2021 Volume 30 Issue 2 Pages 1-8
In recent years, the socio-economic situation has changed due to rapid population decline, sluggish timber demands, and lifestyle changes, and there are concerns that the mosaic-like forest landscape, the characteristic of Kitayama cedar forestry, is disappearing. In this study, in order to understand the residents' awareness of the current situation, we conducted a questionnaire survey of the residents in the Kitayama Nakagawa area and clarified their involvement and attention to the forest. The purpose was to examine measures for the conservation of Kitayama cedar forestry. According to the results, in the 1950s, monocultural-type forestry production became established as the Nakagawa area specialized in the production of Migaki Maruta and Shibori Maruta timbers. From the 1950s to the 1960s, the total production of Migaki Maruta accounted for more than 70 percent of the local timber production, however, the forestry industry has been inactive since the 1960s. Moreover, the successor generation landed jobs in Kyoto City and the position of the forestry industry retreated; now the owner's awareness of forest management has declined and the number of abandoned forests is increasing. As a result, it was revealed that the Kitayama cedar forestry is approaching a major turning point as the number of forestry workers decrease due to sluggish demand, shortage of labor involved in management, and an increase in costs. Nevertheless, some foresters were enthusiastic, indicating that some forest management may continue in the future.
