The government is intent on achieving nearly two-thirds of the greenhouse gas cuts it has pledged under a U.N. climate accord by using the carbon dioxide-absorbing properties of the nation's forests, The Japan Times learned Wednesday.

A committee commissioned by the Environment Ministry and Forestry Agency to review the issue said that Japan should be able to attain up to 3.9 percentage points of the 6 percent cut in its greenhouse gas emissions required by the Kyoto Protocol via forests.

Its findings are to be reported to a meeting of a ministerial committee designated with devising strategies for reducing greenhouse gases domestically that was to convene this afternoon.

The Kyoto Protocol permits carbon dioxide absorbed by so-called carbon sinks to be used to offset figures for national emissions.

Under a special stipulation included in the Kyoto accord to appease Japan, the government will be allowed to count up to 1,300 tons of carbon dioxide absorbed by forests against its reduction target -- an average of 6 percent of 1990 levels during the period 2008 to 2012.

Japan should be able to achieve a net increase in trees in its forests equal to 34 million cu. tons of timber and equivalent to between 3.7 percent and 3.9 percent of its obligated greenhouse gas emission cuts, the report says.

Japan will use 70 percent of its forests, including protected woodland, timber forests and national parks, to accomplish the task, it says.

Specific measures to meet the 3.9 percent target will be addressed through a forest plan released by the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Ministry in October.

Apart from forests, the report advocates expanding a national greenery plan put together by the former Construction Ministry to increase greenery in cities, roads, ports, riversides and even government facilities.