About
Creating a Home for Grey-faced Buzzards
Goshawk Protection Fund
The town of Ichikai, Tochigi Prefecture, is blessed with satoyama. And it has chosen grey-faced buzzards that live in the satoyama as the sentinel species for biomonitoring. The fund is working with the government, regional community, and conservation groups to utilize local resources and create a region rich in biodiversity where people and nature can coexist.
2019.12.26 Read more »
Research on Biodiversity of the Arao Tidal Flat and Outreach Programs
Kumamoto Prefectural Taishi High School, Science Club
The Arao Tidal Flat is a registered Ramsar wetland. Activities are undertaken there while observing Ramsar Convention's philosophy on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and CEPA. The students conduct research on microplastics by continuously monitoring crabs and clams in the tidal flat.
2019.12.26 Read more »
“Protecting our region and our farms ourselves” – Kumamoto Farmer Hunters’ measures against wild birds and animals
Kumamoto Farmer Hunters
Kumamoto Farmer Hunters is a community of young farmers, who have pledged to “protect their region and farms themselves.” Over 100 farmers in Kumamoto prefecture as well as citizens, local governments, high schools, universities in the region as well as companies in Kumamoto and other prefectures that concur with the organization’s vision are working together to fight off wild birds and animals.
2018.12.27 Read more »
Yui No Mori Project
Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
Since 2006, Kokuyo has been forest thinning and finding effective ways to use the thinned wood to preserve privately and publicly owned forests, named “Yui No Mori” in the Taisho region of Shimanto Town, Kochi Prefecture. The key themes of this project are “regeneration of artificial forests” and “regeneration of the natural environment and regional society.”
2018.12.27 Read more »
Creating a rich ocean Project-T
Fukuoka Prefectural Suisan Marine Studies High School Project-T
Based on the thinking that “enriching mountains and forests means enriching oceans,” the project members groomed the bamboo forest edging into the broad-leafed forests to ensure that nutrients the ocean needs can flow into it, enriching both the ocean and the mountains. The thinned bamboo is also being used effectively.
2018.12.27 Read more »
Utilizing the Moune Marshes to connect forests, rivers, villages, and the ocean
Specified Non-Profit Corporation Mori Wa Umi No Koibito (The forest is longing for the sea, the sea is longing for the forest)
The Specified Non-Profit Corporation Mori Wa Umi No Koibito has been monitoring the impact the Great East Japan Earthquake has had on the ecosystem in the Moune Bay, Kensennuma City, and based on its findings, it has undertaken activities to educate and raise awareness for the environment. Having successfully gained the regional community’s understanding for the significance of its activities, they have been able to preserve the salt marshes that formed as a result of the earthquake.
2018.12.27 Read more »
Eco Meeting – Environmental activities in the construction sector
Kato Construction Co., Ltd.
These eco meetings are being held to help realize a society that can live in harmony with nature. The meetings discuss and propose what measures can be taken to help conserve and restore nature through the various construction projects the company undertakes.
2017.12.27 Read more »
Ooya Hummingbird Project
Kesennuma Shiritsu Ooya Junior High School
Ooya is blessed with the rich nature of the Sanriku region. But our natural environment is undergoing destructive changes, and the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries that once supported lives in the region are declining. Amid such destructive changes, children of the region are undertaking a wide range of activities to help regenerate and preserve the nature of Ooya and our livelihoods depend on it.
2017.12.27 Read more »
Activities that protect Miune’s rich forests
Specified Non-Profit Corporation Committee to Protect Miune's Nature
"Activities that protect Miune's rich forests" aim to preserve the natural environment of Mt. Miune, which straddles the border of Kochi and Tokushima Prefectures. These activities include research and countermeasures against serious feeding damage by deer and activities to educate the public about "overuse" by climbers.
2017.12.27 Read more »
Investigation of Roadkill around Mount Fuji
Fujisan Outdoor Museum
By gathering wildlife roadkill data near the base of Mt. Fuji and by making that data visible, the Wildlife Traffic Surveys aim to uncover clues that will help reduce roadkill.
