Sustainability refers to the capacity to maintain or improve certain essential processes or states over time without depleting resources or causing significant harm to the environment. It encompasses the responsible management of resources to meet current needs while ensuring that future generations can also meet theirs. This concept often applies to environmental practices, economic systems, and social equity, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecological integrity, economic viability, and social justice. Sustainability seeks to balance human development and consumption with the health of the planet, aiming for practices that are environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically feasible.
Japan's lush forests cover 67% of its land, with 40% being man-made post-war plantations that face neglect and understaffing in forestry. Neglected forests result in overgrown branches, soil erosion, and…