are areas of national forest in Japan so designated in an effort to conserve biodiversity. Japan's Protected Forest system includes three categories of protected forests: Forest Biosphere Reserves; Biotic Community Protection Forests; and Rare Population Protection Forests. Some of these national forests are linked by a network of Green Corridors that are also included in the system. Established in 1915, the system was overhauled in 2015 and expanded in 2019.

Background Forests cover approximately two-thirds of Japan, extending over some ; of this, according to the , c.54% is classed as "natural forest", "planted forest" comprising most of the remainder. In terms of ownership, 58% of all forest is in private hands, state-owned represent 30%, with the remaining 12% otherwise publicly owned, by prefectural and municipal governments, etc.

Forest conservation measures have a long history in the country: according to the Yōrō Code of 718, "the benefits of mountain, river, grove, and marsh are for government and people alike", with two clauses prohibiting cultivation in the mountains and encouraging the planting of trees along riverbanks and beside dams to counter erosion, while in in Nara, tree-felling and hunting have been forbidden since 841.

Currently, forests are protected under a number of different systems and laws: as Natural Parks under the Natural Parks Act, Nature Conservation Areas under the Nature Conservation Act, Wildlife Protection Areas under the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Management Act, Natural Habitat Conservation Areas under the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Act, under the , Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties—and as Protected Forests and Green Corridors.

Protected Forests date back to an ordinance of Taishō 4 (1915), with the first such forest established the following year, in Kamikōchi. By 1932, there were 93 Protected Forests covering a combined area of . Demand for timber increased with post-war reconstruction, and the area protected had significantly decreased by the late 1950s and continued to fall through the 1960s. In 1972, the Forestry Agency issued a new Protected Forest management plan, and in 1973 the area under protection increased 150%. By 1988, there were 795 Protected Forests, covering an area of . In 1991, the National Forest Regulations were completely overhauled, with a renewed focus on function and use rather than classification based on species—the four types identified were National Land Conservation Forest, Natural Maintenance Forest, Space Utilization Forest, and Wood Production Forest—and in 2001 the was fully revised in line with international trends towards sustainability; the nation's basic forestry strategy and management plan are developed in accordance with this Act.

In 2015, a century after their institution, the Protected Forest system was revised, with the categories reduced from seven to three: (1) Forest Biosphere Reserve; (2) Biotic Community Protection Forest; and (3) Rare Population Protection Forest. (sometimes alternatively rendered as Forest Ecosystem Reserve), , ; the seven old categories were , , , , , , As of 1 April 2018, there were in total 666 Protected Forests, covering an area of , approximately 4% of the total forested area of the country, and 13% of that represented by national forest. As of 1 April 2019, a network of 24 Green Corridors, established to connect Protected Forests and facilitate interaction between discrete populations, represented a further of national forest.

Protected Forests Forest Biosphere Reserves As of 1 April 2018, 31 have been designated, covering an area of . Of these, four are also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Natural World Heritage Sites: Shiretoko, Shirakami-Sanchi, Ogaswara Islands, and Yakushima, while Amami Islands, Yanbaru, and Iriomote have been nominated for joint inscription and are currently on the Tentative List.

