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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Yamashina Institute for Ornithology

Efforts to recover the breeding grounds of the albatross on the Ogasawara Islands and their long-term preservation

Activity grant

Project Description

This project seeks to academically establish and generalize the technology used to protect the albatross. Albatross chicks have been raised on Mukojima island, and the results published in international conferences and in academic journals. In addition, we have given guidance to a protection program for a similar species of albatross that is scheduled to begin on the Chatham Islands of New Zealand in 2014. To develop the activities of local communities, we are providing education about how to protect the albatross and the ocean and we are providing information to the public. We are doing this at the Ogasawara Island and on regular ferry boats and tourist boats. We are carrying out a monitoring program on Mukojima island, and through participation in other long-term successive protection projects we are looking into ways that protection and sustainable usage can coexist.

Fields
Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2011 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
April 2012 - March 2015
Grant amount
18,170,000 yen
Activity region
Ogasawara Village, Tokyo Metropolitan Region; Chatham Islands, New Zealand
Feeding albatross chicks transferred to Mukojima island

Overview of the Organization

Hisashi Shimazu, Director
Representative
Hisashi Shimazu, Director
Establishment
1942
Establishment purpose
The Yamashina Institute for Ornithology is Japan's only research institute dedicated to ornithology. For over 80 years, beginning with its predecessor (the laboratory museum privately built by Dr. Yamashina Yoshimaro in 1932), the Institute has continued to support research into Japanese bird species. The Institute's achievements have been highly regarded, internationally. In future, while working to steadily gather basic data, the Institute will attempt to conserve rare species. With its catchphrase of "The future of the Earth's wings" the Institute will aim to contribute to the preservation of a global environment that is easy for both mankind and birds to live in.
Main regions of project activity
Japan and overseas (mainly in the East Asian region)
Staff
22 full-time staff members, 1,500 full members
Annual operating budget
273.03 million yen in 2009, 282.3 million yen in 2010, 289.6 million yen in 2011
WEB site
http://yamashina.or.jp
Affiliated organizations
Ogasawara Elementary School, (NPO) Ogasawara Club
Main activities
  • (1) The collection, preparation, preservation and analysis of bird specimens, for publication as scientific knowledge.
  • (2) The collection, preparation and preservation of books and materials about birds, and their supply for the advancement of academic research.
  • (3) The collection, preparation, preservation and analysis of bird banding survey data, and their supply for the advancement of environment conservation and academic research.
  • (4) Research into the protection and promotion of growth of populations of rare birds.
  • (5) Promotion, public relations and educational projects.
  • (6) Subscription to international conferences that contribute to the promotion of academic research into the protection of wild birds and the subsidizing of expenses of those people traveling to attend.