Challenges and future initiatives to improve profitability for Japanese forest managers

Abstract

Hajime Utsugi: Challenges and Future Initiatives for Improving Forestry Profitability. Ap. For. Sci. The profitability of Japanese forest manager was discussed by clearly separating the various work costs from their performance as a wood product. Forestry costs include material production costs and silviculture costs. Material production costs are included in the price of logs and can be reduced through mechanization, but not at the expense of safety. Japanese silviculture costs are extremely higher in the world. To reduce silviculture costs, it is important to use the excellent growing seedlings and develop technologies to reduce weeding works. The performance of timber as a commodity can be improved by selecting sites with higher land productivity (MAI) for forestry operations. The performance can also be improved by adding higher value to lumber and logs. The key to increasing the profitability of the forest manager will be to take full advantage of digital technology to address both cost and performance.