Protected Forests (Japan)

Protected Forests (保護林, Hogo-rin) are areas of national forest in Japan so designated in an effort to conserve biodiversity. Japan's Protected Forest system includes three categories of protected forests: Forest Biosphere Reserves; Biotic Community Protection Forests; and Rare Population Protection Forests. Some of these national forests are linked by a network of Green Corridors that are also included in the system. Established in 1915, the system was overhauled in 2015 and expanded in 2019.

Background

Forests cover approximately two-thirds of Japan, extending over some 25,000,000 hectares (62,000,000 acres); of this, according to the Forestry Agency (林野庁), c.54% is classed as "natural forest", "planted forest" comprising most of the remainder. In terms of ownership, 58% of all forest is in private hands, state-owned "national forests" (ja) represent 30%, with the remaining 12% otherwise publicly owned, by prefectural and municipal governments, etc.

Forest conservation measures have a long history in the country: according to the Yōrō Code of 718, "the benefits of mountain, river, grove, and marsh are for government and people alike", with two clauses prohibiting cultivation in the mountains and encouraging the planting of trees along riverbanks and beside dams to counter erosion, while in Kasugayama Primeval Forest (春日山原始林) in Nara, tree-felling and hunting have been forbidden since 841.

Currently, forests are protected under a number of different systems and laws: as Natural Parks under the Natural Parks Act, Nature Conservation Areas under the Nature Conservation Act, Wildlife Protection Areas under the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Management Act, Natural Habitat Conservation Areas under the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, Special Seed Tree Forests (特別母樹林) under the Forestry Seeds and Seedlings Act (林業種苗法), Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties—and as Protected Forests and Green Corridors.

Protected Forests date back to an ordinance of Taishō 4 (1915), with the first such forest established the following year, in Kamikōchi. By 1932, there were 93 Protected Forests covering a combined area of 110,000 hectares (270,000 acres). Demand for timber increased with post-war reconstruction, and the area protected had significantly decreased by the late 1950s and continued to fall through the 1960s. In 1972, the Forestry Agency issued a new Protected Forest management plan, and in 1973 the area under protection increased 150%. By 1988, there were 795 Protected Forests, covering an area of 166,800 hectares (412,000 acres). In 1991, the National Forest Regulations were completely overhauled, with a renewed focus on function and use rather than classification based on species—the four types identified were National Land Conservation Forest, Natural Maintenance Forest, Space Utilization Forest, and Wood Production Forest—and in 2001 the Forests and Forestry Basic Act (森林・林業基本法) was fully revised in line with international trends towards sustainability; the nation's basic forestry strategy and management plan are developed in accordance with this Act.

In 2015, a century after their institution, the Protected Forest system was revised, with the categories reduced from seven to three: (1) Forest Biosphere Reserve; (2) Biotic Community Protection Forest; and (3) Rare Population Protection Forest. As of 1 April 2018, there were in total 666 Protected Forests, covering an area of 977,000 hectares (2,410,000 acres), approximately 4% of the total forested area of the country, and 13% of that represented by national forest. As of 1 April 2019, a network of 24 Green Corridors, established to connect Protected Forests and facilitate interaction between discrete populations, represented a further 584,000 hectares (1,440,000 acres) of national forest.

Protected Forests

Forest Biosphere Reserves

As of 1 April 2018, 31 Forest Biosphere Reserves (森林生態系保護地域) have been designated, covering an area of 701,000 hectares (1,730,000 acres). Of these, four are also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Natural World Heritage Sites: Shiretoko, Shirakami-Sanchi, Ogaswara Islands, and Yakushima, while Amami Islands, Yanbaru, and Iriomote have been nominated for joint inscription and are currently on the Tentative List.

