Japan

68.2% —or about 24,868,000 hectares—of Japan is forested. Of this, 18.5% —or roughly 4,591,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Japan lost an average of 7,400 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.03%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 78.3% to 0.01% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Japan lost 0.3% of its forest cover, or around 82,000 hectares. Japan lost 827,000 hectares—0—of its primary forest cover during that time. Deforestation rates of primary cover have increased 22.0% since the close of the 1990s. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990-2005 interval, Japan lost 0.8% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Japan has some 919 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 19.3% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 13.2% are threatened. Japan is home to at least 5565 species of vascular plants, of which 35.9% are endemic. 8.4% of Japan is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Forest types | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Primary forest | Forest designation | Disturbances affecting forest land | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Value of forests | Production, trade and consumption of forest products | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

Books

Japan: Forest Cover, 2005 Total Land Area (ha) 36,450,000 Total Forest Area (ha) 24,868,000 Percent Forest Cover 68.22% Primary Forest Cover (ha) 4,591,000 Primary Forest, % total forest 18.46% Primary Forest, % total land 12.60% Other wooded land (ha) - Japan : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 0% Subtropical (% forest area) 54% Temperate (% forest area) 46% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% Japan: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) 4,591,000 18.5% Modified natural (ha | %) 9,955,000 40.0% Semi-natural (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) 10,321,000 41.5% Japan: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 24,950,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 24,876,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 24,868,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (7,400) -0.03% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (1,600) -0.01% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (82,000) -0.33% Change in rate (%) -78.31% PRIMARY FOREST COVER Primary 1990 (ha) 3,764,000 Primary 2000 (ha) 4,054,000 Primary 2005 (ha) 4,591,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 29,000 0.77% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 107,400 2.65% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 827,000 21.97% Change in rate (%) 243.85% OTHER WOODED LAND Other 1990 (ha) - Other 2000 (ha) - Other 2005 (ha) - Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - - Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - - Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - - Change in rate (%) - PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) 10,287,000 Other 2000 (ha) 10,331,000 Other 2005 (ha) 10,321,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 4,400 0.04% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (2,000) -0.02% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 34,000 0.33% Change in rate (%) -145.26% TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 14,663,000 Other 2000 (ha) 14,545,000 Other 2005 (ha) 14,547,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (11,800) -0.08% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 400 0.00% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (116,000) -0.79% Change in rate (%) -103.42% Japan: Primary Primary or "old-growth" vegetation Primary Forest 2005 (ha) 4,591,000 Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) - Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 4,591,000 Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) 12.60% Japan: Forest designation Ownership of forest land, 2000 Public (%) 41.9% Private (%) 58.1% Other (%) 0.0% Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 Public (%) - Private (%) - Other (%) - Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 Production (%) 0.0% Protection (%) 0.0% Conservation (%) 0.0% Social Services (%) 0.0% Multiple Services (%) 100.0% None of Unknown (%) 0.0% Japan: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) 0.01% Insects (ha) 0.00% Diseases (ha) 0.00% Other (ha) 0.11% Japan: Protected areas 4 Protected areas Biosphere reserves, 2005 Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 13 World Heritage sites, 2004 11 Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land 8.4% Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land 1.69% Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 6.58% Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 5.55% Japan: Biodiversity - Wildlife Amphibians total species 64 endemic species 45 threatened species 20 Birds total species 592 endemic species 55 threatened species 53 Mammals total species 171 endemic species 43 threatened species 37 Reptiles total species 92 endemic species 34 threatened species 11 Wildlife diversity total species 919 endemic species 177 threatened species 121 Japan: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 54.70% Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 67.60% Number of Native tree species Native tree species 1,327 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 67 Endangered 43 Vulnerable 87 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 5565 Number endemic 2000 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 12 Japan: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 3,052 Below-ground biomass (M t) 733 Dead wood (M t) - Total (M t) - Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 1,526 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 366 Carbon in dead wood (M t) - Carbon in litter (M t) - Soil carbon (M t) - Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) 1990-2000 74,200 2000-2005 79,200 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 3.02 2000-2005 3.19 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 22,334 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) - Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 22,334 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) 1 Plant products 2005 Food (t) 4,615 Fodder (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) 44,394 Ornamental plants (t) - Exudates (t) - Other plant products (t) - Animal products 2005 Living animals (units) - Hides, skins and trophies (units) - Wild honey and bee-wax (t) - Bush meat (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Other edible animal products (t) - Other non-edible animal products (t) - Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (US$) $2,864,500,000 Wood fuel (US$) - Non-wood forest products (US$) $34,506,000 Total value (US$) $2,899,006,000 Total value ($USD/ha) $117 Employment in forestry 2000 Total people employed 63,000 Japan : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 124 Imports 1 Exports 0 Consumption 125 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 15,092 Imports 12,662 Exports 4 Consumption 27,750 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 14,402 Imports 8,584 Exports 22 Consumption 22,964 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 4,893 Imports 6,342 Exports 44 Consumption 11,191 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 10,663 Imports 2,428 Exports 107 Consumption 12,984 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 30,686 Imports 1,805 Exports 665 Consumption 31,826 Japan: Environment Environment - current issues air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere Environment - international agreements party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Natural hazards many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons Japan: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 12.19% permanent crops: 0.96% other: 86.85% (2001) Natural resources negligible mineral resources, fish Japan: Economy Economy - overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of third largest economy in the world after the US and China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. Japan is the second largest economy, measured on an exchange rate basis. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features are now eroding. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets and to force a restructuring of the economy. From 2000 to 2003, government efforts to revive economic growth met with little success and were further hampered by the slowing of the US, European, and Asian economies. In 2004 and 2005, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflation in prices and economic activity lessened. Japan's huge government debt, which totals 170% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. A rise in taxes could be viewed as endangering the revival of growth. Internal conflict over the proper way to reform the financial system will continue as Japan Post's banking, insurance, and delivery services undergo privatization between 2007 and 2017. GDP - per capita $30,400 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 2.1% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fish GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 1.3%, industry: 25.3%, services: 73.5% (2005 est.) Industries among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods Population below poverty line (%) NA Debt - external $1.545 trillion (31 December 2004) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 4.6%, industry 27.8%, services 67.7% (2004) Japan: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 127,417,244 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 0.05% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 340.0 Percent rural (2003) 34.6% Median age (years) total: 42.64 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 1.39 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914) Largest Cities in Japan Cities and urban areas in Japan with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Tokyo Japan 8027500 31036900 Yokohama Japan 3552300 3552300 Osaka Japan 2647000 17592400 Nagoya Japan 2258000 8595400 Sapporo Japan 1779700 2249900 Kyoto Japan 1492500 1492500 Kobe Japan 1467400 1467400 Fukuoka Japan 1334200 4186300 Kawasaki Japan 1292000 1292000 Hiroshima Japan 1131100 1639100 Kitakyushu Japan 1058800 1058800 Sendai Japan 1015400 1312900 Chiba Japan 932800 932800 Sakai Japan 816700 816700 Kumamoto Japan 658600 658600 Okayama Japan 627900 1270100 Sagamihara Japan 612900 612900 Funabashi Japan 588800 588800 Hamamatsu Japan 580500 1093000 Kagoshima Japan 546500 546500 Higashiosaka Japan 526100 526100 Hachioji Japan 507100 507100 Amagasaki Japan 503600 503600 Matsudo Japan 502400 502400 Niigata Japan 499200 499200 Urawa Japan 497600 497600 Kawaguchi Japan 492700 492700 Shizuoka Japan 490000 1211600 Himeji Japan 485400 485400 Ichikawa Japan 479600 479600 Omiya Japan 476100 476100 Kanazawa Japan 465400 465400 Yokosuka Japan 464200 464200 Matsuyama Japan 461700 461700 Utsunomiya Japan 454400 454400 Nagasaki Japan 431900 431900 Oita Japan 428100 428100 Wakayama Japan 393300 494400 Fukuyama Japan 382000 382000 Toyohashi Japan 370300 572400 Nagano Japan 369000 369000 Asahikawa Japan 365200 365200 Iwaki Japan 364900 364900 Takamatsu Japan 336300 336300 Koriyama Japan 330800 330800 Toyama Japan 329900 329900 Naha Japan 321500 321500 Kochi Japan 320500 320500 Akita Japan 306500 306500 Miyazaki Japan 304100 304100 Hakodate Japan 302700 302700 Maebashi Japan 294900 294900 Aomori Japan 294100 294100 Fukushima Japan 289200 289200 Morioka Japan 286300 286300 Tokushima Japan 269400 269400 Mito Japan 260400 260400 Fukui Japan 259700 259700 Yamagata Japan 253900 253900 Takasaki Japan 246600 246600 Kurume Japan 243400 243400 Hachinohe Japan 242600 242600 Sasebo Japan 241100 241100 Fuji Japan 236900 236900 Numazu Japan 219400 437600 Odawara Japan 214900 214900 Kure Japan 213700 213700 Matsumoto Japan 211500 211500 Hitachi Japan 210600 210600 Kofu Japan 207500 207500 Kushiro Japan 201900 201900 Nagaoka Japan 192200 192200 Suzuka Japan 186100 186100 Hirosaki Japan 177900 177900 Takaoka Japan 176000 176000 Obihiro Japan 173900 173900 Ube Japan 173500 173500 Ashikaga Japan 173100 173100 Saga Japan 172400 172400 Tomakomai Japan 171500 171500 Tsu Japan 168900 168900 Oyama Japan 156700 156700 Katsuta Japan 152000 152000 Omuta Japan 150700 150700  Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005  Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World�s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)  Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.  Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.  RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.  World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site  The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species  Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund  With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com