Forestry Agency Illegally Fells Primary Beech Forests in Fukushima

The Forestry Agency of Japan illegally cut down about 24,000 trees including beech and larch in national forests in Minami-Aizu County, Fukushima Prefecture, one of the greatest primary beech forests in Japan. The logging was conducted over five years starting in 1997 by the agency's Minami-Aizu branch of the Aizu District Forest Office under the Kanto Regional Forest Office, without the legally required prior consultations with the prefectural governor. The agency admonished six officials including the one who then headed the agency's branch and reprimanded two others for violating the Forest Law.

The illegally logged area, which was a candidate for World Heritage designation, stretches across Tadami Town, Hinoemata and Tateiwa villages. The logged trees were sold to farmers.

During the screening process for World Heritage nomination, Tadami Town requested the Minami-Aizu branch of the Wild Bird Society of Japan to conduct scientific field research, which revealed the illegal logging. According to the Society's research, some of the trees cut down were over 200 years old.




Posted: 2004/01/16 09:41:29 PM
Japanese version