日本住友林業與京都大學計畫今年二月將木材送上太空站試驗，爭取於二○二三年發射全球首顆「木製衛星」。這項雄心萬丈的計畫，勾勒出一幅木材與太空尖端科技揉合的未來圖景。這是日本形塑木材品牌、加速森林產業發展的企圖心，也是積極利用森林，重視森林碳匯，實現淨零排放的目標戰略。

反觀台灣從一九九○年代禁伐以來，林產業長期積弱不振，消磨林業人的企圖心，讓林業與森林碳匯議題在刻正熱議之「農業淨零排放策略」，甚至是台灣淨零排放路徑中，角色極度弱化。森林碳匯目前情況是「法律空白」，以至於林業部門不敢想像具有「碳視野」的林業發展為何；看到日本對森林碳匯的創意想像與企圖心，台灣應急起追上。

作為長期關注台灣與國際脈動的英文報紙，台北時報（Taipei Times）特翻譯本會文章論述，以供國內外友人參考，專題全文如下。

Japan’s Sumitomo Forestry Co and Kyoto University plan to send samples of wooden material to the International Space Station next month to conduct experiments on their practicality for use in spacecraft engineering.

Their aim is to launch the world’s first wooden satellite next year. This ambitious project envisages a merger of wood with cutting-edge space technology.

The project was inspired by Japan’s ambitions to enhance its wood product brands and accelerate the development of its forestry industry. By using forests strategically, Japan’s aim is to emphasize the role of its forests as carbon sinks and to help achieve net-zero emissions.

Taiwan and Japan have more than 60 percent forest coverage and abundant forestry resources. However, 93 percent of Taiwan’s forests are state-owned, whereas only 41 percent of Japan’s forests are owned by the government.

Japan’s forestry industry, being mostly privately owned, is influential enough to exert a great deal of pressure on its government. This has allowed the Japanese government to revitalize its forestry industry and look after the interests of its workers.

In contrast, although the Council of Agriculture’s Forestry Bureau declared 2017 as a new start for domestic timber, Taiwan is still only about 1 or 2 percent self-sufficient.

The Japanese Forestry Agency is also promoting a forest carbon sink policy, as well as announcing that the growth efficiency of domestic timber is to double by next year at the earliest, and that domestic timber production in 2030 is expected to be 35 percent higher than 2019.

Japan has amended laws, established a “wood use promotion headquarters” to coordinate between government departments, and empowered institutions and enterprises to sign wood-related agreements that improve links between producers and consumers, thus increasing a stable supply of wood.

In contrast, Taiwan’s forestry industry has been weak since a logging ban was imposed in the 1990s. This has made forestry companies less ambitious, while the concept of forest carbon sinks and Taiwan’s path toward net-zero emissions is lacking.

Forest carbon sinks are not covered by any legislation in Taiwan, so forestry departments dare not imagine what forestry development with a “carbon vision” might be.

This situation is not good for the overall development of forests. The “carbon sequestration contract” between the government and the public must treat forested land as carbon sequestration infrastructure, guiding the industry onto Taiwan’s path to net zero emissions through well-designed legislation and planning.

This would enable forestry to become a more important contributor to carbon sequestration.

Forestry departments must change their mindsets and get away from the old idea that forestry businesses cannot generate enough profit to cover their costs.

First, carbon sequestration through afforestation and reforestation, mixed farming and forestry, afforestation on marginal farmland and urban greening.

Second, carbon conservation through reduction of deforestation and degradation, sustainable forest management, forest fire control, and prevention of diseases and insect pests.

Third, carbon substitution by increasing the use of forest products and biomass energy.

Fourth, carbon management by boosting soil carbon storage, monitoring forests and calculating their carbon footprints.

Forestry departments can reclaim their roles and position themselves on the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Just as one falling leaf heralds the autumn, Japan’s research into wooden satellites demonstrates its creative imagination and ambition with regard to forest carbon sinks.

Taiwan needs to catch up.