A policy information page by the Forest Development Department, Forestry Agency, comprehensively explaining the current status and challenges of reforestation in Japan and initiatives for promotion.
Japan's forest area accounts for two-thirds of the national land, with 40% being artificial forests. Currently, 60% of these artificial forests are reaching full utilization age, making it important to ensure reforestation after clear-cutting for the sustainable manifestation of public functions and resource circulation in the future. However, while artificial forest resources are reaching full utilization age, reforestation area remains around 30,000 hectares, with reforestation not progressing.
Factors hindering post-clear-cutting reforestation include reduced owner management motivation due to declining timber prices and large reforestation cost burdens, and declining numbers of forestry workers. Particularly, the balance between standing timber sales revenue and initial reforestation costs has deteriorated, with reforestation costs significantly exceeding sales revenue. Additionally, the age distribution of forestry workers shows pronounced aging, with those aged 60 and over accounting for approximately 70% of the total, while those under 40 remain below 10%.
To advance reforestation, it is important to convert income and expenditure through increased timber sales revenue and reduced reforestation costs, with the need to promote labor-saving and cost-reduction in reforestation work to reduce reforestation costs. Specifically, the introduction of labor-saving and cost-reduction technologies is required at each stage of reforestation work including site preparation, planting, weeding, and thinning.
Regarding implementation status, the latest reports "Current Status of Reforestation" and "Survey on the Current State and Issues of Reforestation" were published in FY2024. Additionally, case study collections from November 2022 and May 2025 versions are provided as on-site implementation examples, specifically introducing labor-saving and cost-reduction technologies and initiatives for promotion being advanced independently in each region.
Furthermore, detailed survey reports and pamphlets on labor-saving and cost-reduction technologies for reforestation, including integrated logging and reforestation systems, low-density planting, and fast-growing tree utilization, have been prepared, with information infrastructure constructed to efficiently and effectively advance forest development.
The article concludes that comprehensive approaches from both technological innovation and policy support are necessary to develop forestry into a sustainable industry and secure reforestation after logging.