Niche Markets for Economic Revitalisation of Satoyama Forest ...

the public (Forestry Agency edition, 2005).
A significant resource to sustain cooperative efforts at
industrial development projects is the many NPOs and
citizens already involved in satoyama conservation.
Ishikawa Prefecture has also adopted a policy to
collaborate and coordinate with citizens to promote
the use of wood materials and the development of
infrastructure such as the aforementioned center for
distribution and processing. Forest supporters and
leaders in satoyama conservation are being trained who
will act as leaders in forestry development operations and
satoyama conservation activities with participation by
prefecture citizens. Furthermore, the prefecture decided
to introduce an “Ishikawa Forest Environment Tax” from
FY 2007. It will establish a fund based on annual tax
proceeds of 360 million yen, which will be used for the
thinning of neglected artificial forests that are important
to the public; the support of volunteer activities to protect
forests (Mainichi Shinbun, 16 December 2006 morning
paper); and the support of satoyama conservation
activities (Hokkoku Shinbun, 21 November 2006, morning
paper).
3.7 Policy on Carbon Markets
Japan and the Kyoto Protocol:
Under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Japan is
required
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as
carbon dioxide by 6 per cent in 2008–2012 compared with
1990 levels. 45 Total greenhouse
gas emissions in FY 2003
was 1,339 million tons (in CO 2
equivalent), an increase
of 8.3 per cent compared to emissions in the base year
(1990) under the Protocol (Government of Japan, 2006).
While, CO 2
emissions per unit of GDP decreased by 5.2
per cent since 1990 (IGES, 2006), Japan has a significant
challenge in reducing its emissions to levels stipulated
by the Protocol, which the country ratified in 2002. The
energy sector accounted for the most emissions (89.5
per cent), followed by industrial processes (5.6 per cent),
agriculture (2.5 per cent), and waste (2.4 per cent). Japan’s
marginal cost to achieve the Kyoto target is the highest
among Kyoto signatories, with a median abatement costs
at US$ 300 per ton in carbon (tC) (IGES, 2006), pointing to
the important role for offset projects and carbon trading
for the country.
In 1997 Japan established the Global Warming Prevention
Headquarters and drafted abatement guidelines under
the “Measures to Prevent Global Warming” in 1998,
which were revised in 2002. Based on a 2004 review of
those measures and with the entry into force of the Kyoto
Protocol in February 2005, the government initiated the
“Kyoto Target Achievement Plan”, which will be reviewed
in 2007. Under the 2005 plan the government will meet
its 14 per cent Kyoto gap through reductions of GHG
emissions (6.5 per cent), through removals in forest sinks
(3.9 per cent) and through Kyoto’s flexible mechanisms
(1.6 per cent).
Forest Sinks under Japanese Kyoto Target Plan:
Article 3, paragraph 3 of the Kyoto Protocol requires
developed
countries like Japan to account for the balance
between afforestation, reforestation and deforestation
since 1990. In other words Japan must take account of
forestry activities that increase or decrease forest carbon
stocks (or cause other GHG emissions) since the base year
of the Protocol. Current data on Japan’s sink removal rate
is not available. The latest data—for 1995—shows that
removals in that year in the land–use change and forestry
sector were 96.6 million tons, an increase by 15.2 per cent
from 1990, and a 3.4 per cent enhancement in comparison
with the previous year (Government of Japan, 2006).
There have been a steady increase in removals by forestry
and parks, a decline in emissions from harvested wood,
and and an increase in emissions from forestry and
grassland conversion. On balance there has been a steady
increase in sink removals a since 1990. Removals by forests
were the biggest removal category (see Table 3).
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