The Damage Caused by the Nuclear Disaster to Forests and Forestry in Fukushima Prefecture

• Published in: Journal of Forest Economics Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 2 - 11
• Main Author: SHIOYA, Hiroyasu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Forest Economic Society 2022; 林業経済学会
• Subjects: Abukuma area; forest decontamination; nariwai; regional resource management; the nuclear disaster; なりわい; 原子力災害; 地域資源管理; 森林除染; 阿武隈地域
• ISSN: 0285-1598; 2424-2454
• DOI: 10.20818/jfe.68.1_2

Ten years have passed since the Fukushima nuclear accident, and radioactive contamination continues to have a serious impact on forests and forestry in Fukushima Prefecture. The subject of this paper is to summarize the characteristics and essence of damage caused by the nuclear disaster, the outline of measures for the regeneration of forests and forestry, and to explore the ideal way of reconstruction through reforestation. Compensation for damages, decontamination, and forest maintenance have been promoted in order to revitalize forests and forestry, but none of them is sufficient. It is in the stage of just starting to revitalize forests and forestry, and measures that will lead to the reconstruction of disaster victims and evacuees are required in the future. In Abukuma area, which was strongly affected by radioactive contamination, it is necessary to regenerate satoyama and regain nariwai by decontaminating forests and building a new framework for regional resource management.