Korea
Korea has abundant forest resources but forest per capita is small due to its high population density, in addition to wars and other reasons, young trees are dominant and growing stock is relatively small. Sparse forest resources lead to susceptibility of floods, drought and other natural disasters, which later develop into a social issue. Therefore, restoration of destroyed and abandoned land has arisen to be urgency for Korean government.
As revealed in a recent investigation report by Office of Mountains and Forest, "Korean Forests, Forestry and Natural Environment Protection", forest area covered a total area of 6.40 million hectares the previous year, accounting for 65% of the national land area; However, forest area per capita was only 0.2 hectares, one fifth of the world’s average. In present Korea, 30% of forest area of is designated for urban construction, military reservations, cultural heritage protection and other special purposes; 70% is managed as ordinary forestry land. Seventy-six percent of the forest area is composed of young trees which have grown for 10 to 30 years, and 650,000 hectares are 40 to 50-year-old forests. Meanwhile, data in 1961 revealed that 41% of forest lands were destroyed during the Korean War and average growing stock per hectare was only 5.7 cubic meters.
According to national forest development plan, Korea carried out nationwide reforestation campaign in three phases from 1961 to 1995, as a result, woodland was restored to 6.3 million hectares from previous 4 million hectares. In 1995 the average annual growth of forests was estimated to grow by 4.9%, but 94% of Korea's total wood consumption relied on imports. Therefore, if the growing demand for timber is satisfied by domestic resources, greater efforts are needed.
In recent years, along with Korea's notable socio-economic development, people have recognized the cultural and environmental values of forest in addition to its economic value, for instance, it value in prevention of floods, landslides, supply of wild open space and conservation of biological diversity. Office of Mountains and Forest has converted forest’s public function into currency to deepen the understanding of its social benefits: CO2 absorption equivalent to about 14 million won; water conservation, about 18 million won; soil protection, about 13 million won; supply of open space, about 4 million won; wildlife refuge, about 768 billion won.
Japan
In three quarters of 2006, 4 consecutive timber export strategy seminars were held to actively explore countermeasures for Japanese timber exports by Wood Utilization Section, Forestry Bureau.
As to Japan’s current timber exports, logs exports have been increasing, but the majority is trial sales. Prior to 2002, annual exports of logs was about 2,300 cubic meters, which number increased since 2003 as Miyazaki and Shimane and other counties exported Japan cedar logs to China (excluding Taiwan province), as a result, it increases to about 7,300 cubic meters in 2004 (including 4,900 cubic meters of exports to China). Log exports reached about 22,000 cubic meters in 2005 (about 17,000 cubic meters to China) and about 13,000 cubic meters (11,000 cubic meters exports to China) by the end of May 2006.
Japan's wood and wood products exports totaled about 10.5 billion yen in 2005, which was only 1% of its timber imports (about 1.2 trillion yen). China is Japan’s largest client in its wood and wood products exports, followed by the United States, and the two countries together account for more than half. As to exports varieties, most are wood products used in construction, wood joinery parts and other processed varieties (template, cask and fiberboard), next are veneer, sawn timber, and so on.
Japan's most forests are man-made and still nurtured in thinning stage. Meanwhile, forests growing over 50 years are also rapidly expanding, and as a result of successive appropriate felling, they are ushering in a harvest stage. In addition, as one of the target programs of "Kyoto Protocol", wood and woody biomass utilization is being promoted as source of forest absorption. On the other hand, drawn from Japanese social situation, it is estimated that population and number of households will reduce, which will affect the future demand for housing construction and timber.
To expand timber exports could revitalize Japan's forestry and timber industry, contribute to development of local economy and arise pride and vitality in practitioners of related industries and forest owners. It is hoped that timber exports could arise recognition of the general public on domestic woods and therefore promote domestic consumption.
Russia
Forestry is a major industrial sector in Russia, accounting for 5% Russian industrial output. In the past 15 years international market share of Russian forestry and processed timber products fell from 18% to 2%, and most of the exports were low value-added products. In order to increase its international market share and promote high value-added and manufactured exports, the Russian government has enacted a number of specific measures to stimulate its domestic forestry development and regulated tariff to encourage exports of wood products and high value-added products and restrict log export. From May 2006, tariff on unprocessed timber export is 6.5%, priced no less than four Euros per cubic meter. Tariffs will reach 10% from January 1, 2007, but be no less than 10 Euros. In addition, the Russian government is determined to combat illegal logging and strengthen monitoring of forest resources, which will also increase demand on forestry and woodworking machinery equipment.
Russian government had decided to further develop its forestry market increase in the next few years and attract famous foreign enterprises to set up joint forestry ventures in Russia, in order to ensure its forestry market and reduce processing costs.
It was predicted in 2006 income of Russian forestry sector would reach 31,947 million rubles, which was 26,565 million rubles in 2005.
In 2005, investment of Russian forestry sector rose by 25% to 40 billion rubles. Although during 2003 and 2006, Russian forest industry has maintained good momentum of development, but it still lags behind other countries.
Russian forestry sector management will be disseminated from the beginning of 2007. The right for forest management will be transferred to the local government (federal). Currently, the initiative involves 1759 forestry centers, 747,000 forest resource administrations, and their account fixed assets more than 34 billion rubles. And forest tenancy will be obtained through auction. Currently, 101 million hectares of forestland are leased out, and timber production has reached 135 million cubic meters.
[Origin：By Expert]
