disussions on issues of manpower and scale in forestry, future outlook and technology, investing in forestry, positioning forests as carbon sinks, forest and forestry zoning, environmental considerations, stable supply, subsidies, forest associations, collectivization, and public management)
  • (2) Recommendations regarding forest building and the future of cultural assets: collected from a meeting of experts on forest building and the future of cultural assets (edited report including the demand for and conservation of wood resources for repairing cultural assets, clarifying the current situation and issues, and the status and issues regarding ways of handling the process at the current stage)