2006.9.26
The Presentation at the Third Meeting of the Forest Dialogue Forum of China
Title; The Kyoto Model Forest
by Fusho OZAWA (President of JOFCA)
1) Current Situation and Issues of Forests
Forests in Kyoto Prefecture cover an area of 343,526ha, and account for 75% of its total land area. This surpasses the national average of 67%. Privately owned forests account for 97% of Kyoto's forests, which is a high figure nationally.
125,322ha (38%) of Kyoto's privately owned forests are planted forests.
Among the privately owned planted forests those of 8 and 9 age class (app. 40 years old) shows higher percentages, and, with those of 10 age class (50 year) and 1-7 age classes of cypress species alone account for 81% of the total area.
39% of planted forests are at the ages of 35 and below, and they require weeding and support against heavy snow, thinning, and pruning. Implementing thinning and utilizing the thinned wood in particular remains to be a major issue.
Forestry laborers, in recent years, have been decreasing.
There are 25 forestry associations in Kyoto Prefecture, employing the core labor force of forest maintenance. Total number of forestry association members in Kyoto Prefecture is 43,000 people.
2) Forestry Policies in Kyoto Prefecture for the solution of the Issues
①Comprehensive Forestry Promotion Activities in the Region
In order to comprehensively and systematically promote forest and forestry policies that match actual regional conditions, Kyoto Prefecture has formed partnerships with municipal and related organizations, and is extensively advancing forest maintenance projects, forestry/lumber production industry organizational reforms, new personnel training policies, regional forest maintenance activities aid, and so on.
②Thinning Policy Promotion
Based on the "Kyoto Prefecture Emergency Thinning Promotion Plan" developed in 2000, Kyoto Prefecture plans to thin 17,500ha of forest by fiscal 2004, along with actively using thinned lumber for the public works.
Work is also underway to improve forest and strip roads to lower logging costs and supplement forest planting.
③Promotion of Timber Use and Improvement of Timber Distribution/Processing Systems in the Prefecture
The "Kyoto Prefectural Office Timber Use Promotion Association" was established in 1997 to increase usage of prefectural timber in public facilities, and has formed an alliance with related industries to promote the "Build local houses with local wood" movement.
As for our distribution and processing system, we provide support to prefectural wood processing facilities such as "Kyoto Lumber Processing Center" (a thinned log processing facility), operated by Kyoto Prefecture Forest Association Federation in Ayabe City . Also, through a partnership with business, academia, and the public sector, Kyoto Prefecture is involved in the creation of new products, such as thinned wood plywood and guardrails.
④New Work Force Policy Promotion
Due to the continuously languid forestry and forest industries and the population decline of mountain villages, the shortage of new forestry work force has become a serious problem. To combat this, Kyoto Prefecture is collaborating with Kyoto Forestry Worker Support Center and forestry associations to promote the fostering of work force through on-the-job training and mutual aid programs.
Work is also proceeding in supporting leading forestry families, young workers, women's groups and other regional leaders.
⑤Promotion of "Green" Public Works
Forests, which represent 75% of the prefecture's greenery, have been undergoing slow degradation with the backdrop of weak lumber prices. Simply protecting existing policies has become difficult.
Thus, in December 2002 Kyoto Prefecture sought the opinions of outside experts and drafted the "Green Public Works Action Plan" that compiles a list of problems that must immediately and diligently be faced.
In accordance with this plan, in fiscal 2003 Kyoto's lush green environment is being protected through forest maintenance promotion. This, combined with promoting maintenance of less tended forests and training personnel for full-scale forestry employment for forest new job creation, are a few of the many projects for the active use of timber resources.
⑥Promotion of Wildlife Preservation and Harmful Wildlife Policies
There has been an increase crop of damage caused by wild bears, dears, monkeys, and other animals around mountain villages. This has led to serious problems, notably a decline in willingness to produce agricultural products.
Along with trying to inform and educate people about wildlife preservation, Kyoto Prefecture has been implementing harmful wildlife policies, funded on the control and removal, in collaboration with the municipal level.
⑦Promotion of Forest Preservation Policies
In order to prevent mountain disasters and ensure adequate watershed protection capabilities, soil conservation dams are being constructed based on the "9th Soil Conservation Dam 7-Year Project", and forests with high public interests are being designated natural reserves.
Pest control projects designed to protect pine forests with high public interests and economic viability from pine weevil damage are also in place.
3) Kyoto Prefecture accelerated to realize Forest Policies
①Moreover from 2005, a new Kyoto Forest Ordinance took effect, enabling the Kyoto Model Forest Initiative to start
The Ordinance aims to promote contracts between landowners, especially absentee owners (who have will to offer forests) and voluntary groups etc.
In addition, small scale (less than 1 hectare) land developers are obliged to consult in advance of implementation.
② The Kyoto Model Forest Initiative aims to establish the unique Kyoto style model forest, putting strong emphasis on broadly based stakeholders’ participation.
December 2005, Action Plan for Public Green Spaces (Promotion of the Kyoto Model Forest ) by Kyoto Prefecture has been moving forward with the establishment of public projects aimed at preserving and maintaining the symbolic green forests for the protection of the earth’s environment and the future of our children. Furthermore, an ‘Action Plan for Public Green Spaces’ has been drawn up. There are also projects for the regeneration of less tended forests with conifers and broadleaves, for the development of forests that contribute to the culture of Kyoto, and means to make good use of lumber. However, it is difficult to protect and nurture through these means alone, and as such the 2005 Action Plan aims to move towards the creation of sustainable forests through the participation and cooperation of many individuals under the banner of the Model Forest (movement to protect the environment, and in particular the forests, through the participation of interested parties).
