Emerging 'Authorized Neighborhood Associations' and Changing Communal (Iriai) Forest Ownership in Japan

Abstract

"In rural Japan, people have collectively managed local forest resources since time immemorial using the traditional 'Iriai' (communal) system. Iriai forests have been changing in terms of use and ownership patterns, and have also declined, due to a series of new forest policies and rapid economic growth that caused the boom and subsequent depression of domestic forestry. In recent years, changes in Iriai forest ownership have been taking place. One cause is the emergence of Authorized Neighborhood Associations introduced under the revised Local Autonomy Law (1991) independent of forest policies. This study analyzes the effects of emerging multi-functional Authorized Neighborhood Associations on collectively owned forests in Japan. First we have undertaken institutional and policy analysis of the formally established Authorized Neighborhood Associations, the government sponsored Forest Producers' Cooperatives and the traditional Iriai system. Thereafter we have provided evidence from case studies conducted in Nagano Prefecture in Japan. This study reveals that the emergence of the Authorized Neighborhood Association institution in Japan has helped to clarify registration of forestland ownership. The Authorized Neighborhood Association institution is also emerging as an alternative to Forest Producers' Cooperatives, which have lost significance in today's forestry market in Japan. Authorized Neighborhood Associations ignore Iriai rights and hence the problems associated with the rights remain. There are also attempts by the Iriai rights-holders to avoid such conflicts, particularly, those arising from the arrival of new settlers. The government of Japan needs to recognize the growing influence of Authorized Neighborhood Associations in the forestry sector and to formulate appropriate forest policies to deal with this new situation. There is also a need to review the present relevance of the Forest Producers' Cooperatives. In view of declining Iriai forests in Japan, it is important for local people to retain their traditional forest rights without too many transaction costs or complex regulations."