(JP)Forests eyed for bulk of greenhouse cuts

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20011206a5.htm

 

Forests eyed for bulk of greenhouse cuts

Two-thirds of Kyoto Protocol reductions hoped to be

met via carbon sinks

 

By MICK CORLISS

Staff writer

 

The government is intent on achieving nearly

two-thirds of the greenhouse gas cuts it has pledged

under a U.N. climate accord by using the carbon

dioxide-absorbing properties of the nation's forests,

The Japan Times learned Wednesday.

A committee commissioned by the Environment Ministry

and Forestry Agency to review the issue said that

Japan should be able to attain up to 3.9 percentage

points of the 6 percent cut in its greenhouse gas

emissions required by the Kyoto Protocol via forests.

 

Its findings are to be reported to a meeting of a

ministerial committee designated with devising

strategies for reducing greenhouse gases domestically

that was to convene this afternoon.

 

The Kyoto Protocol permits carbon dioxide absorbed by

so-called carbon sinks to be used to offset figures

for national emissions.

 

Under a special stipulation included in the Kyoto

accord to appease Japan, the government will be

allowed to count up to 1,300 tons of carbon dioxide

absorbed by forests against its reduction target -- an

average of 6 percent of 1990 levels during the period

2008 to 2012.

 

Japan should be able to achieve a net increase in

trees in its forests equal to 34 million cu. tons of

timber and equivalent to between 3.7 percent and 3.9

percent of its obligated greenhouse gas emission cuts,

the report says.

 

Japan will use 70 percent of its forests, including

protected woodland, timber forests and national parks,

to accomplish the task, it says.

 

Specific measures to meet the 3.9 percent target will

be addressed through a forest plan released by the

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Ministry in

October.

 

Apart from forests, the report advocates expanding a

national greenery plan put together by the former

Construction Ministry to increase greenery in cities,

roads, ports, riversides and even government

facilities.

 

The Japan Times: Dec. 6, 2001

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