Restore 100 Hectares of the Miyagi Coastal Forest

I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the generous support that you have extended to our project since 2011.

 It has been 6 years since we started our project in Tohoku Region. This year, we have covered an area of 16.66 hectares with 71,945 black pine seedlings. Two months after planting, we have achieved so far, the highest survival rate of 99.8%. It means that out of 500 planted seedlings, only 1 has withered. The result was attributed from the accumulated experience of the disaster survivors of growing excellent quality of seedlings; improved planting skills of the forestry workers; and the moderate rainfalls after planting.

Annually, we are accepting about 2,000 volunteers who are mostly repeaters, are helping us in the maintenance of the project site. This year, it was first time for us to accept two groups of foreign volunteers who are not residents of Japan. First group has 10 members from Thailand led by Mr. Khayai Thongnunui, in-charge of the 1,900 hectares mangrove reforestation project of OISCA in Surin Province, Thailand.

On June 8, Volunteers from Thailand also joined the organized talk show on Coastal Forest Restoration wherein they discussed their experiences in managing mangrove forests. After the show, local residents have commented that since the growth of black pine trees is slower than mangroves, it is really important to give priorities to involve the locals in the implementation of the project.

Meanwhile, a group of 22 senior high school students and accompanying teachers from California, USA visited the project and carried out half-day weeding work. The students are participants in the “TOMODACHI Initiative”, an international exchange program born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and conducted by the US Embassy in Japan and the US-Japan Council, a non-profit educational organization. Despite the rain, the students using unfamiliar sickles, toiled hard in removing vines and other weeds thriving around the planted seedlings. 

Abigail, 17-years old from Santa Monica, commented that although it was her first time to work in the disaster-hit area, she was very proud to contribute in a small way to the recovery work. 

It has been 6 years since the Coastal Forest Restoration Project started in 2011. With the generous support of many people worldwide, including the Global Giving donors, we have finished 75% of the tree planting work over 65 hectares. As of the end of April 2017, we have raised the 53% of our target budget of 12 million dollars. Here, we would like to express our deep gratitude to a great number of donors all over the world.

The Japanese Government announced on April 28 the recipients of the “1^st Infrastructure Maintenance Grand Award” newly established to commend groups and individuals who carried out outstanding approaches and technological development related to the infrastructural maintenance. From among 248 applicants nationwide, the OISCA project was selected as one of the awardees of the “Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award”. We believe that our project was highly valued for having garnered strong support from private corporations, organizations and individuals and also for active participation of thousands of volunteers yearly in the field work. We take pride and gained confidence in the appreciation by the national government. We think that all the stakeholders as a whole received this prestigious award.

On May 20, the “4^th Tree Planting Ceremony” was held at the project site in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, and a total of 530 people ranging from the age of 2 years to 85 years took part. Although there are many supporters both at home and overseas who want to plant trees on site, those who live in Miyagi Prefecture were given priority because we think that it is the locals who would protect and develop the coastal forest in the future, and we would like to make the forest to be loved by the locals.

Meanwhile, during the initial stages of the project, we have been exploring ways to involve the youths but we could not get exemplary results. However, last January, the principal of Natori Kita Senior High School, a school several km away from the planting site, requested OISCA to make remarkable speech to the students about the disaster. Toshimichi Yoshida, Project Manager of OISCA mentioned about the following “You may help us once a year or once in three years. When you feel like doing something, please do give us a helping hand. The power of one person is small, but we want to increase the number of those who would like to utilize their power.” Two months later, 100 students joined the tree planting ceremony

“Although it was my first time to participate in volunteer activities with such a large number of people, I have felt that the atmosphere is good and have fully realized the tremendous power of the people who gathered for one future. I want to unite the wish of many people and turn into a greater power for one goal”, commented by one of the volunteer students.

Another participant said: “I have realized for the first time that tree planting activity is not just planting trees but the subsequent caring work is very important.”

The maintenance work after planting trees is crucial. We would like to request for your continued support until the donations reach the targeted amount of one billion yen.