Key Facts
• August 25, Governor Koike met Minister Koizumi at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
• Koike leads a project team promoting domestic timber use under the National Governors’ Association.
• She urged stronger measures for the development of the domestic timber industry.
• Approximately 30% of forests nationwide have uncontactable owners, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.
• Koike emphasized clarifying ownership and land boundaries to expand production.
• Tokyo’s timber production has dropped to less than one-third of its peak levels.
• In the Tama region, 90% of forest owners hold less than 5 hectares of land.
• Many forests lack proper registration, hindering maintenance efforts.
• Koike requested legal reforms to address these issues.
• Minister Koizumi expressed commitment to advancing these initiatives.
Summary
On August 25, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike met with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi to discuss measures for advancing the domestic timber industry. As the leader of a project team under the National Governors’ Association, Koike highlighted the challenges posed by unregistered and ownerless forests, which account for 30% of forests nationwide. She proposed clarifying ownership and land boundaries to boost production and requested legal reforms to address these issues. Tokyo’s timber production, particularly in the Tama region, has significantly declined, with current levels at less than one-third of their peak. Minister Koizumi pledged to support these efforts, signaling a commitment to addressing the challenges in forest management and timber production.
