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| What are Woodmiles? < Background of Woodmiles > |
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■ Unhealthy conditions of Japanese forests
 
Japan has so mush forest resources as to be described as green archipelago, 64% of whose land is covered by forests, making the country one of the most forest-resourceful countries in the world. Forests in Japan consist of about 40% of artificial forests which produce timber, about 40% of natural forests once used to make firewood, and about 20% of virgin forests---most of them were conserved to our generation in every day life. They have not only been our essence of our lives, but also have worked as numerous public functions such as a source of groundwater occurrence, a barrier to block natural disasters like mudslide, a purification medium of the river and air, a recreation site, and a preservation of biological species.
 
Once you step into them, however, you will find deserted and bleak scenery, especially in artificial forests---those are neglected forests due to the decline of the forestry. In that kind of forests where nobody manages trees, what you see is trees with a narrow trunk growing upwards for the sunlight---over-crowded forest full of bean-sprout like trees which is vulnerable against the hardship of weather.
Forest Area (% of land area) and Self-Sufficient Rate of Timber Materials
FAO“State of the World’s Forest 2001,2005“etc
The Supply and Self-Sufficient Rate of Timber Materials in Japan
MAFF of Japan“The Annual Report of Forest and Forestry 2007“
Since the World War Ⅱuntil some years after it, when timber is a valuable resource, forestation had been encouraged nationwide in order to rehabilitate then deserted mountains and restore wooden resources. It is an era when anybody can earn a fortune as long as trees are planted. But things were never be the same. No later than 1952-59, free trading of timber had already introduced in order to supply the surged demand of timber because it takes several decades for trees to grow big enough to be processed. While large quantity of timber has been constantly imported, the forestry in Japan has failed to rationalize itself, leading its self-sufficient rate (of timber materials) down to 20%. (excluding firewood etc)
Wood Volume of Planted Forests and Natural Forests in Japan
MAFF of Japan“Forest Resources Assessment 2003“
As a result, forests in Japan have been in unhealthy conditions everywhere. As increase of the populations and destruction of environment proceed, there said to be a battle over natural resources such as food, fossil fuels, and wood. Why do we keep using timber imported from foreign countries while there are enough forest resources domestically? We should shift our consumption pattern to more domestic and local-oriented one.
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Background of Woodmiles
Global environment issues and timber 