The National Federation of Forest Owners' Cooperatives (Location: Otemachi Gate Building 5F, 1-1-16 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Chairman Kazuhisa Nakazaki, hereinafter "Zenmori") and Mazex Inc. (Headquarters: 3-4-8 Yoshida Honmachi, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, 578-0982; Representative: President Hiroaki Yoshino, hereinafter "Mazex"), an industrial drone manufacturer, are pleased to announce the commencement of initiatives aimed at promoting the utilization of forestry drones within forest owners' cooperatives nationwide, in order to advance smart forestry.
Through this initiative, Zenmori will introduce Mazex forestry drones to participating forest owners' cooperatives. Mazex will provide product explanations, consultation on introduction, and operational support, thereby assisting in labor saving and efficiency improvement for seedling and material transport in forestry operations.
Specifically, by promoting the introduction of drone-based transportation methods in areas such as reforestation sites, steep slopes, and locations difficult for vehicles to access, we aim to reduce the burden on workers, improve safety in forestry operations, and contribute to the steady implementation of reforestation.
Background of the Initiative
While many of Japan's artificial forests, created after World War II, are now reaching their prime harvesting period, the forestry industry faces structural challenges including a shortage of successors, an aging workforce, and the heavy workload due to steep terrain.
In particular, the transportation of seedlings, fertilizers, animal damage prevention materials, tools, fuel, and other equipment by human labor to work sites in mountainous areas after clear-cutting and during silviculture operations poses a significant burden, presenting major challenges in terms of operational efficiency and safety in forestry work.
In areas where the distance from forest roads to work sites is considerable, or on steep slopes, the transportation work itself becomes a major burden, leading to delays in reforestation and increased fatigue for workers.
Furthermore, in recent years, expectations for the multifaceted functions of forests, such as land conservation, water resource enrichment, and CO2 absorption/fixation, have been growing. Therefore, to support sustainable forest management, labor saving and efficiency improvement in field operations, as well as ensuring safety in forestry work, are becoming increasingly important.
Against this backdrop, Zenmori and Mazex will support the resolution of practical issues in forestry operations and promote the concrete implementation of smart forestry through the introduction of new transportation methods utilizing drones.
Main Contents of the Initiative
1. Labor Saving in Seedling Transport
Drones will be utilized for transporting seedlings required at reforestation sites, aiming to reduce the burden of transport work that has heavily relied on manual labor. This is particularly envisioned for steep slopes and difficult-to-access areas, with the goal of streamlining the transport process, which precedes planting operations, thereby facilitating the overall reforestation work.
2. Efficient Transport of Materials and Equipment
In addition to seedlings, drones will be used to transport various materials necessary for forest maintenance, such as fertilizers, animal damage prevention materials, individual tree protection materials, tools, and consumables. This will help reduce the number of round trips for workers and support the creation of a system that allocates human resources to the planting, silviculture, and maintenance work that should be the primary focus.
3. Improvement of Forestry Labor Safety and Reduction of Field Work Burden
Transportation work in mountainous areas carries safety risks, including falls, slips, and physical strain from carrying heavy loads. By utilizing drones, the need for workers to repeatedly travel through hazardous areas can be reduced, contributing to improved safety in forestry operations, reduced risk of occupational accidents, and the creation of a safe working environment.
4. Introduction Support and Operational Consultation for Forest Owners' Cooperatives
Zenmori will introduce Mazex forestry drones to participating forest owners' cooperatives. Mazex will provide product explanations, consultation on introduction, sharing of utilization methods, and support for field operations to forest owners' cooperatives considering adoption. Emphasis will be placed on implementation tailored to regional terrain and working conditions, supporting the establishment of a system that forest owners' cooperatives can operate smoothly and continuously.
Future Development
Moving forward, Zenmori and Mazex will promote the introduction and support for the utilization of drones in seedling and material transport to forest owners' cooperatives and forestry stakeholders nationwide.
・Labor saving in seedling transport ・Improved efficiency in transporting forest maintenance materials ・Reduced physical burden on workers ・Improved safety in forestry operations ・Enhanced safety in mountainous area operations ・Support for steady reforestation implementation ・Contribution to sustainable forest management
Through this initiative, Zenmori and Mazex will work to disseminate transportation methods utilizing drones and address the on-site challenges faced by Japan's forestry industry.
Organization and Company Overview
National Federation of Forest Owners' Cooperatives
Location
Otemachi Gate Building 5F, 1-1-16 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Chairman Kazuhisa Nakazaki
Web
https://www.zenmori.org/
Mazex Inc.
Location
3-4-8 Yoshida Honmachi, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, 578-0982
Representative
President Hiroaki Yoshino
TEL / FAX
TEL: 072-960-3221 FAX: 072-960-3224
Web
https://mazex.jp
Contact Information for Inquiries
Mazex Inc.
Location: 3-4-8 Yoshida Honmachi, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, 578-0982
TEL: 072-960-3221
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: https://mazex.jp
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: 協業