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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Forest Gunma 21

Five action plans for a prefecture that is a source of water

Activity grant

Project Description

Most of the forests in Gunma Prefecture have been created through men working with nature; however, with the changes to modern society, the number of people who protect and nurture the forests is declining. As a result, the diverse functions of the forests are waning, and this may lead to the destruction of the natural environment in the future. This project has five action plans to help create the ideal form of forest creation that will enable forests to fully show their powers. We consider the scope of activity of this project to cover all of Gunma Prefecture. In response to requests from local governments and schools, our group's members are involved in hands-on work. We are working on creating ideal forest-making and passing this on to the next generation so that many people will be interested in the forests of Gunma Prefecture and the ecologically friendly dams on the Tone River.

Fields
Preservation of surface soil and forests
Grant year
FY2012 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
October 2012 - September 2015
Grant amount
5,029,000 yen
Activity region
All of Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Forestry Experience Classroom (tree-felling simulation activities for elementary school students)

Overview of the Organization

Hiroe Kikukawa, Director
Representative
Hiroe Kikukawa, Director
Establishment
2002
Establishment purpose
The forests that spread across Gunma Prefecture are a source of life, a source of fresh air and a source of water. Most of the forests in Gunma Prefecture have been created through men working with nature; however, with the changes to modern society, the number of people who protect and nurture the forests is declining. As a result, the diverse functions of the forests are waning, and this may lead to the destruction of the natural environment in the future. Our goal is to listen to "what the forest is telling us," and work together with the forest as a good partner to build a relationship so we can create the "ideal way of forest creation" so that forests can show their true potential.
Main regions of project activity
All over Gunma Prefecture
Staff
68 full members
Annual business scale (ordinary income)
7.37 million yen in 2009, 5.57 million yen in 2010, 4.5 million yen in 2011
Main activities
Carry out 5 action plans to achieve the ideal form of forest creation.
  • (1) Nurturing activities = improvement of timely maintenance of forests, improvement of the educational environment, forestry technical training
  • (2) Forest creation support = forestry experiences, corporate forests, forest creation for citizens
  • (3) Utilization of greenery = effective utilization by tree thinning
  • (4) Awareness promotion activities = promotion of wood use, sending lecturers to lecture meetings
  • (5) Collaboration with industry, government and academia = contracted projects, creation of forests that the public can come to and learn, Gunma studies center, seminars