General Incorporated Association Yamashigoto Kobo Designated as 'Management Support Corporation' by Mima City and Tsurugi Town, Tokushima Prefecture

Yamashigoto Kobo (Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture; Representative Director: Tsuyoshi Kudo), an association that supports forestry management operations for various local governments, announces its designation as a 'Management Support Corporation' by Mima City and Tsurugi Town under Article 57 of the Forest Management Act.

The designation of a 'Management Support Corporation' under this system represents a pioneering model case in public-private partnerships across the country, creating a private partner that complements administrative tasks with high expertise.

To date, the association has supported forest management for various local governments beyond regional boundaries. With this designation, it aims to strengthen its structure as a partner that complements administrative operations with reliable technology and expertise, contributing to the smooth operation of Japan's forest management system and the overall development of forestry administration in local governments.

■ Overview of the Forest Management System and Background of Designation

The 'Forest Management Act' enacted in 2019 is an advanced system in which municipalities take over forests that are not properly managed, aiming to improve forestry management efficiency and ensure proper forest management. However, many local governments face significant challenges such as a lack of staff with professional expertise and the practical burden of operating the system.

Against this backdrop, the provision for 'Management Support Corporations' was established under Article 57 of the act as a private organization capable of comprehensively supporting the operation of the forest management system on behalf of municipalities.

Yamashigoto Kobo’s designation embodies an unprecedented, advanced form of cooperation where administration and private organizations have worked together to tackle forestry challenges since the inception of the system.

■ Achievements: Creating Regional Industries and Comprehensive Support

The forest management solutions provided by the association are not limited to specific regions and have achieved solid results in various municipalities with different forest environments and terrains.

- Nationwide Business Expansion
In addition to the advanced model in Mima City and Tsurugi Town, the association has been commissioned by local governments with different forest environments, such as Minami Town (Tokushima) and Shikokuchuo City (Ehime). It also holds a broad foundation to apply its expertise to any region in Japan, including franchises in Fukui Prefecture through the 'Yamashigoto Kobo' brand.

- Implementation of Forest Integration and Contribution to Human Resource Development
In Mima City and Tsurugi Town, it has achieved an unprecedented scale of 'forest integration' (entrusted forest management from forest owners) of approximately 2,000 hectares by the end of fiscal year 2025 (end of March 2026) and has implemented appropriate management. Notably, it distributed the forest maintenance projects not only to major local contractors but also to small-scale and newly established businesses. This initiative contributed directly to the revitalization of local forestry and job creation, resulting in the birth of four newly registered operators in Mima City and five in Tsurugi Town since the start of the system.

- Expansion of Practical Support for Forestry Administration
In recent years, it has provided comprehensive backup for all forestry administration tasks held by municipalities, beyond just the tasks associated with the forest management system.

- Certification support and progress management for 'Forest Management Plans' based on the Forest Act
- Management of municipal forests and support for the formulation of 'Forest Maintenance Plans'
- Support for the formulation of 'Comprehensive Action Plans' regarding forestry administration in municipalities

■ Two Strengths of Yamashigoto Kobo

- Complete Independence Eliminating 'Conflicts of Interest'
Most support organizations in Japan consist of councils made up of local forest cooperatives or forestry operators, who are the parties responsible for actual forest maintenance (logging, planting, etc.). However, if the entities responsible for operational support (surveys, policy formulation) and the execution of maintenance projects are related, conflicts of interest may arise from the perspective of administrative impartiality. In this regard, our association is completely independent from local forestry operators and does not conduct forest maintenance projects itself. Municipalities can completely eliminate the risk of conflict of interest and develop highly transparent system operations with an objective and fair perspective.

- Advanced Analytical and Planning Capabilities Using Forest DX
By utilizing the latest Forest DX technology, such as drones and laser scanners (e.g., DJI Matrice series and Zenmuse L3), the association accurately analyzes the current state of forests as precise 3D data. This allows it to lead administrative decision-making quickly and accurately when formulating plans and supporting business execution.

■ Future Outlook: Toward Solving Common Challenges

Yamashigoto Kobo aims to enhance the value of forest resources in each region and pass on rich green landscapes to the next generation. Using the designation in Mima City and Tsurugi Town as a cornerstone, we will continue to contribute to resolving common forestry management issues and the shortage of forestry administration staff faced by local governments nationwide, using our expertise and technology.