On September 27, 2015, Kyoto Model Forest Association (KMFA), in cooperation with the Kyoto Prefectural Prefectural government, National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization, and The Forest Culture Association, held a symposium titled “Public Participation in Forest Preservation and Management.” As a pre-event, this symposium was held one year before the “40th National Tree-Nurturing Festival” which is to be held in Kyoto in the autumn of 2016.

　The symposium included a lecture on “The Grace of Forests” by Natsuki Ikezawa, an Akutagawa Prize-winning writer, a presentation by Sylvain Labbé, the President, CEO of the Quebec Wood Export Bureau, about the importance of wood use and an introduction to the latest wood architecture being used in Canada, and a panel discussion about the conservation of biodiversity. Dr.Kazuhiro Tanaka, the Vice Chief Director of MKMA joined the panel discussion and gave a speech on the importance of local citizens’ participation in regional forest management, including an example in which residents lacking forestry backgrounds started a volunteer group that maintains local forests to help prevent natural deterioration, such as soil erosion. About 300 participants attended this pre-event.