Japan and World Timber Markets

Two thirds of Japan is covered with forest that is rapidly reaching maturity and could be felled in the near future. This would dramatically increase domestic timber supply and have implications, not only for Japan, but also the main timber exporting nations of the world. However, Japanese domestic supply has been stagnating and forest management has become less intensive. At the same time, timber suppliers to Japan are themselves coming under various pressures which are likely to lead to reductions in their timber harvests and export potential. This book examines these issues and looks at what would happen if Japan were to utilise this resource within the next two decades, from both a domestic and international point of view. Primarily aimed at advanced students of forestry, economics and business, this book will also be of interest to government research agencies, timber processors and exporters of timber to Japan.