This project aims to regenerate the 100 hectares shirabe forest at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, which was damaged by insects. Since 2007, in collaboration with the government, forest experts, companies/organizations, and forest workers OISCA initiated the planting of 40,000 pest-resistant broad-leaf seedlings of different species. This action is crucial to the conservation and protection of Mt. Fuji as a World Heritage site.
Deer infestation, extreme weather condition, and now corona virus are affecting our project. The planted trees that were steadily growing have collapsed due to more intense and increasing number of typhoons that hit Japan. Prior to corona, we were involving at most 800 volunteers yearly with the planting and site maintenance. Unfortunately, due to corona, it is difficult to mobilize volunteers resulting to the delay of works, and now affecting the growth and survival of the planted trees.
Now that corona prohibits us from working with volunteers, we will sub-contract local forest company and mobilize our network (staff, members, and other stakeholders). Works include raising up of the collapsed planted trees and putting of nets to protect them from deer, removal of the nets constricting the branches of the planted trees, and removal of the fallen shirabe trees from the site. We will also disseminate information to educate the public of the importance of forest conservation.
Planting of different species of broad-leaf seedlings hastens the regeneration of the insect infested shirabe forest in Mt. Fuji. According to the forest experts, it takes 50 years for forest to regenerate naturally, but with human intervention, it takes only 30 years. Our initiative helps catalyzes the protection and conservation of Mt. Fuji`s natural environment.
This project has provided additional documentation in a XLSX file (projdoc.xlsx).
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