An exotic conifer species, Pinus strobus, was introduced and widely planted in 1950s in Hokkaido. Presently, the conversion of P. strobus plantations to conifer-broadleaved mixed forests is required in Hokkaido. After small-scale (25 × 25 m) plots were clear-cut, eight plots remained untreated (clear-cut plots); the other eight were scarified (scarification plots). We investigated the regeneration of tall-tree species for 15 years and three hypotheses were examined: 1) in scarification plots, the density of regenerated trees is higher than that in clear-cut plots, whereas the growth of regenerated trees is larger in clear-cut plots than that in scarification plots; 2) treatment including scarification after clear-cutting promotes the regeneration of P. strobus; and 3) the density of regenerated trees are influenced by the relative locations of quadrates within plots, because light condition varied by the relative locations. Based on our results, hypothesis 1 was supported. P. strobus did not regenerate at all in clear-cut plots, but it dominated in scarification plots; therefore, hypothesis 2 was also supported. Major species had higher densities in the southern and western quadrates than in the northern quadrates; hence, hypothesis 3 was supported. The results of this study revealed that small-scale clear-cutting of P. strobus plantations is an effective approach, particularly when dwarf bamboo is not dense and trees exist on the forest floor prior to regeneration.

After the Second World War, camping and camping sites in forests have developed and increased significantly from the 1980s to 1990s in Japan, relying on the laws and institutions established from the 1950s to 1970s across multiple administrative sectors, obtaining social approval as a legitimatized outdoor activity and forest use. Since the 2000s, the management of these camping sites has deteriorated mainly owing to economic recession, which caused the movement of camping site renewal by the private sector. This movement directed the diversification of forest use by camping sites in recent years. Camping facilities have been developed in many ways to meet the needs of campers, including organized group camps that promote education and experience in forests, solo camps, glamping, and workcations under the spread of the COVID-19 that demand relaxing or productive environment, and leisure camps that require enrichment of outdoor activities. As a result of this diversification, possibilities for effective utilization of forests and regional revitalization through the management of camping sites have been observed. Many camping sites have utilized forest lands, standing trees, and forest spaces to develop facilities and services, and there are cases where firewood production for campers has promoted the reorganization and development of local forestry and securing of personnel for forest management. In addition to securing local employment brought by reorganization, local revitalization in rural and mountainous areas has been promoted through the linkage of the needs of campers to positive economic effects, increase of the visitors who deeply connected to local people, and comprehensive and sustainable use of resources in local societies.

Increased production and a stable domestic supply of tree lacquer from Toxicodendron vernicifluum is essential for restoring national treasures and important cultural properties in Japan. Therefore, it is beneficial to identify clones that produce large quantities of lacquer. In this study, we used DNA markers to investigate the clonal structures of lacquer trees originating from roots at seven sites in Ibaraki Prefecture. In addition, we measured the amount of lacquer produced by several tree within each clone group. We determined the relationships between resin exudate length, tree growth traits, and leaf characteristics to find indices that can be used to indirectly estimate the amounts of lacquer produced. In total, 10 clones (A-J) were detected at the sites, with about 50％ of individuals belonging to clone E. We found that individual trees with clone groups tended to share characteristics that differed among clones. In particular, the amounts of lacquer production and diameter at breast height (DBH) were significantly different between clones. Clones with larger DBH values produced larger amounts of lacquer. Even at different sites, the growth and leaf characteristics of individuals within each clone group were very similar. Our study suggested that measurement of exuded resin, DBH, and leaf characteristics in individuals around 10-20 years old can be used to identify clones that produce large amounts of lacquer.

In this study, we investigated the current state of forest use in Fukushima Prefecture, where 10 years have passed since the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident, from the perspectives of wood production, food production (e.g., wild food, sawdust for mushroom bed, mushroom logs, and compost), and spatial uses for recreation and education. As a result, although the use of food production is still largely stagnant, wood production and spatial uses for recreation and education showed a trend of recovery throughout the prefecture. In particular, it was considered that continuous monitoring and publicity of air dose rates by facility operators and governments contributed to the recovery of spatial uses for recreation and education. In the Soso region, where the power plant locates and the current situation is different from other regions, the delay in the recovery of wood production has been affected by the reduction in the production of national forest timber. The following issues were identified for the future: increasing the price of stumpage, expanding the demand for hardwood timber, lifting restrictions on food shipments, and continued monitoring to ensure the public about the safety of space.