At an Experts’ Informal Meeting, Governor Stresses the Importance of Sound Growth of Forests

At an “experts’ informal meeting for promoting forestry in Tokyo” held on Aug, 5 (Tue), Governor Koike stressed the importance of promoting sound development of forests and revitalizing the forestry industry.”

At its first meeting for the fiscal year 2025, the governor noted, “Tokyo is blessed with forests, woodlands, and greenery, while forests account for two-thirds of Japan’s total land area. Forests play vital roles in supplying timber and nurturing water sources. Globally, news concerning mountains, such as frequent wildfires, is drawing much attention.”

She also pointed out that at home, as new record-high temperatures have been registered and the climate crisis has become a reality, making forests also crucial contributors to achieving carbon neutrality.

The governor then emphasized that amid increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters, attention is being focused anew on mountain management and flood control—the nation’s most fundamental foundation—and its importance is growing. “It is essential to promote sound development of forests and revitalize the forestry industry,” she said.

She also referred to the mountain forests in the Tama region, western Tokyo, saying, “Mountain forests in the Tama region are mostly man-made and many of them have been ready for cutting. The most needed is to increase demand and enable mountains to naturally cycle themselves effectively.”

This fiscal year, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government launched a pioneering initiative, the first in the country, to identify those forest owners who have yet to make an inheritance registration, encouraging logging, she pointed out.

On the other hand, she asserted that a key challenge is the shortage of workers. “To secure personnel, we must improve productivity and create a virtuous cycle that effectively connects forests to business opportunities,” she said.

“Today, we are connected online with Ed Colp of Boston Dynamics. He will talk about current and real-world innovations in evolving robotics that enhance productivity, solve labor shortages, and establish viable models as business. I ask for your support in harnessing forestry’s potential and leading to sustainable growth of our country,” she called for experts’ further support.