The pan-European work on Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) continues to resonate beyond Europe. A recent example comes from Japan, where researchers at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) have translated the FOREST EUROPE report “Adaptation to Climate Change in Sustainable Forest Management in Europe” (2020) into Japanese. The purpose is clear: to strengthen the knowledge base for climate adaptation in Japan’s forest sector and to foster dialogue among practitioners.

The translation has been led by Dr Shoji Hashimoto, Department of Forest Soils / Center for Biodiversity and Climate Change at FFPRI. As Dr Hashimoto explains:

“We plan to distribute this translation online to communicate with forest owners, managers, and officers, so they can learn about the current progress and situation in Europe and help accelerate the development and implementation of adaptation measures in Japan’s forest sector.”

Strengthening adaptation awareness in Japan

Japan, like Europe, has been assessing the impacts of climate change on forests, exploring effective adaptation measures, and engaging stakeholders. Yet, according to Dr Hashimoto:

“In my personal view, the need for adaptation is still not widely recognized among people working in the forest sector.”

He points to several possible explanations. Japan’s forestry sector has been economically less active over the last decades, and Japanese forests may appear relatively resilient compared to those in some European regions. Wildfires have historically not been a major issue in Japan. However, following the Los Angeles wildfires last year, an unusually large wildfire in Japan increased public awareness of wildfire risks and highlighted the need for preparedness.

Japan’s forests face multiple and interlinked challenges:

• Climate change impacts
• An aging society and labour shortages in the forest sector
• Difficulties in maintaining forest infrastructure, such as roads
• Overabundant wildlife populations (e.g., deer, wild boar, bear)
• The transition from managed to more natural forest conditions
• Tensions between monoculture practices and biodiversity conservation
• Pollen allergy issues

These structural and ecological challenges reinforce the relevance of adaptive, knowledge-based forest management.

Similarities and differences between Europe and Japan

There are clear parallels between the European and Japanese forest contexts. As Dr Hashimoto notes:

“Yes, there are many similarities – and differences – between European and Japanese forest management. Japanese forest management was originally introduced from Germany more than 100 years ago and then further developed domestically.”

Japan stretches from sub-boreal to subtropical zones and includes moist as well as relatively dry areas, even a “Japanese Mediterranean” region with low rainfall. This ecological diversity is comparable to Europe’s wide range of climatic and forest conditions.

At the same time, there are notable differences. Japan has a stronger emphasis on monoculture forestry, while its natural forests display very high tree-species diversity. These differences make international knowledge exchange particularly valuable.

Three key lessons from Europe

Dr Hashimoto highlights three aspects of the report that he found particularly impressive:

• Europe began preparing for adaptation and sustainable forest management very early.
• European countries share knowledge and experiences proactively.
• The report presents a wide range of measures, but no single perfect solution exists. This is an important message. A holistic approach combined with monitoring is essential.

These reflections align closely with the pan-European understanding of SFM as a dynamic concept – one that balances ecological, social and economic functions, and that relies on monitoring, criteria and indicators, and adaptive learning. The translation demonstrates how pan-European work can contribute to strengthening sustainable forest management globally.