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| Development
of Infrastructure for Forests and Forest Industry |
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| Promotion of Various Forest
Developments |
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| A natural forest
resplendent in natural beauty: a forest of mixed acicular and broadleaf
trees (Hakodate City) |
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| Artificial growth
development forest: A dense forest of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis)
and Japanese red spruce (Picedjezoensis) (Oketo Town) |
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Forests have the important function
of protecting our living environment by recharging water resources and preserving
our country's land. In recent years people have come to consider diversified
advanced roles forests have in preventing global warming, use in promoting
health, culture, education and the preservation of various living organism.
Also, forests are looked to for producing lumber, an environment-conscious
material, with a low load on the environment.
With a broad land area of 5,540,000 hectares of fir (Abies suchalinensis),
oak (Quercus crispula) and Japanese linden and a variety of other species
of trees, it is expedient for Hokkaido to respond appropriately to these
needs.
In view of this, the Hokkaido Bureau is promoting a systematic, comprehensive
project to plant and nurture trees and improve forest roads, for full, qualitative
use of forest resources for health, culture and educational use in order
to develop and preserve a good living environment for urban and rural areas, |
| [Forest Development Projects] |
In order to continually demonstrate
the role forests have in preventing global warming and a number of other
areas, based on the important functions possessed by forests - water and
land preservation forests, man and forest symbiosis and cyclic resource
forests - from the point of view of further promotion of the role of forests
in preventing global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, the development
of a stable forestry management base for forest resources and forest roads
is being promoted.
With respect to forest development, while conducting planting,
nurturing and brush thinning forestation systematically and appropriately,
the natural condition of natural forests is being supplemented by human
hands making positive use of the forces of nature resulting in the realization
of a variety of functions and broad-leaf forest resources.
Brush thinning and nurturing is particularly needed for man-made
forests and is being conducted in about 90% of the forests due to a sluggish
trend in the price of lumber because of lack of thinning in many forests.
The Brush-thinning Promotion 3-year Measure was established to solve this
problem. |
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| Forest roads are
indispensable for the conveyance of lumber and maintenance of forests.
(Hakodate City) |
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| Developing broad living areas
surrounded by rich, green forests for the revitalization of villages where
most of the people involved in forestry live is being advanced. Along with
this, to ensure continued residence in the area, the living conditions of
people living in forest areas is stabilized by developing infrastructure,
including road networks through forests to realize symbiosis of mountain
and urban areas. |
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| An oak forest where
brush thinning is being carried out properly (Naie Town) |
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