Trends and Characteristics of Forestry in Northern Part of Okinawa's Main Island

Abstract

The northern district of Okinawa's Main Island is a main forest area in Okinawa Prefecture. The man-made forest mainly composed of Ryukyu-matsu(Pinus luchuensis) will soon reach the final cutting stage, but the trees will not always show sufficient growth. Because of susceptibility to termites, the lumber frorm Ryukyu-matsu is not used for construction which accounts for the majority of the lumber demand in Okinawa Prefecture. Generally, in Okinawa Prefecture, forest resources are not mature, and are still recovering from the heavy cutting and damage during the past war. The main species used for reforestation has changed from Ryukyu-matsu to broad leaved trees since Okinawa was returned to Japan following U.S. administration. Recently, the Okinawa Prefectural Government promoted the development of two-storied forests. Since there is no history of this new working arrangement in Okinawa Prefecture, private forest-owners are not enthusiastic. Generally, the private forest-sector has not developed in Okinawa Prefecture. In addition, since the national forest in this district is under U.S. Military control, public forests must play an important role in local wood-based economies. However, the municipalities are not supportive of the forestry activities. In the northern district of Okinawa's Main Island, Kunigami-Village Forest Cooperative is the chief support for timber production and forest-products industries.This cooperative has received various kinds of su bsidies and owns a chip-factory,a mill and so on. In April 1992, a laminated-wood-factory was started. The chip-factory is unique in Okinawa Prefecture. The logs used for chip production are obstacle trees removed during various kinds of developmental works, i.e., construction of agricultural land, golf courses, dams and so on. Tourism and public works are the most important economic sectors in Okinawa Prefecture. Recently, as developmental works have decreased, the chip-factory depends on cutting trees in the public forest. The main forest-products from the mill of the Kunigarmi-Village Forest Cooperative are the sheet pile made from Ryukyu-matsu and support-logs made from broad leaved trees. As to the former, the degree of processing is too low and the forests which produce Ryukyu-matsu are mainly private sector and poorly managed. As to the latter, the demand is certain due to Okinawa's Production Preferential Usage Policy, but it is an unprofitable business. The average diameter of the cut trees has decreased continuously, and the supply of logs from broad leaved trees is increasingly difficult. Under these conditions, a laminated-wood-factory was started, but there are many problems, such as supply, technical improvement and marketing. A common difficulty in this cooperative enterprise is the difficulty in obtaining logs for processing. To develop the wood-based industries in this district, it is necessary that the national, public and private forests cooperate in supplying logs for the local forest-products industries. Since islands have limited land, the stability of log-supply is the key problem in continuous utilization of logs from the island. Therefore, forest planning is essential. However, under the Forest Law, the Local Forest Plan is applied uniformly all over Japan. It is necessary to create a new forest plan which considering that this prefecture consists of many islands and that forestry in this area has many unique characteristics compared to those of the Japanese Mainland.