A new Japanese government report is calling for more use of domestically produced timber to help the country’s forestry industry.
The annual forestry report says wood use in Japan was 15% lower in 2002 than in 1980, while use of domestically grown timber in 2002 was only a third of the 1973 peak level, due partly to imports.
However, a cabinet office survey last year found more than 80% of respondents preferred to live in wooden homes and an increased number of people thought timber should be used more in public facilities.
