1A forest located in the mountains, or land covered by such forest; often discussed in terms of ownership, logging, or conservation.
祖父から山林を相続することになった。
I ended up inheriting mountain forest land from my grandfather.
台風で山林の木が何本も倒れた。
Many trees in the mountain forest fell due to the typhoon.
自治体が山林の管理を専門業者に委託している。
The local government has outsourced the management of the mountain forest to a specialist company.
2A broader term referring to mountains and forests together, used to describe natural scenery as a whole.
山林を切り開いて作られた道を登山者が歩いていく。
Hikers walk along a trail cut through the mountains and forests.
この地方は山林に恵まれ、豊かな自然を誇る。
This region is blessed with mountains and forests, boasting rich nature.