The forestry special account has accumulated a deficit of $38 billion
and the national
government has announced the need to eliminate this deficit. Arguing that
forests have multiple
functions in preserving water resources and maintaining high quality air,
the government has
designated the forest as the common public property, which is to be
protected by public
financing. However, from my viewpoint, this is just a whitewash of the
government's failure
with tax money, as I have been stressing for last thirteen years. This
issue should be dealt with
appropriate legislation after comprehensive discussions.
It is now necessary to develop medium to long term planning policies to
maintain and
develop the public functions of forest and agricultural communities with
appropriate legislation.
I would like to point to the "Urban Planning Law" as a model for the
development of a similar
plan for agricultural and forestry communities as the basis on how and why
we should develop
attractive rural communities. With new legislation, we could embark upon an
overall
reorganization of small local communities, making them attractive living
environments.
I have long insisted upon the legislation of an agricultural community
planning law or
small community reorganization law. It is evident that current laws can no
longer ensure the
preservation of our agricultural and forestry communities. The mountains,
the basis of our land,
constitute more than 70% of our entire landmass. Yet, the current legal and
administrative
organs are unable to manage and maintain the various functions required by
communities
located in mountain areas.
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