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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

The Miyagi Prefectural Izunuma-Uchinuma Environmental Foundation

The Minami-Sanriku Coastal Area brant is a symbol of seaweed bed regeneration! Clues to understand fishing zone regeneration from monitoring the distribution of brent geese after the earthquake

Activity grant

Project Description

On the Minami-sanriku coast from Kesennuma to Minami-sanriku in Miyagi Prefecture, which was affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, 200-300 brent geese a specialized species of bird and a protected species pass the winter on the coast. Brent geese feed on seaweed and marine algae found in reef and cultivated rafts in the coastal areas – the seaweed bed is an important spawning and breeding ground for fish. With our activities, after clarifying the relationship between the distribution of brent geese and the inhabiting status of seaweed beds, we can monitor the brant and establish a system to clarify the recovery status of the fishing environment.

Fields
Marine resources/foodPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2011 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
October 2011 - September 2014
Grant amount
15,744,000 yen
Activity region
Minami-Sanriku Coastal Area from Kesennuma to Minami-sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Brant feeding in the disaster affected fishing port

Overview of the Organization

Eisuke Kikuchi, President
Representative
Eisuke Kikuchi, President
Establishment
1988
Establishment Purpose
We are making efforts towards regional development and harmony, creating a new form of Izunuma-Uchinuma Sanctuary by proactively carrying out activities to conserve the natural environment, spread nature conservation ideas and create a place for people and nature to interact. In addition to contributing to regional promotion, we promote the conservation of the natural environment of Izunuma-Uchinuma where the regional administration and the area are united. Whilst we focus on environmental conservation of the Izunuma-Uchinuma area, we also aim to contribute to environmental conservation of Miyagi Prefecture as a whole.
Key activity areas
Izunuma, Uchinuma areas
Staff
4 full-time staff members, 4 part-time staff members
Annual operating budget
70.37 million yen in 2008, 83.68 million yen in 2009, and 82.69 million yen in 2010
Joint Organizations
University of Tokyo, Japanese Association for Wild Geese Protection
Joint Researchers
University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences Professor Hiroshi Higuchi, Japanese association for Wild Geese Protection, Chairman, Masayuki Kurechi
Key Activities
Key environmental conservation measures
(1)Eutrophication, shallow bottom planting...planting Manchurian wild rice, reed cutting and burning fields (wildfire)
(2)Recovery of biodiversity...destruction of largemouth bass, planting hydrilla aquataic plants
*Environmental improvement in the area
*Spread public awareness of nature conservation
· Dispatch of lectures and technology guidance for organizations
· Green campaign
· Photo contest, art exhibition, etc.
*Survey research activities
· Conduct various collaborative surveys with research institutions such as Tohoku University and prefectural test laboratories
· Research presentation