Forest Biosphere Reserve	Designated Name	Prefecture	Area (km2)	Image	Coordinates	Ref.
Shiretoko	知床森林生態系保護地域	Hokkaidō	459.89		44°20′09″N 145°19′49″E	[1]
Kariba-sanchi Sukki River Source	狩場山地須築川源流部森林生態系保護地域	Hokkaidō	27.32		42°36′43″N 139°56′15″E	[2]
Taisetsuzan	大雪山森林生態系保護地域	Hokkaidō	961.97		43°35′28″N 142°53′40″E	[3]
Hidaka Mountains	日高山脈森林生態系保護地域	Hokkaidō	1679.68		42°43′10″N 142°40′58″E	[4]
Izari-dake Environs	漁岳周辺森林生態系保護地域	Hokkaidō	32.67		42°49′24″N 141°13′41″E	[5]
Shirakami-Sanchi	白神山地森林生態系保護地域	Aomori, Akita	169.71		40°30′13″N 140°01′07″E	[6]
Osore-zan Mountains	恐山山地森林生態系保護地域	Aomori	55.38		41°18′29″N 141°05′15″E	[7]
Mount Hayachine Environs	早池峰山周辺森林生態系保護地域	Iwate	81.45		39°33′30″N 141°29′16″E	[8]
Kakkonda River–Tama River Source	葛根田川・玉川源流部森林生態系保護地域	Iwate	93.91		39°54′07″N 140°41′40″E	[9]
Mount Kurikoma–Mount Tochigamori Environs	栗駒山・栃ヶ森山周辺森林生態系保護地域	Iwate, Miyagi, Akita	163.34		38°57′39″N 140°47′18″E	[10]
Asahi Mountains	朝日山地森林生態系保護地域	Yamagata, Niigata	605.22		38°15′39″N 139°55′16″E	[11]
Mount Iide Environs	飯豊山周辺森林生態系保護地域	Yamagata, Fukushima, Niigata	294.45		38°15′39″N 139°55′16″E	[12]
Mount Azuma Environs	吾妻山周辺森林生態系保護地域	Fukushima	81.98		37°44′19″N 140°08′25″E	[13]
Oku-Aizu	奥会津森林生態系保護地域	Fukushima	839.92		37°27′36″N 139°33′32″E	[14]
Ogaswara Islands	小笠原諸島森林生態系保護地域	Tōkyō	55.79		26°40′26″N 142°09′13″E	[15]
Tone River Source–Hiuchigatake Environs	利根川源流部・燧ヶ岳周辺森林生態系保護地域	Niigata, Gunma	200.86		36°58′15″N 139°02′36″E	[16]
Mount Saburyū Environs	佐武流山周辺森林生態系保護地域	Niigata, Nagano	127.92		36°46′20″N 138°40′15″E	[17]
Hakusan	白山森林生態系保護地域	Ishikawa, Gifu	149.14		36°09′50″N 136°46′22″E	[18]
Northern Alps (Kanakido River–Takase River Source)	北アルプス（金木戸川・高瀬川源流部）森林生態系保護地域	Nagano, Gifu	80.99		36°26′46″N 137°44′01″E	[19]
Central Alps Mount Kisokoma	中央アルプス木曽駒ケ岳森林生態系保護地域	Nagano	18.13		35°47′22″N 137°48′16″E	[20]
Southern Minami-Alps Mount Tekari	南アルプス南部光岳森林生態系保護地域	Nagano, Shizuoka	47.59		35°20′17″N 138°05′02″E	[21]
Ōsugidani	大杉谷森林生態系保護地域	Mie	13.91		34°12′40″N 136°09′03″E	[22]
Daisen	大山森林生態系保護地域	Tottori	31.90		35°22′41″N 133°32′59″E	[23]
Ishizuchi Mountains	石鎚山系森林生態系保護地域	Ehime			33°46′06″N 133°06′51″E	[24]
Mount Sobo–Mount Katamuki–Mount Ōkue Environs	祖母山・傾山・大崩山周辺森林生態系保護地域	Ōita, Miyazaki	59.78		32°49′40″N 131°20′50″E	[25]
Aya	綾森林生態系保護地域	Miyazaki	14.85		32°01′47″N 131°10′17″E	[26]
Mount Inao Environs	稲尾岳周辺森林生態系保護地域	Kagoshima	10.45		31°07′28″N 130°53′10″E	[27]
Yakushima	屋久島森林生態系保護地域	Kagoshima	151.85		30°20′29″N 130°30′42″E	[28]
Amami Islands	奄美群島森林生態系保護地域	Kagoshima	48.20		28°15′38″N 129°21′58″E	[29]
Yanbaru	やんばる森林生態系保護地域	Okinawa	30.07		26°38′15″N 128°08′02″E	[30]
Iriomote	西表島森林生態系保護地域	Okinawa	204.71		24°19′48″N 123°49′19″E	[31]

This list is complete and up to date as of April 2021.

