TMG to Bridge between Forest Owners and Business Operators

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will launch a consulting and support program this fiscal year, serving as a go-between for forest owners and forestry business operators to promote the management of forests left unmanaged.

Most of the man-made forests planted after World War II have been inadequately managed, a factor in an increased risk of landslides and pollen dispersal.

As part of measures to address this issue, TMG has been working with the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for the Promotion of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries since 2006 to promote the “creation of low-pollen forests” initiative, cutting down man-made forests of cedar and cypress—trees that disperse pollen—and replanting them with low-pollen varieties of cedar and other species.

This fiscal year, to further advance this initiative, forestry business operators will take full responsibility for the entire process—from forest surveys to the preparation of forest development plans and subsidy applications. This will enable forest owners to consider specifically how they manage their forests in the future without specialized knowledge.

Under this program, business operators in Tokyo serve as the entities to carry out forestry management, with TMG providing subsidies for the costs of forest surveys and the drawing up of development plans, based on requests from the owners.

To be covered by subsidies are expenses for forest surveys—such as interviews with owners, preliminary surveys, on-site inspections, and surveys on forest condition and vegetation—as well as the preparation of forest development plans, including the drawing up of plans and the preparation of scheme drawings.

The subsidies will cover up to 10/10 of eligible expenses, with a maximum of ￥900,000 yen per organization. However, if the eligible area is 1 hectare or less, the maximum amount is ￥450,000. The subsidies are intended for business operators who manage forests in Tokyo.

Subsequent forest management, based on surveys and development plans, will be carried out by the owners in partnership with business operators having necessary technical expertise and experience, while utilizing existing subsidies and other resources to foster sustainable forestry.

Tokyo is a megacity, but approximately 40 percent of its total area is covered by forests. Most of them are in the Tama area, western Tokyo, whose mountainous areas are home to extensive plantations of cedar and cypress trees over 30 years old that release pollen.

The “creating low-pollen forests” campaign has been carried out to reduce the pollen that causes hay fever while simultaneously promoting forest cycles, ensuring a stable supply of timber, and revitalizing the forestry industry.