BEARS WOOD PROJECT

Ongoing

Period: February, 2022 -

Transforming a Negative into a Positive

Are you familiar with the term ‘kumahagi’? As the name suggests, ‘kumahagi’ refers to the act of wild bears stripping bark from trees with their claws or teeth. In the mountainous areas of Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward, which is also our second base, kumahagi has become an increasing issue.

Trees affected by kumahagi may regenerate in some cases, but in other conditions, they may die. These trees contribute to increased risks during felling and may lose their value as timber. In forestry, these trees were seen as a negative factor.

The value of trees affected by kumahagi (bear stripping) has significantly decreased. These trees often end up as wood chips, which are either used as paper pulp or burned in power plants. However, the trees chosen by bears for kumahagi are often the ones with the best growth.

Additionally, trees that have been stripped by bears can regenerate, with new bark growing to cover the scars. This process reveals new, unique wood grain patterns, which, when viewed differently, can be considered natural art. It serves as a reminder of the resilience and harshness of life in nature.

We have long felt a sense of discomfort with the fact that trees, carefully nurtured over decades, end up as nothing more than wood chips.

“Is there a way to turn kumahagi, which has always been seen as a negative factor, into a positive value?”

From this thought, the “Bears Wood Project” was born, in collaboration with foresters and woodworkers from Keihoku Town.

The increase in kumahagi (bear stripping) is believed to be caused by climate change and environmental shifts, which have led to a decrease in food sources in the forests, as well as fewer opportunities for people to enter the mountains compared to the past. Instead of simply blaming the bears, we ask ourselves if we can address this issue by rethinking our own lifestyles and creating new value.

The Bears Wood Project is an initiative where we, along with like-minded partners, explore ways of creating a sustainable circular approach to wood, aiming to solve this problem and find solutions.

Make sure to check out this video too!