Nara's Forests Reborn: Swiss Model Inspires Disaster Recovery

In response to the widespread forest damage caused by torrential rains in September 2011, the Nara Prefectural Government established the Nara Forester Academy. This institution, drawing inspiration from Switzerland's integrated forestry management system, aims to cultivate specialists for forest preservation and disaster prevention. The 2011 disaster resulted in the collapse of an estimated 612 hectares of mountainside forests, significantly impacting the region.

The academy, now in its sixth year, has graduated 72 individuals who are actively engaged in municipal and forestry cooperative roles across Nara. Its curriculum emphasizes a holistic approach, covering forest management, disaster prevention, and strategies for rural depopulation, mirroring the broader scope of Swiss foresters who manage development, disaster prevention, and biodiversity alongside timber operations.

Nara Prefecture's initiative also revives the traditional 'yamamori' (forest caretaker) system, recognizing the critical need for professional forest management. The academy offers a two-year forester course and a one-year forest worker course, attracting students from both within and outside the prefecture.