Scenic forest - Fuuchirin

In the narrow sense, it is a type of conservation forest as defined by the Forest Law, and refers to a scenic conservation forest for preserving the charming scenery of famous places and historical sites. Forests deemed particularly necessary for the preservation of scenic beauty are prohibited from logging, while other forests are required to use selective logging (cutting selected trees while avoiding clear-cutting). As of 1998, the area of ​​scenic conservation forests was approximately 27,000 hectares, and has not increased in the past 30 years.

In contrast, scenic forests in the broad sense refer to forests that are not the aforementioned protected forests but that contribute broadly to maintaining the natural beauty of the area. Special areas designated under the Natural Parks Law, scenic areas based on the City Planning Law, green space conservation areas stipulated in the Urban Green Space Conservation Law, and forests with preserved trees and forests based on the Law Concerning the Preservation of Trees to Maintain the Aesthetic Scenic Beauty of Cities are also scenic forests. In recent years, the definition of scenic forests in this broad sense has been expanding.

[Yoshito Kasahara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

狭義には森林法に定める保安林の一種で、名所や旧跡の趣(おもむき)のある景色などを保存するための風致保安林をいう。風致保存のためとくに必要があると認められる森林は禁伐、その他の森林は択伐(たくばつ)（立木の皆伐を避けて選びながら伐採する）の伐採方法が要求される。1998年（平成10）現在の風致保安林の面積は約2万7000ヘクタールで、ここ30年間増加はみられない。

　これに対し広義の風致林は、前記保安林ではないが、広く自然の風致の維持に役だつ森林をいう。自然公園法で指定する特別地域、都市計画法に基づく風致地区、都市緑地保全法に定める緑地保全地区、「都市の美観風致を維持するための樹木の保存に関する法律」に基づく保存樹・保存樹林などの森林も風致林である。近年はこれら広義の風致林が拡大している。

［笠原義人］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例