courtesy of takeda@schrodingers.jp / photograph
Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on April 27, 2026, 12:48 PM 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.
Moves toward the digitization of forest information and forestry management are accelerating in both the public and private sectors. In March, the Forestry Agency formulated a new vision for the implementation of smart forestry and new wood-based materials. The guidelines set forth a direction for the advancement of forest resource management through the use of digital technology and the utilization of data. In the private sector, solutions are emerging to meet on-the-ground challenges, such as the advancement of survey services using drones and AI, and the provision of new services to identify owned forests whose whereabouts are unknown. In addition, efforts to promote forestry DX and the creation of carbon credits through collaboration between local governments and IT companies are in full swing, and the infrastructure for maximizing the "economic value" and "environmental value" of forests is progressing.
On March 30, the Forestry Agency released new guidelines for promoting forestry innovation: "Vision for On-Site Implementation of Smart Forestry Technology" and "Vision for Social Implementation of New Wood-based Materials. The new guidelines reorganize the system of measures based on the issues that have emerged through the existing "Forestry Innovation On-Site Implementation Promotion Program" and clarify a new vision for the future of each. In the area of smart forestry, the program presents a concrete roadmap for the penetration of new technologies and new forms of forestry into the field to solve issues such as ensuring safety and reducing labor burdens. Regarding forestry DX, the report provides directions for data linkage and utilization among related parties, including the use of forestry information obtained through aerial laser measurement and other methods. This will support management decisions based on the current status of forest resources and promote the efficiency of the production system through the use of ICT.
*Reference link
Publication of the Vision for the Implementation of Smart Forestry Technology and New Wood-based Materials | Forestry Agency
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and SOMPO Risk Management, in cooperation with Hitachi Systems, launched a new forest survey service in February that utilizes drones and AI analysis. By combining SOMPO Risk's expertise in drone operations and aerial data analysis with Hitachi Systems' AI analysis technology, it has become possible to safely and cost-effectively identify information at the single-tree level and estimate total timber volume. This has made it possible to safely and cost-effectively The system is expected to be used not only for formulating forest conservation plans, but also for generating natural capital credits such as J-credits, clarifying forest boundaries, and planning for replanting with low-pollen cedar to combat pollinosis.
On March 26, the town of Ounan, Shimane Prefecture, signed a partnership agreement with Stellar Green, Temix Green, MAPLY, and Salesforce Japan for the realization of forestry DX. The companies will bring their strengths in geographic information technology (GIS), cloud platforms, and other areas to create a framework for DX forestry platforms. In addition to the digitization of various application procedures, the companies will jointly promote the verification of a business scheme for the creation and sale of forest-derived carbon credits. The framework for private companies with different strengths to collaborate with local governments as a hub is attracting attention as a multifaceted approach to the implementation of forestry DX. By integrating the knowledge of each company, the project aims to quickly convert the "environmental value" of local forests into "economic value" and build a sustainable regional model.
Shishigami Company launched a new service, MORI:SEARCH, on April 1 to solve the problem forest owners face of not knowing the location of their forests. Combining information from property taxation statements, official maps, forest book data, and other sources, MORI:SEARCH reasonably estimates the location of the subject forest and provides it as a map report. Many forest owners who have inherited forests through inheritance or other means continue to pay property taxes without knowing the exact location of their forests. MORISEARCH" supports the first step in forest utilization, "asset identification," thereby helping to reduce the number of abandoned forests and to promote the mobilization of forest resources.
*Reference link
Launch of "Mori Search," a Forest Location Identification Service to Find "My Mountain," whose Location is Unknown throughout Japan | Press Release by Shishigami Company, Ltd.
Service to locate forests｜Mori Search (forenta)