Forest Biosphere Reserve Designated Name Prefecture Area (km2) Image Coordinates Ref. Shiretoko 知床森林生態系保護地域 Hokkaidō 459.89 Kariba-sanchi Sukki River Source 狩場山地須築川源流部森林生態系保護地域 Hokkaidō 27.32 Taisetsuzan 大雪山森林生態系保護地域 Hokkaidō 961.97 Hidaka Mountains 日高山脈森林生態系保護地域 Hokkaidō 1679.68 Izari-dake Environs 漁岳周辺森林生態系保護地域 Hokkaidō 32.67 Shirakami-Sanchi 白神山地森林生態系保護地域 Aomori, Akita 169.71 Osore-zan Mountains 恐山山地森林生態系保護地域 Aomori 55.38 Mount Hayachine Environs 早池峰山周辺森林生態系保護地域 Iwate 81.45 Kakkonda River–Tama River Source 葛根田川・玉川源流部森林生態系保護地域 Iwate 93.91 Mount Kurikoma–Mount Tochigamori Environs 栗駒山・栃ヶ森山周辺森林生態系保護地域 Iwate, Miyagi, Akita 163.34 Asahi Mountains 朝日山地森林生態系保護地域 Yamagata, Niigata 605.22 Mount Iide Environs 飯豊山周辺森林生態系保護地域 Yamagata, Fukushima, Niigata 294.45 Mount Azuma Environs 吾妻山周辺森林生態系保護地域 Fukushima 81.98 Oku-Aizu 奥会津森林生態系保護地域 Fukushima 839.92 Ogaswara Islands 小笠原諸島森林生態系保護地域 Tōkyō 55.79 Tone River Source–Hiuchigatake Environs 利根川源流部・燧ヶ岳周辺森林生態系保護地域 Niigata, Gunma 200.86 Mount Saburyū Environs 佐武流山周辺森林生態系保護地域 Niigata, Nagano 127.92 Hakusan 白山森林生態系保護地域 Ishikawa, Gifu 149.14 Northern Alps (Kanakido River–Takase River Source) 北アルプス（金木戸川・高瀬川源流部）森林生態系保護地域 Nagano, Gifu 80.99 Central Alps Mount Kisokoma 中央アルプス木曽駒ケ岳森林生態系保護地域 Nagano 18.13 Southern Minami-Alps Mount Tekari 南アルプス南部光岳森林生態系保護地域 Nagano, Shizuoka 47.59 Ōsugidani 大杉谷森林生態系保護地域 Mie 13.91 Daisen 大山森林生態系保護地域 Tottori 31.90 Ishizuchi Mountains 石鎚山系森林生態系保護地域 Ehime Mount Sobo–Mount Katamuki–Mount Ōkue Environs 祖母山・傾山・大崩山周辺森林生態系保護地域 Ōita, Miyazaki 59.78 Aya 綾森林生態系保護地域 Miyazaki 14.85 Mount Inao Environs 稲尾岳周辺森林生態系保護地域 Kagoshima 10.45 Yakushima 屋久島森林生態系保護地域 Kagoshima 151.85 Amami Islands 奄美群島森林生態系保護地域 Kagoshima 48.20 Yanbaru やんばる森林生態系保護地域 Okinawa 30.07 Iriomote 西表島森林生態系保護地域 Okinawa 204.71

Biotic Community Protection Forests As of 1 April 2018, 95 have been designated, covering an area of .

