在日本,森林面积大约占整个国土面积的百分之六十七,并不亚于如斯堪狄纳维亚主要森林国家。然而,每人平均有林面积低达零点二三公顷,仅为世界平均数的四分之一左右。因而,仅赖国内森林资源不能满足现已超过一亿一千万人口对木材的需要。目前,木材消费量的百分之七十左右靠进口。为了将来日益增加的木材消耗作准备,通过诸如改造天然林为生产率较高的人工林作了努力以增加森林资源。 In Japan, forest area accounts for about 67% of the total land area, not less than that of major forest countries such as Scandinavia. However, the average per capita forest area is as low as 0.203 hectares, only about one quarter of the world average. Thus, the reliance on domestic forest resources alone can not meet the demand for timber from more than 110 million people now. At present, about 70% of timber consumption is imported. In preparation for future increases in timber consumption, efforts have been made to increase the availability of forest resources through more productive plantations, such as the conversion of natural forests.