Japan: Japanese New Forest Management System to Increase Log Production

Japan’s Forestry Agency is targeting a domestic wood supply increase from 30 million cubic meters in 2017 to 40 million cubic meters by 2025. The Government of Japan (GOJ) has allocated approximately 120 billion yen ($1.1 billion) each year for the Forest Management Project, which supports thinning and selective logging operations. The new Forest Management System authorizes local governments 1) to allocate profitable forestland to motivated and capable forestry operators when the private owner does not manage the forestland and 2) to manage private forestland that is not profitable. To cover the operational costs for local governments, GOJ developed the Forest Environment Tax to collect an estimated 60 billion yen annually beginning in 2024.

Japan: Japanese New Forest Management System to Increase Log Production