Economy of Yakushima and Natural Environment

Abstract

This paper is to clarify the structural aspects of the economic conditions of Yakushima. It particularly focuses on the forest industry, which is the main economic factor on the island. In comparison to other regions of Japan the island economically lacks strong and big industries. The islanders, therefore, have few opportunities to earn an income. The result is that the size of island population has been decreasing.
Under these circumstances, the Japanese government has financially helped them through the registrative act called “The Solitary Islands Development Act”. The income disparity between the region and the rest, however, has never been reduced. The main industry of the island is forestry, but 80% of this become assets of the national government in the beginning of the Meiji era. The islanders eventually bring a suit the central government in protest over the government ownership of the forest. But, they lost it after long court battle. Upon the ruling, local people were no longer able to use the forest resources a for living. The logging of the Yaku cedar trees, which are over 1000 years old, was prohibited until 1950.
However, the government forest management policy, afterwards, has changed from prohibition to promotion of logging cedar trees with a slogan of supremacy of productivity. Accordingly, local people stopped the practice of restraint of timbering the precious Yaku cedar trees. Together with the introduction of new technology such as the chain-saw, logging output has risen dramatically. The result was that a large volume of precious Yaku cedars has been cut at an alarming pace within just ten years. this situation has become a big issue.
On the other hand, the government has adopted policies for protection of these natural resources. The local people also believed it was important to protect forests as a whole and that led to the designation of Yakushima forests as a World Heritage Site. Yakushima, which is an island with a very natural and unique environment, is collecting most attention in Japan. Because the issue of how human beings keep harmony with the natural environment is a matter of concern for everyone.