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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Koajiro Yagai Katsudo Chosei Kaigi

Encouraging conservation in Koajiro Forest

Activity grant

Project Description

Koajiro Forest, located on Kanagawa Prefecture's Miura Peninsula, is the only green space in the Greater Tokyo Area maintaining forest, wetland, mudflat, and ocean ecosystems in their natural environment, and it is a habitat for over 1,800 species of plant and animal. During spring tides in summer, you can also see red-clawed crabs release their larvae into the sea. More than half the forest was privately-owned land, but in 1995 Kanagawa Prefecture established a conservation policy for the region, and following the implementation of national trust initiatives, it also formulated a basic conservation plan in 2006. However, it will take time to create a detailed action plan for turning the entire area into public land, so during this period, Koajiro Yagai Katsudo Chosei Kaigi is supporting conservation management by carrying out patrols to monitor plant and animal life, conserving biotopes, and cultivating volunteers. An MOU for this project has been agreed with Kanagawa Prefecture.

Fields
Preservation of surface soil and forestsPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2007 Activity Grants
Grant term
3 years
April 2008 - March 2011
Grant amount
7,800,000 yen
Activity region
Koajiro Forest (Miura), Miura Peninsula, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Diagrams are used to provide guidance for the crab patrols who will monitor red-clawed crab spawning

Overview of the Organization

Yuji Kishi, Representative Director
Representative
Yuji Kishi, Representative Director
Establishment
1998
Establishment purpose
Koajiro Yagai Katsudo Chosei Kaigi was established to research, propose, and implement natural usage and conservation activities, and environmental education for an area centered on Koajiro Forest on the Miura Peninsula, focusing on watershed areas. It also supports local initiatives that share the same aims and further the conservation and restoration of the natural environment and environmental education.
Main area of activity
Koajiro Forest (Miura), Miura Peninsula, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Staff
11 part-time staff members, 20 full members
Annual operating budget
1.53 million yen in 2005, 4.50 million yen in 2006, 3.80 million yen in 2007
WEB site
http://www.koajiro.org
Recent activities
  • (1) Petitioning visitors, educational institutes, research facilities, media, and others to respect the rules of use and cooperate with the conservation of Koajiro Forest.
  • (2) Collect data on usage activity regarding Koajiro Forest (observation tours, integrated studies, etc.) and use it to inform maintenance activities.
  • (3) Establish volunteer patrols, including the Koajiro Forest crab patrols, to monitor and maintain red-clawed crab and other biotopes, and promote the conservation, restoration, and use of the natural environment. These patrols will also inspect and ensure the safety of hazardous areas and collect data on the natural environment.
  • (4) Support Kanagawa national trust activities and cooperate with awareness-raising activities.
  • (5) Take on high school and university students as interns to cultivate the next generation of staff.