'Green Social Asset Protection Plan' Adopted in Japan

On June 8, 2004, the Japanese government adopted plans for a new project to manage and conserve forests formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). The new plan sets 5-year goals and combines two public works categories; one that deals with forest growth and the other with forestry conservation.

The plan highlights the importance of improving and conserving forests, and defines forests as a "green social asset" essential for stabilizing the human living environment and the national economy. Concrete targets are outlined in the plan, which envisions a safe, recycling and vitalized society living in harmony.

Eight specific targets and result indicators are set in the plan, including (a) an increase in the ratio of well-maintained forests from 50% to 66%, (b) an increase in the ratio of mixed forests composed of both conifers and broad-leaved trees from 31% to 35%, (c) boosting harvestable forest resources by 120 million cubic meters, and (d) doubling the number of watershed areas where more than 50% of forest growth can be harvested from 10 to 20.

By improving the government's forestry policy and through collaboration between government and the private sector, the plan also aims to increase Japan's total absorption of carbon through forestry management by 3.9 percent, or 13 million tons, from the benchmarking level in 1990.




Posted: 2004/10/21 09:39:17 AM
Japanese version