Biotic Community Protection Forests

As of 1 April 2018, 95 Biotic Community Protection Forests (生物群集保護林) have been designated, covering an area of 236,000 hectares (580,000 acres).

This list is complete and up to date as of April 2021.

Rare Population Protection Forests

As of 1 April 2018, 540 Rare Population Protection Forests (希少個体群保護林) have been designated, covering an area of 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres).

Green Corridors

As of 1 April 2019, 24 Green Corridors (緑の回廊) have been designated, covering an area of 584,000 hectares (1,440,000 acres).

Green Corridor	Designated Name	Prefecture	Area (km2)	Length (km)	Image	Coordinates	Ref.
Shiretoko Peninsula	知床半島緑の回廊	Hokkaidō	120	36		43°53′N 145°01′E	[127]
Taisetsu–Hidaka	大雪・日高緑の回廊	Hokkaidō	170	57		43°13′N 142°47′E	[128]
Shikotsu–Muine	支笏・無意根緑の回廊	Hokkaidō	70	30		42°49′N 141°12′E	[129]
Shirakami–Hakkōda	白神八甲田緑の回廊	Aomori	220	50		40°31′N 140°02′E	[130]
Ōu Mountains	奥羽山脈緑の回廊	Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata	730	400		39°44′N 140°43′E	[131]
Kitakami Plateau	北上高地緑の回廊	Iwate	260	150		39°13′N 141°42′E	[132]
Chōkai-Asahi–Iide-Azuma	鳥海朝日・飯豊吾妻緑の回廊	Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Niigata	590	260		38°58′N 140°46′E	[133]
Hachimantai–Mount Taihei	八幡平太平山緑の回廊	Akita	110	60		39°57′N 140°41′E	[134]
Aizu Mountains	会津山地緑の回廊	Fukushima	1058	100		37°23′N 139°18′E	[135]
Nikkō–Mount Azuma	日光・吾妻山地緑の回廊	Fukushima, Tochigi	939	180		37°41′N 140°11′E	[136]
Echigo Line	緑の回廊越後線	Fukushima, Niigata	161	76		37°25′N 139°11′E	[137]
Nikkō Line	緑の回廊日光線	Tochigi	114	41		36°47′N 139°21′E	[138]
Mikuni Line	緑の回廊三国線	Gunma, Niigata, Nagano	131	56		36°52′N 138°42′E	[139]
Chichibu Mountains	秩父山地緑の回廊	Saitama	65	44		35°59′N 138°47′E	[140]
Mount Tanzawa	丹沢緑の回廊	Kanagawa	36	40		35°28′N 139°10′E	[141]
Hakusan Mountains	白山山系緑の回廊	Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu	430	70		36°10′N 136°44′E	[142]
Etsumi Mountains	越美山地緑の回廊	Fukui, Gifu, Shiga	240	66		35°46′N 136°31′E	[143]
Fuji-san	富士山緑の回廊	Yamanashi	21	24		35°22′N 138°44′E	[144]
Yatsugatake	緑の回廊八ヶ岳	Yamanashi, Nagano	60	21		35°14′N 137°39′E	[145]
Amakazari–Togakushi	緑の回廊雨飾・戸隠	Nagano	40	17		36°47′N 138°02′E	[146]
Eastern Chūgoku Mountains	東中国山地緑の回廊	Hyōgo, Tottori, Okayama	60	42		35°26′N 134°26′E	[147]
Shikoku Mountains	四国山地緑の回廊	Ehime, Kōchi	170	137		33°46′N 133°10′E	[148]
Aya River Upper Stretches	綾川上流緑の回廊	Miyazaki	20	5		32°01′N 131°14′E	[149]
Ōsumi Peninsula	大隅半島緑の回廊	Kagoshima	10	22		31°08′N 130°55′E	[150]

This list is complete and up to date as of April 2021.

See also

• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)
• 100 Terraced Rice Fields of Japan
• Flora of Japan

External links

• (in Japanese) Links to regional Protected Forest listings