Forests, which occupy about 67% of Japan's land, serve a variety of roles that are essential to our lives. They prevent disasters such as flooding and landslides, provide water sources, habitats to flora and fauna, and recreational opportunities to people. They are a source of timber and other forestry products and absorb carbon dioxide which causes global warming.

The main duties of the Forestry Agency, in the view to ensuring multifaceted functions of forests in a sustainable way, are i) to maintain and nurture healthy forests into the future, ii) to promote sound development of the forestry industry which is vital for sound management of forests, and iii) to ensure sustainable supply and use of forest products such as timber that is environmentally friendly and has low-impact on humans. Recently, the Agency has been making efforts to implement new measures such as the 10-Years Action Plan on the Mitigation of Global Warming by Forest Carbon Sink, the Employment in Greenery, Forest Creation with Public Participation, and the promotion of forest environment education.