The introduction of the Private Forest Management Entrustment System and the Forest Environment Transfer Tax in 2019 has increased expectations for the municipal forest administration. Additionally, the excessive workload of the municipal forest administration has been highlighted, which can potentially be solved by establishing public forest trust projects. However, few studies have investigated these cases comprehensively. This study aims to clarify the current state of public forest trusts and consider their significance and problems. We conduct on-site interviews and analyze materials related to the Mitake Town forest in Gifu Prefecture, which is entrusted to the Kamo forest owner's cooperative. The results show that in the town-owned forests contracted in the trust, the performance of forest management practices and roundwood production improves without any financial burden of the town, while the work and cost of the town administration associated with the trust-contracted forest decreased. The significance of public forest trust projects is as follows: 1) they enable the construction of a system in which the forest owner's cooperative manages specialized work, thus reducing the workload of administrative staff; 2) they enable the management practices of public forests without the administration bearing the costs, thereby reducing the financial burden. However, forests subject to the trust are limited to those that can generate income from the viewpoint of continuity.

Forest roads serve multiple purposes, such as supporting forest development, facilitating the day-to-day lives of mountain villagers, and providing emergency routes during disasters. However, the current state of maintenance and management of privately owned forest roads in Japan remains ill-defined. We analyzed statistical data, interviewed relevant parties, and conducted a questionnaire survey of the municipalities to understand the current state of maintenance and management of privately owned forest roads. We also examined the measures adopted by each municipality and region to address the challenges they encountered. Our findings reveal mounting challenges in maintaining these roads due to manpower shortages in municipalities, delays in digitizing road data, and, aging and declining populations in communities residing along the roads. In particular, lack of basic data hinders patrols and disaster response and impedes efficient maintenance management. The development of digital data and GIS linkage will enable “visualization” and “prioritization” of routes based on cost-effectiveness, resulting in more efficient maintenance and management. Additionally, collaboration with outside entities can address the issue of the aging population and population decline. To establish this system, technical support, financial support, and the dissemination of best practices by prefectures, the national government, and private sector companies are necessary.

This study clarified the utilization of a forest dominated by “Toudai” beech (Fagus crenata), an Agariko-type pollard , in the former Todo settlement of Otari Village, central Japan, through interviews and a tree census. Pollarding was practiced by local youth groups until around 1950, and harvested stems were used for elementary school stove fuels. This management, involving selective harvesting of thick stems using saws on remaining spring snow while leaving thinner stems to promote resprouting, was distinct from autumn charcoal coppicing. Toudai individuals (n＝14) had an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of 105.1 cm, a sprout emergent height of 4.7 m, and 5.1 sprout stems, with diameters peaking in the 10-20 cm class. Within a 40×40 m plot, all trees (DBH≧5 cm) were beech, forming a high-volume pure stand where Toudai (6 individuals) accounted for approximately 40％ of the total basal area (58.40 m²/ha). Large single-stem individuals were derived from natural regeneration, while medium-sized trees originated from simultaneous regeneration following charcoal production, suggesting complex resource utilization. Establishment of beech juveniles was observed under the Toudai canopy, suggesting continuous regeneration.