Shimokawa Town in Hokkaido is the smallest member of ICLEI Japan. Rich in forest resources, it has become a model for circular economy initiatives based on sustainable forestry. Through innovative strategies, strong governance, and community engagement, it has revitalized its local economy while ensuring environmental protection.
Like many local governments in Japan, they have faced mine closures, industrial relocations, and rapid population decline. However, it has turned these challenges into opportunities through circular forest management and biomass energy use. The town continues to address regional issues by integrating economic (comprehensive forest industry development), social (adapting to an ageing society), and environmental (energy self-sufficiency and decarbonization) perspectives, collectively known as “Shimokawa-ism.” Here, we reveal 10 tips behind its success.
#1. Strategic Forest Management
They carefully manages 4,700 hectares of town-owned forests, ensuring sustainable and semi-automated timber production through advanced forestry machinery while promoting biodiversity conservation. The town follows a structured approach, balancing harvesting and replanting to maintain ecological and economic sustainability.
While their benefits from relatively flat terrain, most of Japan is covered with steep mountainous areas, making it challenging to replicate its forestry practices nationwide. However, its governance model and innovative approaches offer valuable lessons for municipalities both in Japan and globally, demonstrating how sustainable forestry can be effectively practiced despite geographical constraints.
#2. FSC Certification for Value Addition
The Japanese timber industry is stagnating. However, by obtaining FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, they are enhancing the brand and market value of its timber products, securing higher prices and ensuring sustainable demand.
#3. Biomass Energy for Local Sustainability
The town has implemented a wood biomass heating system using locally sourced wood pellets to power the town hall and public facilities. This initiative has increased their energy self-sufficiency, reduced energy costs, and contributed to its zero-carbon goals.
#4. Community Participation and Consensus Building
Recognizing the importance of local engagement, they organize participatory workshops where residents, businesses, and environmental groups can voice concerns and contribute to decision-making, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
#5. Capacity Development and Youth Engagement
To counteract an aging workforce, their actively employs the Community-Reactivating Cooperator Squad and collaborates with forestry colleges to train young forestry professionals. These efforts have led to an increase in young workers in the sector since 2020.
#6. Carbon Neutrality Contributions
Through sustainable forestry, carbon offset initiatives, and biomass energy utilization, the town aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 48% by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels) and become carbon negative by 2050. These goals align with Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality target and support SDGs 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land).
#7. Diversification of the Local Economy
They are expanding beyond forestry by promoting tourism, migration and resettlement support, and remote work opportunities, strengthening its economic resilience.
#8. Strengthening Local Resilience
The town is working toward creating a compact city by rebuilding public spaces and achieving energy independence to meet all local energy needs.
#9. Strong Multi-Stakeholder Collaborations
Their partners with companies, universities, research institutions, and international organizations such as ICLEI to exchange knowledge and enhance forest management practices.
#10. Their activities baced on ICLEI’s five pathways toward sustainable urban development
We can say their activities are baced on our ICLEI’s five pathways towards zero emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development are designed to create systemic change. It enables them to develop solutions in a holistic and integrated manner, fostering a perfect circular economy and just transition.
Through these 10 Tips, they continues to lead the way in sustainable forestry and circular economy practices, demonstrating that local action can drive global change.
※Yuko Hori wrote this article from the presentation by Mr. Toshio Yamamoto at the Regional Circular and Ecological Sphere Forum 2024. You can read the full story of Shimokawa Town in the Case Studies, which will be published in late 2025. Please look forward to it.