Biotic Community Protection Forest Designated Name Prefecture Area (km2) Image Coordinates Ref. Mount Muine Environs 無意根山周辺生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 20.47 Mount Yūbari 夕張岳生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 14.49 Shirikoma 知駒生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 12.33 Wakasakanai 稚咲内生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 20.18 Lake Kutcharo クッチャロ湖生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 3.84 Rishiri Island 利尻島生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 44.46 Rebun Island 礼文島生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 23.91 Taisetsu Primeval Forest 大雪原生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 5.27 Taisetsu Mountain Range Alpine Zone 大雪山系高山帯生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 13.40 Mount Shari 斜里岳生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 23.53 Mount Unabetsu 海別岳生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 26.96 Bekanbeushi 別寒辺牛生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 24.12 Mount Oakan 雄阿寒岳生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 37.59 Notsuke Peninsula 野付半島生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 3.01 Mount Obira 大平山生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 5.11 Mount Sengen 千軒岳生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 9.58 Uzura River 鶉川生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 5.11 Todo River 椴川生林生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 4.99 Okushiri Island 奥尻島生物群集保護林 Hokkaidō 22.85 Hakkōda Mountains 八甲田山生物群集保護林 Aomori 64.10 Hachimantai 八幡平生物群集保護林 Iwate, Akita 102.35 Mount Goyō 五葉山生物群集保護林 Iwate 102.35 Mount Waga 和賀岳生物群集保護林 Iwate, Akita 89.55 Mount Yakeishi 焼石岳生物群集保護林 Iwate 87.68 Busugamori 毒ヶ森生物群集保護林 Iwate 16.39 Mount Funagata (Mount Goshō) 船形山（御所山）生物群集保護林 Miyagi, Yamagata 71.51 Zaō 蔵王生物群集保護林 Miyagi, Yamagata 66.21 Mount Taihei 太平山生物群集保護林 Akita 72.23 Bandori Forest–Mount Daibutsu 番鳥森・大仏岳生物群集保護林 Akita 12.39 Northwest Ōu Mountains 奥羽山脈北西部生物群集保護林 Akita 11.91 Oga Peninsula Coastal Life 男鹿半島海岸植生生物群集保護林 Akita 6.55 Budōmori 葡萄森生物群集保護林 Akita 5.79 Mount Chōkai 鳥海山生物群集保護林 Akita, Yamagata 72.41 Gassan 月山生物群集保護林 Yamagata 68.22 Tsugamine–Mount Iimori 栂峰・飯森山生物群集保護林 Yamagata 10.43 Kashi–Mount Futamata 甲子・二岐山生物群集保護林 Fukushima 31.00 Abukuma Plateau 阿武隈高地生物群集保護林 Fukushima 11.90 Oku-Kinu 奥鬼怒生物群集保護林 Tochigi 25.85 Ōsabi Mountains 大佐飛山地生物群集保護林 Tochigi 81.52 Shōjinsawa 尚仁沢生物群集保護林 Tochigi 6.16 Ueno Narahara Fraxinus platypoda 上野楢原のシオジ等生物群集保護林 Gunma 3.03 Chichibu Mountains 秩父山地生物群集保護林 Saitama 21.45 Tanzawa Mountains 丹沢山地生物群集保護林 Kanagawa 8.81 Komatsubara Wetlands 小松原湿原生物群集保護林 Niigata 14.99 Mount Sumon 守門岳生物群集保護林 Niigata 17.78 Echigo Mountains 越後山脈生物群集保護林 Niigata 20.09 Kaya no Daira カヤの平等等生物群集保護林 Niigata 14.00 Northern Alps (Mount Asahi–Hakuba Mountains) 北アルプス（朝日・白馬連山）生物群集保護林 Toyama, Nagano 60.76 Northern Alps (Kurobe–Goryū–Harinoki–Shirasawa Tengu) 北アルプス（黒部・五竜・針ノ木・白沢天狗）生物群集保護林 Toyama, Nagano 107.53 Sai River Source 犀川源流生物群集保護林 Ishikawa 17.94 Senjōdaira 千丈平生物群集保護林 Ishikawa 8.57 Mount Togakushi 戸隠山生物群集保護林 Nagano 18.89 Mount Naeba Wetlands 苗場山湿原生物群集保護林 Nagano 13.27 Mount Amakazari–Mount Tenguhara 雨飾・天狗原山生物群集保護林 Nagano 15.65 Northern Alps (Mount Chō–Mount Otenshō–Mount Yari–Mount Hotakadake) 北アルプス（蝶ヶ岳・大天井岳・槍ヶ岳・穂高岳）生物群集保護林 Nagano 71.61 Mount Washiba–Iō–Takase Valley 鷲羽岳・硫黄・高瀬渓谷生物群集保護林 Nagano 25.50 Azusa River–Kasumizawa–Mount Yake 梓川・霞沢・焼岳生物群集保護林 Nagano 25.72 Mount Kinpu 金峰山生物群集保護林 Nagano 4.33 Mount Asama 浅間山生物群集保護林 Nagano 19.20 Utsukushigahara 美ヶ原生物群集保護林 Nagano 10.75 Yatsugatake 八ヶ岳生物群集保護林 Nagano 5.16 Central Alps Mount Kisokoma 中央アルプス（駒ヶ岳）生物群集保護林 Nagano 22.95 --> Minami-Alps (Mount Senjō etc) 南アルプス（仙丈ヶ岳等）生物群集保護林 Nagano 32.28 Minami-Alps (Shiomi etc) 南アルプス（塩見等）生物群集保護林 Nagano 52.06 Minami-Alps (Mount Hijiri etc) 南アルプス（聖岳等）生物群集保護林 Nagano 50.05 Mount Nagiso 南木曽岳生物群集保護林 Nagano 6.73 Mount Norikura 乗鞍岳生物群集保護林 Nagano, Gifu 57.40 Kiso 木曽生物群集保護林 Nagano, Gifu 103.92 Ontake 御岳生物群集保護林 Nagano, Gifu 31.22 Shizumo 賤母生物群集保護林 Nagano, Gifu 2.51 Mount Sanshū Fagus crenata 三周ヶ岳ブナ生物群集保護林 Gifu 11.30 Mount Nōgōhaku Fagus crenata 能郷白山ブナ生物群集保護林 Gifu 6.50 Mount Ena 恵那山生物群集保護林 Gifu 4.92 Mount Ashitaka 愛鷹山生物群集保護林 Shizuoka 5.70 Mount Fuji 富士山生物群集保護林 Shizuoka 10.27 Hatchō Pond–Kawakodaira 八丁池・皮子平生物群集保護林 Shizuoka 6.37 Mount Kamitani 上谷山生物群集保護林 Shiga 5.74 Mount Hyōno-Sannomaru 氷ノ山・三の丸生物群集保護林 Hyōgo 3.85 Ikegō 池郷生物群集保護林 Nara 7.03 Mount Narukawa 鳴川山生物群集保護林 Nara 3.46 Kurozō Valley 黒蔵谷生物群集保護林 Wakayama 5.16 Mount Mikuni 三国山生物群集保護林 Tottori 3.19 Mount Tsurugi 剣山生物群集保護林 Tokushima Mount Nishikuma 西熊山生物群集保護林 Tokushima Mount Ishidate 石立山生物群集保護林 Tokushima Mount Takatori 鷹取山生物群集保護林 Kōchi Fugen-dake 普賢岳生物群集保護林 Nagasaki 4.43 Danjo Islands 男女群島生物群集保護林 Nagasaki 4.15 Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi 九州中央山地生物群集保護林 Kumamoto, Miyazaki 60.38 Mount Shiraga 白髪岳生物群集保護林 Kumamoto 3.79 Mount Oninome 鬼の目山生物群集保護林 Miyazaki 4.67 Mount Kamon 掃部岳生物群集保護林 Miyazaki 6.27 Mount Ōmori 大森岳生物群集保護林 Miyazaki 3.73 Inohae Evergreen Forest 猪八重照葉樹林生物群集保護林 Miyazaki 4.81 Mount Kirishima 霧島山生物群集保護林 Miyazaki, Kagoshima 63.54 Mount Takakuma 高隈山生物群集保護林 Kagoshima 11.76

