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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON)

Satoyama regeneration in rural areas of Cambodia and the sustainable use of natural resources

Activity grant

Project Description

Cambodia's natural resources have encountered serious damages from a long-lasting civil war. Following the end of the Civil War, since 1990, Cambodia and various countries in the Mekong River Basin are in the process of transforming from self-sufficient to an export-oriented agriculture model. However, illegal logging and mass use of chemical fertilizer and agrichemicals to cultivate new land has caused soil degradation and polluted the water environment, which also has an adverse effect on the rural ecosystem and living environment. The purpose of these activities is conservation and sustainable use of natural resources for Satoyama regeneration in rural areas in the Centre, East and West of Cambodia. In order to achieve this, we will do the following: (1) Satoyama reproduction workshop of rural area, (2) actual condition survey of conservation of natural resources, (3) establish a tree planting and tree seedling nursing facility and the cultivate of tree planting, (4) Seminar on the use of natural resources, (5) Satoyama regeneration and afforestation, (6) Satoyama conservation leadership training, (7) Satoyama regeneration symposium, etc. By implementing afforestation in rural areas where natural resources are considerably impaired, we will regenerate ecologically rich natural resources and implement initiatives for local residents to conserve environment including soil and water and ultimately promote the sustainable use of natural resources in rural areas.

Fields
Preservation of surface soil and forestsPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2010 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
October 2010 - September 2013
Grant amount
21,090,000 yen
Activity region
Central, Eastern and Western Cambodia
Satoyama regeneration workshop in Cambodia, Kampong Cham River

Overview of the Organization

Machito Mihara, President
Representative
Machito Mihara, President
Establishment
2000
Establishment purpose
This group was established in 1990 with various universities to conduct research and surveys in Japan and Thailand on environmental restoration and preservation. However, in conducting environmental conservation activities to contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources, environmental education and activities, returning to the origin of the research results is necessary. As a result, research activities could not be limited to research groups and we decided that grassroots activity as an NPO was the most appropriate measure, and therefore established the Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation in 2000.
Main areas of activity
Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, etc.
Staff
8 full-time staff members, 4 part-time staff members, 149 full members
Annual operating budget
55.74 million yen in 2007, 56.21 million yen in 2008, 59.56 million yen in 2009
WEB site
http://www.erecon.jp/
Recent activities
We provide support for sustainable agriculture in local farms in each activity area including Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines as well as food and agriculture environment education in primary schools, etc. In addition, by collaborating with Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of Education and related government offices as well as local NGOs and educational institutions, we implemented education on sustainable development (ESD) centered on agricultural and environmental education as well as establishing Cambodia's first RCE Phnom Penh urban area (a regional base for ESD).