MAFF to Freeze Construction of Large-Scale Forest Roads

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Japan (MAFF) has decided, in principle, to freeze the construction of large-scale forest roads planned in seven regions nationwide. This will shelve the construction of about 300 kilometers of planned roads. With this decision MAFF aims to demonstrate its commitment to review public works projects, as these road projects have been criticized for their inefficiency and environmental destruction.

However, it is unlikely that the ministry will go so far as to cancel them, because many involved in forestry businesses insist that the roads are necessary.

Note: Large scale forest roads
The standard of "large scale fores roads" is two-lane, 7 meters wide, and paved as a principle". The construction of 2,167 kilometers of forest road is planned as key part of the forest-road networks. Subsidized by the government, Japan Green Resources Corporation, the operating body, has completed 1,171 kilometers, or 54% of the planned road. Since fiscal 1998, large-scale forest road projects are subject to periodic review even after their construction has started. So far, the planned "Asahi-Oguni route," which runs through Asahi Peaks in Yamagata Prefecture in northern Japan, has been cancelled, and eight other routes have been cut back either in road width or in length.



Posted: 2002/10/08 03:41:14 AM
Japanese version