The Silent Cry of the Forest - A Chain of Forest Neglect and Ecosystem Collapse in Toyone Village, Aichi Prefecture (2001-2006)

The Silent Cry of the Forest - A Chain of Forest Neglect and Ecosystem Collapse in Toyone Village, Aichi Prefecture (2001-2006)

Toyone Village is a mountain village located in the northernmost part of Aichi Prefecture. Of the forests covering 93% of the village area, approximately 80% are artificial forests of cedar and cypress planted as part of the postwar afforestation expansion policy. Once a prosperous forestry village, the forestry industry has declined due to the increase in imports of foreign timber and the slump in domestic timber prices, and many of the mountains have been left unattended.

Dense forests that have not been thinned do not allow sunlight to reach the ground surface, and underbrush cannot grow. The ground becomes bare and loses its ability to infiltrate rainwater. As a result, water retention capacity decreases, increasing the risk of disasters such as landslides and landslides. The life of the plants and animals that are supposed to live there is gradually displaced, and the ecosystem quietly collapses.

In 2001, Toyone Village formulated the "Toyone Tree Cycle Concept" in order to put a stop to this situation. The plan was initiated to restore the village's nature and livelihood through the cyclical use of forest resources. At the center of this plan is the production of wood pellets made from thinned wood and their use in public facilities to circulate within the community.

Furthermore, in 2009, the "Toyone Village Forest Development Ordinance" was enacted, which provides institutional support for the maintenance and sustainable use of the forest's multifaceted functions. As a result, the forests are being restored as "living forests" that take into consideration both the landscape and the ecosystem.

However, the progress has not been smooth. The unstable demand for pellets, high removal costs, and an aging forestry workforce are all challenges that must be overcome if sustainable forests are to be preserved.

Related information (summary)

- The "Tone Tree Cycle Concept" promotes resource recycling through the use of thinned wood within the village.
- The "Toyone Wood Cycle Center," a wood pellet production center, has been established and is being used in public facilities.
- In 2009, Toyone Village enacted the "Toyone Village Forest Development Ordinance" to support forest development.
- The national Forestry Agency's "Forest x SDGs Project" and forest policy reports by the University of Tokyo and the Science Council of Japan also propose similar issues and measures.
- Toyone Village is considered to be one of the leading examples for mountainous areas in Japan, which are wavering between the devastation and revitalization of mountain villages.

To what extent can we listen to the "silent screams" of these forests? The forests of Toyone Village are quietly but surely waiting for human intervention.