The year of 2006 will see us move towards a policy that realizes true progress in a cooperative people’s movement.
In order to preserve the forests of Kyoto that belong to its people, we are creating a new people’s association that aims for sustainable forests under the banner of the Model Forest, along with the maintenance of forests through forest owners and forestry associations and the promotion of ‘Public Green Spaces’.
In order to achieve this, systems shall be put in use whereby important regions for forest preservation will be designated according to the ‘Kyoto Forest Ordinance Protecting Rich Greenery’, activist groups for the sustainable forest management shall be registered, and various official authorization systems shall be utilized. At the same time, along with the promotion of the organization of support networks, there shall also be the expansion and establishment of ties between the various forest related activities. There shall also be developments in the promotion of the recycling of forest resources, the encouragement of various organizational activities, and the provision of opportunities for the participation of Prefectural residents.
4) Pioneer Project of Kyoto Model Forest Initiative
①The Tenozan Mountain Model Forest Project
Project of the
council for the maintenance and promotion of the Tenozan Mountain Forest
Area
Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures have begun to sound
out the project for the joint forest maintenance of the Tenozan Mountain, which
spreads across both Osaka and Kyoto Prefectures , in cooperation with industries
that make use of the water from Tenozan Mountain and Kyoto’s Western Mountain
range. In Osaka Prefecture is an area that produces whisky that is home to the
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery (Mishimagun, Shimamoto-cho) and in Kyoto Prefecture
is a beer producing area where the Suntory Kyoto Factory is to be found
(Nagaokakyo-shi). Kyoto Prefecture went through the process of forming proposals
with this factory for the cooperative maintenance of the forest. Talks with
Suntory in Osaka also progressed and they indicated that they would like to
maintain the forest that they own and carry out tree plantations in the area. If
this were to happen then all of the Tenozan Mountain forest area, including that
of Kyoto Prefecture, would be maintained and the two Prefectures and industry
would come together to further forestation in the Tenozan Mountain forest
area.
The maintenance of the Tenozan Mountain Forest Area, which occupies an important position in terms of the protection of the urban environment and is a place of scenic beauty where history and culture accumulate, shall be carried out through cooperation that goes beyond the borders of the Prefectures, between land owners, residents of the region, business, NPOs, and the relevant administrations. It is with this cooperation that we shall bring various functions into view and contribute to the creation of a beautiful and desirable environment through the cultivation of water sources, prevention against disaster, creation of scenery, securing of a diverse habitat, protection of cultural properties, provision of a place for recreation and lifetime learning and the easing of the heat island effect and etc.
A council was established in March 2005
through a collaboration of residential and landowner representatives,
businesses, NPOs, academics and administrations. Research results are being
gathered and the council’s third assembly was held to work out a ‘Vision for the
Maintenance of the Tenozan Mountain Forest Area’ to promote the preservation of
the area.
The subject
area is the estimated 250 ha of forest and forest owners are Suntory corporation
and 300 small scale owners.
Now they collaborate for the maintenance of forests
coordinated by Kyoto University and others.
.②The Daimonji mountain project
The Daimonji mountain forest area is subject to many controls and has an important scenic value and as such it is anticipated that the use of the forest as a recreation area will be expanded. To attain the long term goal of the forest serving the dual roles of an area for recreation as well as scenery, it is thought that it is necessary to maintain a healthy forest area in which Red Pines are located mainly in the folds of the ridges and deciduous trees mainly in the lower half of the mountains. The city residents also anticipate and hope for pine tree scenery along the ridgelines.
If areas of the space within the forests called ‘gaps’ are cleared, then a new living space brimming with diversity can be created in which a variety of plants and animals can enjoy a radiant environment.
In order so that forest floors that receive 20-50% of relative illumination can receive direct sunlight, tall trees should be cut down to a smaller size for the proliferation of a diverse range of various forms of life.
‘Diversity’ and ‘application of the strength of natural
recovery’ are paramount in our way of thinking concerning the maintenance of
forests for the regeneration and protection of forest scenery.
Conclusion
① The
full-dress launching of the Kyoto Model Forest Initiative
The
Kyoto Model Forest Initiative aims to establish the unique Kyoto style model
forest, putting strong emphasis on broadly based stakeholders
participation.
Carrying
the banner for sustainable forest management, landowners, people, various
groups, companies, universities・schools,
institutes, Prefecture and communities collaborate for the preservation of
regions, including nearly nature, farmland, rivers and the
sea.
As
the tasks, there are effective use of planted forests, maintenance of beautiful
scenery, keep clean water etc.
8th
September 2006, the Kyoto Model Forest Association Founding
Promoters’
Meeting took place.
After
the meeting , the recruitment of the members of the Kyoto Model Forest
Association started.
Many
companies, for example Matsusita Electric Industrial Co., Suntory Limited, Japan
Life Insurance and so on, will participate.
Multiple
associations of Buddhism and other religions, flower arrangement
schools’,
tea ceremony schools’,
the Boy Scout, the Girl Scout, voluntary groups and others will participate
also.
Naturally,
Universities, forest owners’associations,
and Green Cub Scouts, etc.
②The
development in the near future
The
Kyoto Model Forest Association, intends to join as soon as possible the
International Model Forest Network.
The
Kyoto Model Forest Initiative, at the same time, puts strong emphasis on
international linkage.
注、当日の発表に加筆・整理を行ったものです。