The Mie Forest and Greenery Prefectural Tax will be levied starting April 2014

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Forests serve important functions, such as landslide prevention and watershed protection. However, due to rapid depopulation in mountainous regions, the number of unmaintained wild forest areas has increased. When this trend is considered alongside the increases in torrential rainfall and extreme weather, it points to an increased risk of damage from natural disasters. In order to protect the lives and property of Mie’s citizens and residents, the prefecture is introducing the “Mie Forest and Greenery Prefectural Tax.” This tax will fund initiatives that make forests more resistant to natural disasters and initiatives to encourage citizens to take better care of our forests.

The Mie Forest and Greenery Prefectural Tax will be levied on a per capita basis as a part of the prefectural taxes paid by each citizen and resident.

Individuals　This tax will be levied for the first time during the 2014 fiscal year on individuals that

○Are have lived in Mie Prefecture as of 1 Jan, 2014

○Own property in Mie Prefecture as of 1 Jan, 2014

Amount (per year）：１，０００円

※Individuals that earned less than a determined amount in income during the previous year will not be required to pay the Mie Forest and Greenery Prefectural Tax

Organizations　This tax will be levied on earnings/profit from 1 April 2014 onwards.

○This tax will apply to all organizations that have offices, facilities or other holdings in Mie Prefecture.

Amount（per year）：２，０００円～８０，０００円（10% of prefectural tax amount）

Use of revenue collected via the Mie Forest and Greenery Prefectural Tax

Ⅰ　Creating natural disaster resistant forests

①    Landslide prevention

②    Development of forests that citizens and residents can interact with.

Ⅱ　Creating a forest-friendly society

③    Encouraging citizens and residents to maintain forest environments (education on forests and environmental matters to be implemented in elementary and junior high schools)）

④    Filling public spaces with wood（installing wooden desks and chairs in public spaces）

⑤    Regional development that incorporates water and greenery elements