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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Sekai no Sabaku wo Ryoku de Kakomu Kai

Setting up shrubbery seed and seedling centers in the Gobi Desert region and building a sustainable ecological management system

Activity grant

Project Description

Yellow sand damage caused by rapid desertification is becoming an increasingly serious problem for the Alxa region in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This project will cooperate with a local NGO to establish centers for producing seeds and seedlings from native shrubbery species in order to supply local governmental and citizen-led greening activities. At the same time it will collaborate with research institutions in Alxa and other parts of China and Japan to investigate ecological changes produced by manmade greening with the aim of building a sustainable ecological management system.

Fields
Climate changePreservation of surface soil and forestsPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2007 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
July 2007 - June 2010
Grant amount
19,435,000 yen
Activity region
Alxa League, China
Planting shrubbery seeds in China's Gobi Desert

Overview of the Organization

Toshio Osawa, Chairman
Representative
Toshio Osawa, Chairman
Establishment
1998
Establishment purpose
Established with the aim of greening desert, providing environmental education, and facilitating environmental exchange based on the 'greenery of life' principle that greenery is the producer, nurturer and protector of life. It engages in initiatives to prevent desertification in China's Alxa League caused by the encroachment of the Gobi Desert, and provide solutions to desertification problems on a global scale.
Main areas of activity
Japan, China
Staff
1 full-time staff member, 2 part-time staff members, 600 full members
Annual operating budget
20.85 million yen in 2005, 16.52 million yen in 2006, 55.53 million yen in 2007
Recent activity
Tackling the advancement of desertification and yellow dust by dipatching volunteer planting groups and working with local peoples. Carrying out environmental education to explain the importance and significance of desert greenery to local residents and elementary school students. Encouraging international exchange by inviting 12 Chinese elementary school students and teachers to Kanazawa for a Japan-China sports exchange in 2007. Holding events and seminars to promote the importance of greening and raise awareness about the environment and global warming.