Forestry Agency Sets Up Volunteer Support Office

In August 2003, Japan's Forestry Agency opened a support office in its Forest Environment Division for forest volunteers. Its role includes giving advice to citizens who want to participate in afforestation and forest management activities and facilitating information exchange among volunteer groups.

While Japan's forest industry has been declining significantly, the number of volunteer groups working for forest conservation to preserve the global environment has been steadily increasing in recent years. Toward the end of last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries drew up a "10-Year Action Plan on the Mitigation of Global Warming by Forest Carbon Sinks," to encourage forest-related activities such as proper management and conservation as well as efficient use of timber and wood biomass during the period 2003-2013. The plan also notes that public participation in forest creation is one of the principal measures to achieve forest conservation goals.

Because this kind of volunteer activity is becoming more diversified and advanced, the agency decided to open a support office to meet the growing demands from volunteer groups for a support body to provide advice on forestry techniques, safety measures and sustainable activities.



Posted: 2003/10/12 11:30:23 AM
Japanese version