2016.11.18 Read more »
Integrated Studies, “Ubusuna Time”
Ofunato Massaki Junior High School
Since 2002, Massaki Junior High School has set aside time to learn about their region, which they call "Ubusuna Time." In the first and second year, they plant, harvest, and sell seaweed, and in the third year the students plant and cut down trees to learn about forest maintenance.
2016.11.18 Read more »
Conservation and Restoration of the Shirane-Aoi Colonies in Mt. Nikko-Shirane
Gunma Prefectural Oze High School
Deer population in Mt. Nikko-Shirane has increased in recent years, and Shirane-Aoi (Glaucidium palmatum) colonies are on the brink of extinction due to feeding damage by deer. For over 20 years, the Gunma Prefectural Oze High School’s Natural Environment Course has been working together with the local community to protect and restore Shirane-Aoi colonies.
2016.11.18 Read more »
Small and medium sized businesses join hands to conserve biodiversity
Konan Kigyo Ikimono Oendan (Companies in Southern Area of Lake Biwa Support Living Creatures)
Twelve companies from the region are working together with the local administration and research institutions to conduct 4 times surveys annually on the water quality and living organisms in 6 areas along the Okamigawa River. The survey results were compiled into a report and have been shared with participating companies, administrations, institutions, and researchers.
2015.11.06 Read more »
Creating Fishermen’s Forests
Specified Non-Profit Corporation Tenmei-Mizunokai
The Tenmei-Mizunokai promotes the creation of forests with rich broad-leaved trees to preserve biodiversity, and also aims to prevent floods, store water, improve water quality, prevent sediment runoff, to promote carbon fixation to rejuvenate water sources, and to preserve mountainous regions and the environment. And they teach this through fun games.
2015.11.06 Read more »
Reinvigorating the Region with Nambu Futonegi (Thick Green Onions from the Nambu Region)
Aomori Prefectural Nakui Agricultural High School - Traditional Vegetable Team
This initiative has united the region to revive the traditional vegetable, "Nambu Futonegi (thick green onions from the Nambu Region)," which are on the brink of extinction. By creating different menus and organizing various events, the team shares information about what makes these vegetables so amazing and help reinvigorates the local community.
2015.11.06 Read more »
JP Children’s Forest – “Green Wave for the Recovery of the Tohoku Region”
Incorporated NPO "Network for Promoting the Creation of Children's Forests"
This initiative encourages children in kindergartens and preschools across the country to nurture acorn saplings and donate them to help greening efforts in areas afflicted by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Using acorns, this brings together children across Japan and nurtures coexistence.
2014.10.23 Read more »
“Forest Fit for the Gods” – Doronoki (Japanese Poplar) Tree Planting Project in Iwate Prefecture
Usuzawa Shishiodori (Deer Dance) Conservation Association
Shishiodori (deer dance), which dates back 400 years, is a traditional art form of Otsushi Town, Iwate Prefecture, an area afflicted by the Great East Japan Earthquake. This project aims to protect this local heritage and the natural environment by planting Doronoki (Japanese poplars), which are used to create the "Kannagara" or the white mane of the headdresses.
2014.10.23 Read more »
Aenokoto
Team Maruyama
"Maruyama," a satoyama located in Noto Peninsula, is rich in biodiversity and traditional wisdom. Team Maruyama brings together findings from monthly biodiversity surveys and the timeless agricultural ritual, "Aenokoto." Everyone, who consumes rice, has the right to express his/her appreciation for the living organisms that inhabit the rice paddy fields.
2014.10.10 Read more »
Conserving biodiversity by using a traditional water purification method, “Dobi Nagashi” (draining ponds), widely practiced in Kochi’s satochi-satoyama
Incorporated NPO Nippon Baratanago (rosy bitterling) Takayasu Research Group
"Dobi Nagashi” (draining ponds) (Ikeboshi = draining ponds dry) is a traditional farming method widely practiced in Kochi's satochi-satoyama for improving the water quality in ponds. Using this traditional method, this group prevents the mass development of green algae and invasive alien species to conserve the biodiversity of endemic species including the Nippon Baratanago (rosy bitterling).
2013.11.03 Read more »
Tohoku Green Renaissance
Green Renaissance Project – Recovery that begins in the oceans and fields
People on the Urato Islands located in Matsushima Bay of Miyagi Prefecture have long lived in harmony with nature.
2013.04.03 Read more »
