FY2025 Forestry and Forest Industry White Paper Released Today

The "FY2025 Forestry and Forest Industry White Paper" was approved by the Cabinet today. This year's feature section focuses on the circular use of forest resources, introducing initiatives aimed at expanding timber utilization and promoting reforestation, as well as efforts to link these two activities. Through this white paper, the government aims to deepen public interest and understanding of Japan's forests and forestry.

1. Overview of the FY2025 Forestry and Forest Industry White Paper The Forestry and Forest Industry White Paper is prepared annually by the government and submitted to the Diet, in accordance with the Forest and Forestry Basic Act. The feature section introduces efforts to promote reforestation necessary for expanding timber utilization and ensuring sustainability, and indicates future directions for establishing the circular use of forest resources. Each chapter contains abundant case studies and photographs, along with QR codes to relevant websites for further information.

The "FY2025 Forestry and Forest Industry White Paper" can be viewed at the following URL: https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/j/kikaku/hakusyo/

2. Key Points Trends in Forests and Forestry for FY2025 (Feature) Towards Establishing the Circular Use of Forest Resources: Linking Timber Utilization and Reforestation The paper describes the background behind the demand for circular forest resource use, initiatives for expanding timber use and promoting reforestation, and directions for establishing circular forest resource use.

(Topics) Characteristic activities in FY2025 include: - Fostering momentum for timber use at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan - Promoting "Mori-gyo" (Forest Industry) for regional revitalization - New developments in Smart Forestry: Technology development and field implementation - Showa 100: Connecting forests built by predecessors to the next generation - Recovery from the Ofunato City forest fire and future firefighting and disaster prevention measures

(Chapter 1) Forest Maintenance and Conservation Covers the realization of multiple forest functions, measures against pollen sources, forest management systems, forest environmental taxes/grants, J-Credits, erosion control, and measures against forest damage by wildlife.

(Chapter 2) Forestry and Mountainous Regions Covers forestry management, training and securing forestry workers, special forest products such as mushrooms and charcoal, and efforts to revitalize mountainous communities.

(Chapter 3) Timber Supply/Demand, Utilization, and Timber Industry Covers illegal logging countermeasures, wood utilization in construction, "Mokuiku" (wood education), and strengthening the competitiveness of the timber industry.

(Chapter 4) Management of National Forests Covers the roles of national forests, public-interest-focused management of national forests, and contributions to overall forest and forestry policy.

(Chapter 5) Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake Covers initiatives for forestry and timber industries in the reconstruction, radioactive material countermeasures in forests, and the supply of safe special forest products.

Forestry Policies for FY2026 Summarizes the outline of measures based on the FY2026 budget.