Community Institutions, Sustainable Forest Management, and Forest Cover Change in Southern Japan

This research explores the activities of community institutions in achieving sustainable forest management (SFM) and sustained forest cover. Three institutions representing the administrative, economic, and social/traditional institutions were identified. The institutions had 30 forest management activities and satisfied about 66% of SFM Criteria and Indicators. A loss of 122 ha of forest cover was estimated over the last 30 yr, attributed to conversion of forests to built-up areas. Cooperative culture and economic incentives, among others, influenced institutions’ effectiveness and collective behavior toward achieving SFM. Coordinated strategies that can increase wood demand will motivate forest owners toward SFM.