Forestry
Promoting forest management through the vitality of the private sector for the realization of carbon neutrality 
In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, it is important to not only reduce carbon emissions, but to secure and strengthen the ability of forests to absorb and store CO2. Therefore, in addition to existing public works, it is necessary to further promote forest management through the vitality of the private sector.
To this end, the Forestry Agency established the "Forests × Decarbonization Challenge" in 2022, which honors forest management efforts supported by corporations and others, and the winners were selected in May of the same year. In June, the Award Winners Report was released to publicize their outstanding efforts contributing to decarbonization.
- The Award Winners Report of the "Forests × Decarbonization Challenge 2022"(PDF : 3,924KB)
( No.1(PDF : 1,454KB)、 No.2(PDF : 1,614KB)、 No.3(PDF : 1,085KB) )
Additionally, in June 2022, an easy-to-perform method to evaluate the contribution of investment projects to carbon neutrality and ensuring biodiversity, etc. in order to facilitate smooth and proper decision making regarding investment projects in the forest and forestry sectors was formulated in light of the growing potential for investments.
- Outline of the Interim Summary of the Guidelines on Investments in Forest, Forestry, and Wood Industry in Japan that Contribute to Achieving Carbon Neutrality, etc. (Provisional Translation)(PDF : 484KB)
- Interim Summary of the Guidelines on Investments in Forest, Forestry, and Wood Industry in Japan that Contribute to Achieving Carbon Neutrality, etc. (Provisional Translation)(PDF : 3,729KB)
( No.1(PDF : 2,245KB)、 No.2(PDF : 1,712KB) )
Guidelines for Forestry Management to Enhance Forest Biodiversity
In December 2023, the Forestry Agency established the "Study Group on Approaches to Forest Management Contributing to Biodiversity Conservation." The purpose of this group is to compile existing knowledge and practical examples of forest management that contribute to biodiversity conservation and to discuss how forestry management can enhance forest biodiversity.
As a result of this study, we developed the "Guidelines for Forestry Management to Enhance Forest Biodiversity" in March 2024. This guideline describes approaches to forest management that enhance biodiversity in forests that have been managed to some extent through forestry production activities.
- Guidelines for Forestry Management to Enhance Forest Biodiversity(PDF : 526KB)
- Gudelines for Logging and Carrying-out during Regeneration-harvesting(PDF : 145KB)
Guidance on TNFD-aligned Disclosures for Forests
To support companies in disclosing nature-related financial information concerning forests, the Forestry Agency established a study group in December 2024. This led to the development of the "Guidance for Companies on Nature-related Financial Disclosures concerning the Multiple Functions of Forests" ("Guidance on TNFD-aligned Disclosures for Forests").
This guidance applies the "LEAP approach" recommended by TNFD and provides examples of how companies can analyze and evaluate the relationships between their business activities and the multiple functions of forests. It includes practical examples of analytical methods, disclosure items, and indicators.
Case Study Collection introduces leading examples of TNFD-aligned disclosures by companies engaged in timber use, forest management, and conservation initiatives.
Forest Planning System
Unregulated logging and development can lead to forest degradation, which cause disasters such as landslides as well as wind and flood damage. Unplanned logging also leads to the depletion of forest resources and may cause serious disruptions to the stable supply of forest products. Since reforestation requires a long period, it is difficult to restore forest functions once they have been damaged. As a result, such degradation can lead to significant impacts on the national economy.
Accordingly, the Forest Planning System was established under the Forest Act to ensure planned and appropriate forest management from a long-term perspective.
Structure of Forest Planning System
- Operational Procedure of the Forest Management Planning system(PDF : 204KB)
- Operation of Municipal Forest Planning System(PDF : 178KB)
Recreation Forests of Japan
The Forestry Agency has established "Recreation Forests" within national forests across Japan to provide the people with the opportunity to enjoy beautiful scenery and rich wilderness in the forest.
And 93 of “Recreation Forests” that have potential attractiveness as tourism resources were selected as “Japan’s Forests with Breathtaking Views”.
The following website provides information on "Japan’s Forests with Breathtaking Views" that we strongly recommend to domestic and foreign tourists.
＞Japan's Forests with Breathtaking Views（Link）
The Montréal Process
The Montréal Process is an initiative to promote the development and application of criteria and indicators for conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests. Its 12 member countries are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Uruguay, and the United States of America. The initiative is named after the venue of the expert seminar on sustainable forest management of temperate and boreal forests held in 1993 in Montreal, Canada, where discussion started. Since the Working Group was formed, in 1994, it has been working on the development and revision of criteria/indicators, collection of data based on the indicators, and development of country reports.
The country report of the Montreal Process aims to analyze and explain the progress towards achieving sustainable forest management in each member country based on the seven criteria for sustainable forest management.
This 4th Country Report has developed a synthesis of trends of the changes in the circumstances surrounding Japan’s forest and forestry after the compilation of the 3rd Country Report, based on the 54 indicators revised in 2009 and in the light of the revised Technical Notes on Implementation of the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators, Criteria 1-7 (the 3rd edition).
Japan’s Voluntary National Report to the United Nations Forum on Forests
The first-ever UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) which provides an ambitious vision for global forests in 2030 was forged at United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) and was adopted by the UN Economic and Social Council and the UN General Assembly on April 2017. UNSPF contains six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets, to be achieved by 2030. These Goals and their associated targets are at the heart of UNSPF and are aimed at contributing to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
UNFF will conduct the final review of the effectiveness of the international arrangement on forests in achieving its objectives. Voluntary national reports are a vital source of information for assessing progress towards implementation of the UNSPF and its Global Forest Goals and targets and the United Nations Forest Instrument.
Japan had compiled its national report based on the new format for voluntary national reporting and subsequently submitted the report to UNFF in 2025.
Wood Design Award
The Forestry Agency promotes the “Wood Design Award”, which acknowledges products and initiatives that seek to rediscover the goodness and value of wood from the perspective of consumers.
The cartoons which convey the appeal of forests, forestry, and the lumber industry
We hope you enjoy the cartoons and support forestry and forest conservation in Japan.
The Forestry Agency made presentations at The Fifth World Landslide Forum
"The fifth World Landslide Forum" is an international conference held by International Consortium on Landslides together with UNESCO and UNDRR, which are support organizations, with the aim of exchanging information, forming networks, and promoting research on efforts to mitigate landslide disasters around the world. The following two themes made presentation by The Forestry Agency at the World Forum.
Theme：“Efforts and results of mountain area conservation by Forestry conservancy projects “
“Examples of recent landslide countermeasures by conservancy projects “
Date ：5th November 2021
Place ：Kyoto International Conference Center (Takaragaike, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan)
“Efforts and results of mountain area conservation by Forestry conservancy projects “
- One-Page Abstract(PDF : 173KB)
- Presentation Materials
1-1(PDF : 2,018KB), 1-2(PDF : 1,485KB), 1-3(PDF : 1,807KB), 1-4(PDF : 2,310KB)
“Examples of recent landslide countermeasures by conservancy projects “
- One-Page Abstract(PDF : 189KB)
- Presentation Materials
1-1(PDF : 948KB), 1-2(PDF : 1,414KB)
Promotion of sustainable wood use in Japan
- Guidance for Evaluation of Wood Use in Buildings (PDF : 2,708KB)
- Guidelines for Indication of the Amount of Carbon Stored for Wood Used in Buildings (PDF : 626KB)
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