As the largest tropical timber importer in the world, Japan has responsibility for the destruction of tropical forests in the countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. Especially in Indonesia, illegal logging is rampant, which is consisted of around 70% of its timber production, and is going on even in the National Parks.
In order to educate the current state of tropical forests and the impacts
on local people's, and to appeal the need of taking measures against tropical
timber consumption within Japan, JATAN creates Japanese reports, holds
public meetings by inviting NGO members from abroad, and reports the information
in the producing countries in its newsletters. Also, JATAN educates the
industries and governments by presenting at meetings on the issue of illegal
logging, and makes recommendations such as investigating the operational
state of their business relations, reducing tropical timber consumption
and promoting use of certified timber.
Natural forest logging for paper production is going on in Australia, Chile and southeast of the US. In Australia, old growth forest, which is biodiversity abundant ecosystem, is clearcut, making impacts on wildlife including the koala. The main forest product is woodchip, and most of the woodchip is exported to Japan.
In order to raise Japanese public awareness on this issue, JATAN creates Japanese booklet and website to show the state of forests and logging practices on the spot, and holds public meetings by inviting NGO members from Australia and by reporting its field survey.
Also, JATAN educates large paper consumer companies, such as publishers
and printing companies, and make recommendations on alternatives in order
to stop natural forest logging.
Negotiations toward trade liberalization are in the process at the WTO and APEC, etc., and further forest destruction by the timber trade liberalization is being afraid. JATAN joins coalition work with APEC Monitor NGO Network, Friends of the Earth-Japan and Pacific Environment in the US. We monitor the evaluation of impacts on forests and local communities by the liberalization, and have meetings with Japanese government on the negotiations. Also, we raise public awareness on the timber trade issue and appeal the impacts on forests and local communities by creating website and leaflet, etc.
JATAN educates and provides information to its members and the public by issuing its newsletters (only in Japanese) and booklets, website and public meetings.