Promotion of Thinned Timber Utilization and Forest Road Development in the Shimanto River Basin, Kochi Prefecture - April 2020s

Promotion of Thinned Timber Utilization and Forest Road Development in the Shimanto River Basin, Kochi Prefecture - April 2020s

In the 2020s, the promotion of thinned timber utilization and forest road development, aimed at the sustainable use of Japan's forest resources, is particularly noteworthy in the Shimanto River Basin in Kochi Prefecture. The Tanabe Forest Road Project is underway in this region, where small-scale and environmentally friendly forest roads are being developed to improve the efficiency of transporting thinned timber. Unlike traditional forest roads that are more than 5 meters wide, these new roads are only 2 to 3 meters wide, reducing the need for heavy machinery and minimizing forest destruction while enabling the transportation of thinned timber. The cost of road development has been reduced by about 30% compared to conventional methods, contributing to sustainable forest management.

Additionally, with the increasing demand for biomass energy, the use of thinned timber has become even more important. Thinned timber serves as a primary source of woody biomass, which is used in local power plants. For example, Shikoku Electric Power operates a biomass power plant in Kochi Prefecture that uses approximately 50,000 tons of thinned timber annually, contributing to the stabilization of local energy supply and the reduction of CO2 emissions. This power plant supplies electricity to about 10,000 households annually and is recognized as a model for sustainable energy supply.

Furthermore, companies like Mitsubishi Corporation and Sumitomo Forestry are actively participating in projects to promote the use of thinned timber. These companies are advancing the development of biomass energy using wood chips and plan to double the utilization of thinned timber by 2025. This initiative is expected to increase the annual utilization of thinned timber to 300,000 tons, yielding benefits for both forest conservation and energy supply.

Moreover, the development of forest roads is incorporating the latest drone and remote sensing technologies, enhancing the efficiency of forest management. This technology enables the optimization of transportation routes for thinned timber, reducing forest management costs by approximately 20% compared to traditional methods.