Forestry and the Forest Industry in Japan

Japan, like many other forest-dependent nations, has been facing difficult times: forest self-sufficiency is low; unplanted areas after harvesting are increasing; and forest industries and companies are losing international competitiveness in the global market. Such challenges, however, are not unique to Japan but are relevant - and all too familiar - to forest industry stakeholders around the world. This book, representing the work of distinguished Japanese scholars, is a comprehensive English-language overview of forestry, forestry management and the forest products industry in Japan. Chapters address the biological and physical evolution of the forest, forest-dependent industries, the social impact of changes in forest utilzation, current trends in the forest estate,and the relationship between urban population and rural forest land.