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“This book positions the 21st century as an era in which the realization of the SDGs is a common proposition. He proposes that it is necessary to make a paradigm shift to an era and society where people are connected. The author recognizes that such a paradigm shift itself is already taking place around the world, especially in the developed regions of Europe and the United States.

Based on this awareness of the problem and current situation, Part 1 examines the paradigm shift toward the realization of the SDGs and the position of forests from a wide range of perspectives, including discussions overseas. Here, the author explores the relationship between sustainable production forestry and pre-established harmony theory, in which ecological, social, and economic sustainability have traditionally overlapped on the same plane, and that society exists on the foundation of ecosystems. He emphasizes that it should be reconsidered as a multi-layered structure (development of ecological forest management and ecological forestry) that has economy above it.

In Part 2, recreational activities in the forest that are directly connected to the forest are divided into the American version and the European version, and the development history and current situation are organized. In particular, it should be noted that the number of users of each recreational activity, the scale of the industry, expectations and possibilities in terms of health, etc., are comprehensively organized with detailed data. This is a very useful summary for exploring the significance and possibilities of forest recreation in Japan and other regions in the future.

In Part 3, we will specifically organize what kind of efforts are being made in various parts of the world in real time in aiming for a society that "coexists with and connects with forests."

They share some commonalities, such as cooperation that incorporates various actors, not just forest owners and managers, and the construction of a payment for ecosystem services (PES) framework, but overall there are great varieties reflecting regional characteristics.

I suppose the author expects readers will find common points and applicable cases from among the cases. In this sense, this is a valuable book with characteristics of a collection of cases or reference material for drawing a regional future vision of man and forest.