Effects of local policies on forest owner's decision-makings

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K15878
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 40010:Forest science-related
• Research Institution: Forest Research and Management Organization
• Principal Investigator: Yamada Yusuke 国立研究開発法人森林研究・整備機構, 森林総合研究所, 主任研究員 等 (40778346)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 地域森林管理 / 傾向スコア / 伐採傾向

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We used various statistical methods to reveal the influence of spatial conditions of forest stands on the forest owner's decision-makings on selecting clear-cutting locations. We found that forest stands with higher profitability (gentle slopes, closer to roads) had relative high possibilities to be clear-cut. We also estimated the effect of local policy that promote planting at clear-cut forests on the decision-makings using the propensity score method. As a result, the policy had a negative effects on the probability of clear-cutting, forest-owners are not willing to clear-cut to avoid costly reforestation. These results contribute to the local policy makings by showing the effects of them on privately owned forests.

Free Research Field

森林計画学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで、主に途上国において政策が森林伐採に与える影響が検証されてきた。本研究は我が国において地域政策が伐採個所の選定に与える影響を、はじめて客観的に示すことができた。公益的機能の発揮が期待される場所で伐採が起こりやすい場合、政策による伐採の抑制が求められるが、本研究の成果は地域政策に期待される抑制の効果を示すものである。