EXCLUSIVE: Japan to Support Forestry Industry Revitalization

Tokyo, Aug. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Forestry Agency plans to support revitalization efforts for the forestry and lumber industries through public-private cooperation. Prefectural governments will compile revitalization plans while setting up consultative bodies involving industry participants and citizens. Revitalization plans are expected to include consolidation of forests held by different owners, use of information and communication technology, and improvement in lumber products’ added value. The agency will provide subsidies for measures to be implemented under such revitalization plans. At consultative bodies, participants will discuss issues such as how to help consumers understand the need to pass on lumber production costs to them and how to attract private-sector investment in forest management. Japan, where some 70 pct of the land is covered by forest, has many artificial forests that are more than 50 years old and are ripe for felling. In the meantime, the forestry and lumber industries are struggling with securing workers and increasing workers’ income at all stages from forest management, felling, wood processing to lumber sales. The agency aims to solve those challenges by boosting use of domestic lumber and thus helping operators stabilize financially. The agency will seek related costs in its fiscal 2027 budget requests. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]