Japan's 600-year-old Daisugi forestry method lets a single tree produce timber for centuries

Daisugi is a 600-year-old Japanese forestry method developed in the 14th century in Kyoto Prefecture to produce timber without cutting down entire trees.

Foresters prune a single cedar tree to grow multiple straight trunks that can be harvested repeatedly for centuries, addressing limited land for planting new trees.

The method was created to meet demand for long, straight cedar logs used in traditional Japanese teahouses while reducing deforestation.

Global deforestation continues at a rate of about 30 football fields per minute, making Daisugi a relevant example of sustainable forestry.