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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

National Parks Association of Japan

Investigating damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake to important wetlands on the Tohoku Pacific coast

Activity grant

Project Description

Coastal wetlands (seagrass beds and mud flats) are important for marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and this project aims to clarify the extent of damage to coastal wetlands from Aomori to Fukushima caused by scattered debris, sea floor vegetation, etc. Eight of the '500 important Japanese wetlands' designated by the Ministry of the Environment are located in disaster areas, and this research will investigate the coastal and shallow sea areas containing these, record the extent of the damage using photos and local testimony, compile the information gathered, and release it widely to the public.

Fields
Marine resources/foodPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2011 Activity Grants
Grant term
8 months
July 2011 - March 2012
Grant amount
7,300,000 yen
Activity region
The Tohoku Pacific Coast (Kabushima, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture to Matukawa-ura Bay, Soma, Fukushima Prefecture), Japan
Coastal research focused on seagrass beds and mud flats

Overview of the Organization

Masaaki Yui, Director
Representative
Masaaki Yui, Director
Establishment
1929
Establishment purpose
The National Parks Association of Japan was initially set up in December 1927 by a group of volunteers who wanted to establish national parks in Japan. It was officially established in 1929 and following the formulation of the Natural Parks Act in 1931, deisgnated its first national park in 1934. It will become a non-profit foundation in 2013, and will continue its long track record of conserving and raising awareness of national parks and the natural environment.
Main area of activity
Japan
Staff
8 full-time staff members
Annual operating budget
221.53 million yen in 2008, 195.74 million yen in 2009, 146.76 million yen in 2010
Recent activities
The association conserves and encourages the use of wilderness areas such as national parks by creating conservation and usage plans for national parks, conducting environmental conservation acivities, planning facilities, and researching and planning initiatives to connect people with nature. It also engages in collecting information on wilderness areas in Japan and overseas from books, journals, photography collections and the like, and sharing this information through its website and by distributing printed materials. At the request of wilderness area management organizations, it can also gather and dispatch volunteer teams to carry out tasks such as eliminating invasive species, and repairing and maintaining mountainside facilities.