Gifu Prefecture’s Regional Environmental Projects

Against the backdrop of the rich forests spanning the Hida, Tono, and Chuno regions, Gifu Prefecture has been promoting community development that integrates forestry, the timber industry, environmental conservation, and renewable energy. In the Hida region, the woodworking industry—best represented by “Hida Furniture”—has flourished, while in the Tono region, timber resources such as “Tono Cypress” have long supported local industries. A defining feature of Gifu Prefecture is its efforts to build upon this historical use of forests to develop modern environmental policies and regional businesses. Since 1966, Gifu Prefecture has continuously compiled statistics on forests and forestry through publications such as the “Gifu Prefecture Forestry Policy Handbook.” While the post-high-economic-growth era brought challenges to forestry operations due to an increase in imported timber and a decline in the number of forestry workers, interest has grown in the roles of forests—such as water conservation in the basins of the Nagara and the Kiso River, and the Ibi River, as well as its role in preventing sediment-related disasters, absorbing carbon dioxide, and conserving biodiversity. In the 2000s, Gifu Prefecture further systematized its forestry policies. In fiscal year 2007, the Basic Forest Management Plan, based on the “Gifu Prefecture Basic Ordinance on Forest Management,” was launched, and comprehensive efforts were made in areas such as forest maintenance, the use of locally produced timber, and the development of forestry personnel. The “Gifu Prefectural Forest Culture Academy” was established in Mino City and serves as a practical training hub for learning about forests, forestry, timber construction, woodworking, and forest environmental education. The Academy also houses the “Forest Technology Development and Support Center” and the “Comprehensive Forest Education Center morinos,” which serve as bridges connecting government, businesses, researchers, and citizens. On the research front, the “Gifu Prefectural Forest Research Institute” in Mino City collaborates with the forestry and timber industries to conduct research on reforestation, fast-growing tree species, wildlife damage control, and forest management techniques. Furthermore, through the “Gifu Prefectural Forest Technology Development and Dissemination Consortium,” a framework has been established in which industry, government, and academia work together to address challenges facing the forest, forestry, and timber industries. In recent years, the connection to decarbonization and biodiversity has also grown stronger. In 2026, the 33-hectare experimental forest of the Gifu Prefectural Forest Culture Academy received certification as a “Site for Coexistence with Nature” from the Ministry of the Environment. The prefecture has also formulated the “Forest Culture Academy Vision 2040,” which aims to develop human resources capable of solving social issues by leveraging the value of forest spaces. In this way, Gifu Prefecture’s regional environmental projects are being carried out by linking regional resources—such as those in Hida, Tōno, Mino, and the Nagara River—with specific organizations like the Gifu Prefectural Forest Culture Academy, the Gifu Prefectural Forest Research Institute, and the Gifu Prefectural Forest Technology Development and Extension Consortium. Rather than simply preserving forests as natural resources, the initiative is expanding into areas such as timber, education, research, tourism, energy, and employment, moving toward a model where “protecting the forests becomes a source of local employment.”