Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council, Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Takinoue Town, Bihoro Town, and Stellar Green Sign "Partnership Agreement for Realizing a Sustainable Decarbonized Society in Four Hokkaido Towns"
The Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council (4REST), Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Takinoue Town, Bihoro Town, and Stellar Green have signed a partnership agreement to realize a sustainable decarbonized society in four Hokkaido towns. This initiative aims to promote regional revitalization and decarbonization through the visualization and valorization of forest resources, creation of carbon credits, and utilization of local resources.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 17:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 17:40 (7 min after Collected)
The Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council (Chairman: Yasushi Tamura, hereinafter "4REST"), Ashoro Town (Mayor: Shunichi Watanabe), Shimokawa Town (Mayor: Yasushi Tamura), Takinoue Town (Mayor: Naohiro Kiyohara), Bihoro Town (Mayor: Hiroshi Hirano), and Stellar Green Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and CEO: Akinori Nakamura, hereinafter "Stellar Green"), which develops support businesses for creating forest-derived carbon credits, jointly signed the "Partnership Agreement for Realizing a Sustainable Decarbonized Society in Four Hokkaido Towns" on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
From left: Mayor Watanabe of Ashoro Town, Mayor Tamura of Shimokawa Town, Nakamura of Stellar Green, Mayor Hirano of Bihoro Town, Mayor Kiyohara of Takinoue Town.
Through this partnership agreement, the four towns of Hokkaido will work towards realizing a sustainable decarbonized society and sustainable town development by promoting the visualization and valorization of forest resources in Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Bihoro Town, and Takinoue Town. Going forward, various activities such as the creation of forest-derived carbon credits and the utilization of regional resources are planned.
■ Overview of the Partnership Agreement
1. Date of Signing
May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)
2. Purpose
By collaborating, 4REST, Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Bihoro Town, Takinoue Town, and Stellar Green will promote initiatives aimed at realizing a sustainable decarbonized society and sustainable town development in the four towns of Hokkaido.
3. Cooperation Items
(1) Initiatives for realizing a decarbonized society
(2) Creation of forest-derived carbon credits
(3) Promotion of sustainable regional industries
(4) Utilization of regional resources and promotion of related businesses
(5) Other regional revitalization efforts
■ Background of the Partnership Agreement
"4REST" is an organization whose purpose is to revitalize the region by promoting the sustainable use of forests, a common regional resource, through the cooperation of four towns in Hokkaido (Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Takinoue Town, Bihoro Town), and to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society in Japan. Since its establishment in 2011, "4REST" has been working on the Ministry of the Environment's J-VER Carbon Offset Project and promoting sustainable forest management in the towns.
Against this background, this partnership agreement was signed to promote initiatives that connect forest resources to economic value, in collaboration with Stellar Green, which possesses knowledge and achievements in forest valorization.
■ Comment from the Chairman of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Yasushi Tamura, Mayor of Shimokawa Town
4REST is promoting initiatives to connect the environmental value of forests, which absorb CO₂, to the future of the region through the cooperation of four towns in Hokkaido. Shimokawa Town has practiced forestry promotion and regional circulation through circular forest management and the utilization of forest biomass energy. Building on these efforts, through collaboration and cooperation with Stellar Green, we aim to realize a decarbonized society and a virtuous cycle of the regional economy through the creation of forest-derived credits and other means.
Shimokawa Town: https://www.town.shimokawa.hokkaido.jp/
Shimokawa Tourism Association: https://www.shimokawa-time.net/
■ Comment from the Vice Chairman of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Hiroshi Hirano, Mayor of Bihoro Town
Bihoro Town has focused on the circulation of the regional economy utilizing forest resources, and we are confident that this agreement will be a driving force for broader regional cooperation. Furthermore, our town has reached its 20th anniversary since acquiring FSC forest certification. Proud of the bonds of environmental conservation built with many people, we will further promote sustainable forest maintenance and expanded utilization, leveraging everyone's know-how and networks, and jointly advance towards the realization of a decarbonized society.
Bihoro Town: https://www.town.bihoro.hokkaido.jp/
Bihoro Tourism Association: https://www.bihoro-k.com/
■ Comment from a Committee Member of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Shunichi Watanabe, Mayor of Ashoro Town
Ashoro Town has utilized its forest resources, which cover approximately 80% of its vast area, to promote regional circular environmental conservation and economic revitalization through the use of woody biomass energy. While inheriting these efforts, we are confident that the rich knowledge and advanced technology of Stellar Green, combined with the abundant forest resources of the four towns, will lead to the realization of a further decarbonized society for the next generation and contribute to a sustainable future.
