The project was inspired by Japan’s ambitions to enhance its wood product brands and accelerate the development of its forestry industry. However, 93 percent of Taiwan’s forests are state-owned, whereas only 41 percent of Japan’s forests are owned by the government. Japan’s forestry industry, being mostly privately owned, is influential enough to exert a great deal of pressure on its government. This has allowed the Japanese government to revitalize its forestry industry and look after the interests of its workers. In contrast, Taiwan’s forestry industry has been weak since a logging ban was imposed in the 1990s.

Source: Taipei Times January 15, 2022 17:12 UTC