Gifu Prefecture’s Regional Environmental Project

In Gifu Prefecture, forestry and the timber industry have long supported the local economy, drawing on the region’s abundant forest resources. The prefecture’s forest and forestry statistics date back to the 1966 *Gifu Prefecture Forestry Policy Handbook*, reflecting a history of continuously monitoring forests as a vital local resource. Subsequently, as interest in environmental issues grew, forests came to be recognized not only for timber production but also as a resource with multifaceted value, including water conservation, disaster prevention, and carbon dioxide absorption. In fiscal year 2007, the first Basic Forest Management Plan, based on the “Gifu Prefecture Basic Ordinance on Forest Management,” was launched, promoting forest management and the revitalization of the forestry industry in an integrated manner. Starting in 2008, the “Corporate Forests” initiative, a collaborative effort with businesses, was launched, linking corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities with forest conservation. Furthermore, in 2009, the Basic Ordinance on the Prevention of Global Warming was enacted, and the prefecture is now advancing toward achieving both decarbonization and regional economic growth through the utilization of forests, timber, solar power, hydropower, and biomass.