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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

KAMEOKA Network of Nature and Human

Project for restoring ayumodoki, a species designated as a national treasure, through rice paddy fish channels and use of idle farmland

Activity grant

Project Description

Ayumodoki is a fresh water fish which has been designated as a natural treasure of Japan and is only found in Lake Biwa and its surrounding waters in the Kameoka region of Kyoto Prefecture. Although it traditionally lays eggs in temporarily flooded areas such as dry riverbeds and rice fields, it currently only has one egg-laying site. As it can only lay eggs once per year, it is facing extinction. This project aims to expand the area in which ayumodoki can live and breed by renting adjacent unused idle farmland and creating fish channels to see if these fields and rice paddies can be used as egg-laying sites. It also holds educational sessions for the general public.

Fields
Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2007 Activity Grants
Grant term
2 years
April 2008 - March 2010
Grant amount
2,500,000 yen
Activity region
Hozucho and surrounding areas, Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Researching juvenile ayumodoki

Overview of the Organization

Minoru Ueda, Representative
Representative
Minoru Ueda, Representative
Establishment
2005
Establishment purpose
Based in Kameoka, Kyoto prefecture, the network was created with the goal of contributing to the peaceful coexistence of people with nature through activities including research and awareness-raising with the aim of deepening understanding of the history, legends, culture, topography, wildlife and ecology - including human activity - of the Tamba region.
Main areas of activity
Kyoto city, Kameoka, Nantan, and others, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Staff
5 part-time staff members, 15 full members
Annual operating budget
1.03 million yen in 2005, 1.96 million yen in 2006, 2.20 million yen in 2007
WEB site
http://ayumodoki.net/
Recent activities
Activities aiming to create harmony between humans and nature began in 2003, and as ayumodoki was designated as a nationally endangered species under the Endangered Species Preservation Act, efforts to protect it were launched. Intiatives to conserve ayumodoki undertaken together with local people includes rescue operations during periods of low-water, patrols to prevent illegal fishing, and efforts to maintain habitats such as the creation of fish channels. Continuous research is also being carried out to assess the condition of habitats, identify egg-laying sites, and understand ayumodoki habitats and ecological attributes. Awareness-raising activities such as observation tours are being carried out to make people more conscious of rare species such as ayumodoki.