From Ashes to Forest: Plant 10,000 Trees in Japan

Hello from Japan! Thank you very much for supporting the projects of More Trees. Thanks to your generosity, we are steadily moving forward with preparations to help restore the forests of Ofunato. 

This Update: Selecting Reforestation Sites 

At present, the city of Ofunato, together with the prefectural and national governments, is working collaboratively on restoring plans. This forest fire was large in scale, affecting approximately 9% of the city’s total area. However, the area that can be replanted using public subsidies covers only a portion of what is actually needed. 

In response, More Trees has decided to use your donations to carry out reforestation in the areas that fall outside the scope of government subsidies. While we begin on a small scale—just a few hectares—we are moving ahead with preparations for further planting, coordinating closely with local stakeholders. 

What Kind of Forest Are We Creating?: Focusing on Native Broadleaf Trees 

In Japan, there was a period when coniferous trees were planted extensively for timber production. In many cases, conifers were planted without regard for the original vegetation, and today artificial conifer forests account for about 40% of all forests in Japan. However, due to a shortage of forestry workers and declining timber prices, many of these forests are no longer properly managed and have fallen into neglect, which has become a nationwide issue. 

More Trees does not adhere to a policy of planting conifers at all costs. Instead, we have consistently advocated for forest restoration centered on tree species that are native to the land. In Ofunato as well, we plan to plant several species of broadleaf trees that naturally grow in the surrounding area. 

Preparing Seedlings: Growing Them from Local Seeds 

Reforestation requires seedlings. To avoid the risk of genetic disturbance that can occur when bringing in seedlings from outside the region, we place great importance on using seedlings grown from seeds collected in the same area as the planting site. This autumn, we collected seeds around Ofunato and sowed them. While these seedlings will not be ready in time for planting next spring, we expect them to be usable for reforestation efforts in two to three years. 

In our next report, we will share updates on the preparation status of the planting sites and the implementation schedule. With your continued support as our driving force, we will keep working toward the regeneration of the local landscape. 

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support!