Politics · Japan · 2 days ago
Nara trains forest managers after deadly mountain damage
Nara Prefecture in Japan is training specialists to manage its forests through the Nara Forester Academy.
The program began after torrential rains on the Kii Peninsula in 2011 caused about 612 hectares of mountainside in Nara to collapse.
The floods also swept about 150,000 cubic meters of wood into rivers.
Before the disaster, forestry was declining, and many forests were not getting enough maintenance, such as thinning.
Poorly maintained forests can be less able to hold soil in place and help prevent landslides.
Nara modeled its training in part on Switzerland, where foresters oversee forest development as well as timber operations.
In its sixth year, the academy has produced 72 graduates, many of whom work for municipalities and forestry cooperatives across the prefecture.
Nara aims to keep training professionals who can oversee and preserve its forests.
Torrential rains on the Kii Peninsula in September 2011 caused extensive damage to mountain forests in Nara Prefecture.
The damage prompted the prefecture to reassess forest management and establish a training academy inspired in part by Switzerland’s forestry system.
Now in its sixth year, the Nara Forester Academy has produced 72 graduates.
Many graduates work for municipalities and forestry cooperatives across the prefecture.
- Who
- Nara Prefectural Government and the Nara Forester Academy.
- What
- The prefecture is training forest management professionals to help oversee and preserve forests.
- When
- The damage occurred in September 2011; the academy is now in its sixth year.
- Where
- Nara Prefecture, Japan, on the Kii Peninsula.
- Why
- The 2011 rains exposed the vulnerability of unmanaged forests, and the prefecture sought specialists to manage forests and help prevent disasters.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I was shocked at the extent of the mountain collapse. The disaster exposed the vulnerability of forests that had been left unmanaged.
a huge amount of driftwood covering the surface of the river around Kazeya Dam in Totsukawa.
Torrential rains struck the Kii Peninsula, damaging mountain forests in Nara Prefecture.
Takeo Fukutani visited the disaster area near Kazeya Dam in Totsukawa.
Fukutani visited Switzerland twice as director-general of the prefectural agriculture and forestry department.
- Collapsed mountainsides
- An estimated 612 hectares
- Hardest-hit area
- Totsukawa village, with 302 hectares collapsed
- Wood swept into rivers
- An estimated 150,000 cubic meters
- Nara's total forest area
- 244,570 hectares
- Academy graduates
- 72
Sources
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