Research on Adjustment between Forest Economic Policy and Forest Environmental Policy

1996 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 06660184
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 林学
• Research Institution: KYOTO UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: MORI Yoshiaki Kyoto University, Graduate School of Agriculture, Lecturer, 農学研究科, 講師 (60026474)
• Project Period (FY): 1994 – 1996
• Keywords: Forest policy / Forest resources management / System Dynamics / Forest economic model / Forest resources model / Forest environment model / Ecological Economics

Research Abstract

The aim of this research is to clarify how to adjust economic uses of forests with environmental uses of forests. To achieve this, I construct a "forest resources-forest economy-forest environmental conservation model (REE model of forest)", which integrate a forest resources model, a forest economy model, and a forest environmental conservation model. I propose an adjustment policy for economic uses of forests and environmental uses of forests.
I clarify the current states of Japanese forest resources and forestry, and that it is an urgent problem to adjust an economic policy for forests with an environmental conservation policy of forests. It is impossible to solve this problem in the frame of traditional forest economics. A new paradigm is necessary for forest economics. After discussing the ideas of traditional economics and ecological economics, I argue new forest economics based on the frame of ecological economics. To adjust economic policies for forests and environmental conservation policies for forests, it is necessary to construct a REE model of forest based on the view of ecological economics. It is appropriate to construct a model based on system dynamics for handling multi-scales of time frame of activities concerning with forests, i.e., a long term production process for growing forests and a short term production process for cutting and processing of timbers.
We use STELLA,the software for constructing system dynamics models. I discuss many issues to be considered during constructing a REE model of forest with STELLA.
Constructing a STELLA model for a REE model of forest, I integrate three model, a forest resources model, a forest economy model, and a forest environmental conservation model.
I intend to present articles concerning with simulation models and those results, and discussing adjustment policies for forest economy and forest environment in the near future.