Forest Conservation Of Forest Essay

Forested areas were highly regarded in Japan during the Edo period – it was the backbone of the Japanese native faith Shinto, as well as one of the only natural resources available on the isolated archipelago. As a result, forest conservation was taken very seriously and novel policies were implemented by the Shogunate to preserve them.

Japan’s native religion, Shinto, was influenced by Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The ancient Japanese language had no word for ‘nature’, because they believed that it was so greatly intertwined with their way of living that neither could be defined separately and were considered a whole (Hein, 2009). Shinto worshiped kami, folk deities of Japan, who were believed to exist in all forms of ecology. Although shrines were erected in natural landscapes for the deities, they were only an indication that the area was holy ground. The only true method to communicate or feel the presence of the kami was through the forest, not the shrines. Therefore, nature was regarded as a blessing as it was the only medium by which ordinary humans could interact with the Shinto gods (Bernard, 2004). One of the ways to show reverence for the kami, therefore, was to preserve the surrounding woodlands. Thus, Shintoism was a key factor that

At the same age as they were taught to read and write, they were also educated and taught proverbs emphasizing the respect the forest should receive from them (Ishikawa, 2004). Because Japan was an isolated archipelago with no resources other than the ocean and woodlands, the Japanese taught the younger generation how to care for the environment, notably forests, and use it sustainably. This measure was efficient and effective in educating the youth and forming an ecological society to prevent further exploitation of limited, natural resources in the