Forestry

— Latest update: October 2023 —

With two-thirds of the land area covered in forests, Japan is rich in forestry resources. The country has long been cultivating and planting forests, and the stock of trees ready for harvest is increasing. After prioritising the import of wooden materials from overseas for a long time, the country is becoming increasingly aware of the opportunities that the domestic forests are providing. Total forestry output in 2021 was 545,7 billion yen, an increase of 13% from the previous year. Half of the value is generated by the relatively stable mushroom and non-wood forestry goods sector. The government is undertaking efforts to transform forestry back into a growth industry, and the last years have seen plenty of efforts to improve existing policies.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Forestry Agency Annual Report on Forest and Forestry in Japan FY 2022

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Table of Contents

• Overview
• Distribution of the Sector
  • Wooden Products
  • Non-timber Forest Products
• Challenges and Political Responses
  • Staff Shortage
  • Dependence on Imports
  • Timber Imports and the Promotion of “Clean Wood”
  • Forestland Ownership & Profitability
  • Global Warming & Carbon Neutrality
  • Forest Conservation
  • Covid-19 Pandemic 
• EU-Japan EPA
• Expert reports and webinars
• Annual Reports
• Further Readings
• Relevant Organisations and Trade Fairs