Ashoro Town: https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/
Ashoro Tourism Association: https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/
■ Comment from a Committee Member of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Naohiro Kiyohara, Mayor of Takinoue Town
Takinoue Town utilizes its rich forest resources to promote the circular use of forest resources, aiming to achieve its 2050 Zero Carbon City Declaration.
From left: Mayor Watanabe of Ashoro Town, Mayor Tamura of Shimokawa Town, Nakamura of Stellar Green, Mayor Hirano of Bihoro Town, Mayor Kiyohara of Takinoue Town.
Through this partnership agreement, the four towns of Hokkaido will work towards realizing a sustainable decarbonized society and sustainable town development by promoting the visualization and valorization of forest resources in Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Bihoro Town, and Takinoue Town. Going forward, various activities such as the creation of forest-derived carbon credits and the utilization of regional resources are planned.
■ Overview of the Partnership Agreement
1. Date of Signing
May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)
2. Purpose
By collaborating, 4REST, Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Bihoro Town, Takinoue Town, and Stellar Green will promote initiatives aimed at realizing a sustainable decarbonized society and sustainable town development in the four towns of Hokkaido.
3. Cooperation Items
(1) Initiatives for realizing a decarbonized society
(2) Creation of forest-derived carbon credits
(3) Promotion of sustainable regional industries
(4) Utilization of regional resources and promotion of related businesses
(5) Other regional revitalization efforts
■ Background of the Partnership Agreement
"4REST" is an organization whose purpose is to revitalize the region by promoting the sustainable use of forests, a common regional resource, through the cooperation of four towns in Hokkaido (Ashoro Town, Shimokawa Town, Takinoue Town, Bihoro Town), and to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society in Japan. Since its establishment in 2011, "4REST" has been working on the Ministry of the Environment's J-VER Carbon Offset Project and promoting sustainable forest management in the towns.
Against this background, this partnership agreement was signed to promote initiatives that connect forest resources to economic value, in collaboration with Stellar Green, which possesses knowledge and achievements in forest valorization.
■ Comment from the Chairman of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Yasushi Tamura, Mayor of Shimokawa Town
4REST is promoting initiatives to connect the environmental value of forests, which absorb CO₂, to the future of the region through the cooperation of four towns in Hokkaido. Shimokawa Town has practiced forestry promotion and regional circulation through circular forest management and the utilization of forest biomass energy. Building on these efforts, through collaboration and cooperation with Stellar Green, we aim to realize a decarbonized society and a virtuous cycle of the regional economy through the creation of forest-derived credits and other means.
Shimokawa Town: https://www.town.shimokawa.hokkaido.jp/
Shimokawa Tourism Association: https://www.shimokawa-time.net/
■ Comment from the Vice Chairman of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Hiroshi Hirano, Mayor of Bihoro Town
Bihoro Town has focused on the circulation of the regional economy utilizing forest resources, and we are confident that this agreement will be a driving force for broader regional cooperation. Furthermore, our town has reached its 20th anniversary since acquiring FSC forest certification. Proud of the bonds of environmental conservation built with many people, we will further promote sustainable forest maintenance and expanded utilization, leveraging everyone's know-how and networks, and jointly advance towards the realization of a decarbonized society.
Bihoro Town: https://www.town.bihoro.hokkaido.jp/
Bihoro Tourism Association: https://www.bihoro-k.com/
■ Comment from a Committee Member of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Shunichi Watanabe, Mayor of Ashoro Town
Ashoro Town has utilized its forest resources, which cover approximately 80% of its vast area, to promote regional circular environmental conservation and economic revitalization through the use of woody biomass energy. While inheriting these efforts, we are confident that the rich knowledge and advanced technology of Stellar Green, combined with the abundant forest resources of the four towns, will lead to the realization of a further decarbonized society for the next generation and contribute to a sustainable future.
Ashoro Town: https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/
Ashoro Tourism Association: https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/
■ Comment from a Committee Member of the Hokkaido Forest Biomass Absorption Promotion Council
Naohiro Kiyohara, Mayor of Takinoue Town
Takinoue Town utilizes its rich forest resources to promote the circular use of forest resources, aiming to achieve its 2050 Zero Carbon City Declaration.