On May 22, 2025, four officials from the Forestry Agency's Overseas Timber Trade Policy Office and International Forestry Cooperation Office—including Assistant Directors HONDA Tomoyuki Honda and TABATA Akiko—visited JIRCAS.

During the visit, forestry experts from JIRCAS, including Forestry Division Director ABE Hisashi, Senior Researchers TANI Naoki and TANAKA Kenzo, and Researcher KAWAI Kiyosada, participated in the discussions. They presented an overview of the Environmentally Adaptive Forestry projects and the SATREPS Tropical Forest Resilience Project being implemented in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, along with research findings obtained so far. Additionally, an active exchange of opinions took place on a wide range of topics, including genomic selection breeding techniques, seedling production, and the utilization of wood materials for plywood and furniture.

Officials from the Forestry Agency provided an overview of initiatives aimed at curbing deforestation and establishing a sustainable timber supply chain in tropical regions. They also shared updates on their collaboration with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), headquartered in Yokohama, as well as information on an international conference concerning teak, a valuable timber species.
Through this visit, meaningful discussions were held to expand opportunities for future information sharing and exchanges of opinions.