1997 Volume 43 Issue 1 Pages 43-48
In the Mimigawa River Basin, Miyazaki Prefecture, agriculture and forestry have traditionally been under multiple management. The Forest Owners Cooperatives amongst others have promoted the area as a Timber Producing Area. Each municipality and the Forest Owners Cooperatives have adopted small scale management. The Forest Owners Cooperatives have established saw mill operations, and found their own markets even in difficult economic times. In this paper, I take the view that the Forest Owners Cooperatives is the most suitable group to improve the income levels of forest owners, and to sustain mass timber supply. This paper analyzes the development of industries and the relationship between forest owners and their cooperatives. It can be said that 1) the Forest Owners Cooperatives have given forest owners the incentive to harvest for their saw mill operation and contributed to an increased timber supply in the River Basin Area, 2) the relationship between them has been very close, and especially between small and medium scale owners who manage agriculture and forestry through multiple use, optimizing their marketing operations as well. Accordingly, it is necessary to understand the significance of non-merged cooperatives and their capacity to cope with marketing problems between the cooperatives.
