Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on June 10, 2025, 10:00 AM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
In Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, where an increasing number of artificial cedar forests are left unplanted after their harvesting season, a general incorporated association, "Niigata Mountain Baton," has recently been established to handle everything from logging to reforestation and long-term forest management at no financial cost to forest owners. The organization aims to create the next 100 years of forests in the region through collaboration between logging and afforestation businesses and the local government.
Upon receiving a request from a forest owner for logging, the company first draws up a plan for reforestation, then recruits sponsors and begins a series of operations. The forest owner does not bear any financial burden, as the cost of reforestation and reforestation is covered by sponsorship funds from companies, etc., and logging revenues are not used to pay for reforestation.
The reason why "Yama-no-Baton" can be entrusted with long-term maintenance and management after logging is because the company has established a one-stop system for logging, afforestation, and management, and is capable of long-term management contracts of up to 30 years.
The work will be shared by member companies with specialized knowledge and skills. Marumi and Nakajima Lumber will be in charge of logging, and GREEN FORESTERS (Aoba-gumi) will be in charge of afforestation. Murakami City in Niigata Prefecture is participating as a forest development partner member, and a support system has been established through administrative measures.
By establishing a new forest management system, the company aims to promote reforestation projects of 30 hectares per year and create forest-derived carbon credits through the J-credit system. The company also plans to develop new businesses such as eco-tourism and educational programs utilizing local resources. This is expected to establish a virtuous circle model in which profits generated from local forests are returned to the local community.
Not only in Niigata Prefecture, but throughout Japan, there are many cases of planted forests that have reached their main cutting stage and are left unutilized. While there are problems such as a shortage of forestry workers and the lack of ownership, the cost burden on forest owners and the complexity of forest management cannot be ignored. A system that handles everything from logging to reforestation and long-term management without placing a financial burden on forest owners has the potential to accelerate the cyclical use of forest resources in Japan, which has tended to stagnate until now.
