Although the inefficiency of subsidies to forestry is well known, forest environmental tax will be imposed from 2024 which can lead to an increase in subsidies to forestry. This study examines Japan’s forestry policy by analyzing the advantage to Japan and disadvantage to foreign countries from subsidies to forestry. The study results are as follows: (1) If reduction in subsidies would increase the cost of domestic timber production by 1 billion yen, domestic producer surplus would decrease by 400 million yen and consumer surplus by 320 million yen, resulting in a deadweight loss reduction of 280 million yen. Moreover, the social welfare of foreign countries would improve by 320 million yen. Subsidies to forestry have a deadweight loss and impose losses on foreign countries. (2) Subsidies to domestic timber production have lower deadweight loss than sawmill or domestic cut wood but foreign countries face greater welfare loss. This study quantitatively clarifies the changes in welfare as a result of the forestry policy. We will enable a comprehensive evaluation of forestry policy by also incorporating many studies that measure the positive externalities of subsidies on forests.

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The purpose of this paper is to clarify the factors that allow grasslands management to continue even if no one is currently in the livestock business. It presents a case study of the Aso region of Kumamoto Prefecture, where the continuation of grassland conservation management is an issue. Although previous studies have revealed the aspects of grasslands management undertaken by community grazing associations, there has been no analysis of the accounting of the program. This paper analyzes the accounting of the community grazing association in Shimo-oginokusa hamlet, Aso City, as a case study. This association has continued working in grasslands management for nearly 30 years, even though no one among its members is in the livestock business any longer. The following factors were identified. First, while supplementing their income with direct payment grants, they also comprehensively secured income to continue their operations in several ways. The grants’contribution to maintaining the productivity of the grasslands was also evident. Second, there is a common understanding among the members to continue their grasslands management works. In this regard, the leadership of the deputy head of the association has been significant. Third, the members responded to the loss of livestock farmers and the declining population by changing their customs and securing outside participation.

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As the cascade use of wood is being increasingly promoted, methods for processing wood waste, namely material recycling （MR） for wood boards and thermal recycling （TR） for energy generation are increasingly important. However, the research that has been conducted so far and studies has not clarified even the recycling methods. In this study, we analyzed the current status of wood waste treatment and the characteristics of intermediate treatment facilities with high MR rates. Interviews and a questionnaire targeting members of the Ibaraki Prefecture Industrial Resources Recycling Association were conducted from July to November in 2022. Results showed that 92% of wood waste was recycled in 2021, 65% of which was TR. Moreover, the TR-rate trended upward (2017-2021). A correlation analysis of the characteristics of intermediate treatment facilities with high MR rates revealed that such facilities carefully sort wood waste. Due to the Feed-in tariff system, there are sure to be buyers for wood chips for fuel. Therefore, the number of intermediate processing facilities producing chips for fuel is expected to increase. In order to prevent the MR rate from falling, it is necessary to secure buyers for wood chips for MR and to increase the amount of wood chips that can be MR.

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This paper discusses the significance, possibilities, and challenges of the use of the forest road network, including forest roads, skidding roads and trails, which have been standardized and established mainly for forestry and forest management, for outdoor sports, such as mountain biking and trail running in Japan. The transition and current situation of the purpose for the establishment of forest roads and related laws and regulations show that the forest road network has been evaluated for its function, values, and benefits as a means of “access” to forests and mountain villages. Moreover, the administrators of the roads and trails are relatively clear that their authority and discretion are broad and that the public availability and openness of forest roads are ambiguous, including for the use of outdoor sports. From case studies of outdoor sports use, the function, values, and benefits of the forest road network as a “space” （field） have been found by sports businesses and users, and the possibility of local revitalization with economic effects through sports use have been identified. At the same time, in pursuing such significance and possibility, it is also highlighted that it is necessary to reduce the risk of safety management responsibility of the managers and promote systematic institutional development based on public use of the forest road network through clarification of the property rights of the roads and trails, development of related laws and regulations, and supplementation of existing systems.

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[in Japanese]

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