Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on February 25, 2026, 11:07 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.
Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture, has begun general sales of "forest-derived J-credits" created through the maintenance of city-owned forests to companies and organizations nationwide. The city has introduced a pricing system that offers discounts of up to 20% depending on the volume of purchases to support corporate decarbonization management and return profits from the sale to local forest improvement efforts. The company aims to capture demand for carbon offsets and secure financial resources for sustainable forest management.
This time, Nobeoka City will offer 1,000 tons of J-credits certified through planned thinning and other maintenance in city-owned forests to the general public. The most significant feature is the introduction of a tiered discount system based on the quantity purchased: the unit price per ton is set at 8,000 yen, but a discount of 101 TP3T is applied for purchases of 100 tons or more, and 201 TP3T for purchases of 500 tons or more. This flexible pricing design makes it easy for companies seeking to offset emissions on a large scale to introduce the system.
Behind the creation of credits is the concrete activity of proper maintenance and management of city-owned forests, and the revenue generated through the purchase will again be used to finance local forest maintenance and conservation activities. In this way, companies not only achieve carbon offsets, but also directly contribute to environmental values such as biodiversity conservation and water source recharge, as well as local community development.
As companies accelerate decarbonization and ESG management, credits issued directly by local governments are effective as an external demonstration of their commitment to regional contribution due to their high level of trust. Nobeoka City's efforts to create a virtuous cycle of economic activity and environmental conservation, starting with its forests, is a model case for the realization of a sustainable society through public-private partnerships.
Reference Links
Information on Nobeoka City Forest-origin J-Credits Sales - Nobeoka City Official Website