Rare Population Protection Forests As of 1 April 2018, 540 have been designated, covering an area of .

Green Corridors As of 1 April 2019, 24 have been designated, covering an area of .

Green Corridor Designated Name Prefecture Area (km2) Length (km) Image Coordinates Ref. Shiretoko Peninsula 知床半島緑の回廊 Hokkaidō 120 36 Taisetsu–Hidaka 大雪・日高緑の回廊 Hokkaidō 170 57 Shikotsu–Muine 支笏・無意根緑の回廊 Hokkaidō 70 30 Shirakami–Hakkōda 白神八甲田緑の回廊 Aomori 220 50 Ōu Mountains 奥羽山脈緑の回廊 Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata 730 400 Kitakami Plateau 北上高地緑の回廊 Iwate 260 150 Chōkai-Asahi–Iide-Azuma 鳥海朝日・飯豊吾妻緑の回廊 Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Niigata 590 260 Hachimantai–Mount Taihei 八幡平太平山緑の回廊 Akita 110 60 Aizu Mountains 会津山地緑の回廊 Fukushima 1058 100 Nikkō–Mount Azuma 日光・吾妻山地緑の回廊 Fukushima, Tochigi 939 180 Echigo Line 緑の回廊越後線 Fukushima, Niigata 161 76 Nikkō Line 緑の回廊日光線 Tochigi 114 41 Mikuni Line 緑の回廊三国線 Gunma, Niigata, Nagano 131 56 Chichibu Mountains 秩父山地緑の回廊 Saitama 65 44 Mount Tanzawa 丹沢緑の回廊 Kanagawa 36 40 Hakusan Mountains 白山山系緑の回廊 Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu 430 70 Etsumi Mountains 越美山地緑の回廊 Fukui, Gifu, Shiga 240 66 Fuji-san 富士山緑の回廊 Yamanashi 21 24 Yatsugatake 緑の回廊八ヶ岳 Yamanashi, Nagano 60 21 Amakazari–Togakushi 緑の回廊雨飾・戸隠 Nagano 40 17 Eastern Chūgoku Mountains 東中国山地緑の回廊 Hyōgo, Tottori, Okayama 60 42 Shikoku Mountains 四国山地緑の回廊 Ehime, Kōchi 170 137 Aya River Upper Stretches 綾川上流緑の回廊 Miyazaki 20 5 Ōsumi Peninsula 大隅半島緑の回廊 Kagoshima 10 22

See also Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) 100 Terraced Rice Fields of Japan Flora of Japan

Notes

References

External links Links to regional Protected Forest listings