980,000 hectares, or approximately 20% of Japan's artificial cedar forests, have been planted by each prefecture. The government has set a goal of halving the amount of cedar pollen produced in 30 years as a measure to combat hay fever, which plagues many people.
Each prefecture is supposed to designate "priority areas" in which artificial c Cedar forests around urban areas will be cut down and replanted with seedlings that produce less pollen, according to a report compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries this month.