The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund
Introduction to Grant Projects
Tokidoki Oendan
Building a framework for the restoration, maintenance and management of woodlands and rice terraces of Shimizudaira, Niibo, Sado Island
Activity grant
- Project Description
Preparations for the crested Ibis release experiment to be held on Sado in autumn 2008 are underway by the national and local governments, NPOs, research institutes, and many other organizations. Since 2002, Tokidoki Ouendan has been collaborating with Niigata University and other NPOs to restore rice terraces in Shimizudaira, Niibo, in order to create habitats for these birds. As the local woodlands and rice terraces are semi-natural ecosystems, they need to be managed and maintained by humans and it is uncertain whether this can be acheived by volunteers alone. This project is a collaboration with Niigata University to establish an implementation framework for the medium- to long-term management and maintenance of these woodlands and rice terraces. Specific activities include:
(1) Creating a biotope in Shimizudaira
(2) Hiring and training managers with the necessary management and maintenance skills
(3) Establishing eco-tourism routes
(4)Cultivating crested ibis monitoring personnel and carrying out monitoring
- Fields
- Preservation of surface soil and forestsPreservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
- Grant year
- FY2008 Activity Grants
- Grant term
- 3 years
October 2008 - September 2011
- Grant amount
- 11,072,000 yen
- Activity region
- Focused on the Shimizudaira area in Niibo, Sado Island, including trekking courses that connect the core areas of Aokiyama Farm, Shimizudaira, Haetsubaki and Kikenjo
Overview of the Organization
- Representative
- Takehiko Kera, Chairman
- Establishment
- 2002
- Establishment purpose
- In 2000 , the Ministry of the Environment announced an action plan to restore crested ibises to the wild, and many organizations, including Niigata University, started creating an environment in which the birds could live. Tokidoki Ouendan was started by a group of volunteers, including current chairman Takehiko Kera, to advance volunteer initiatives for restoring the woodlands and rice terraces of Shimizudaira, an area of Niibo that housed the former Crested Ibis Conservation Center, in order to contribute to the creation of crested ibis habitats. In 2005 it was granted NPO status by Niigata Prefecture, and it is currently carrying out activities in earnest
- Main areas of activity
- Focused on the Shimizudaira area in Niibo, Sado Island, including trekking courses that connect the core areas of Aokiyama Farm, Shimizudaira, Haetsubaki and Kikenjo
- Staff
- 10 part-time staff members, 180 full members
- Annual operating budget
- 780,000 yen in 2005, 1.66 million yen in 2006, 1.63 million yen in 2007
- WEB site
- http://park18.wakwak.com/~tokidoki/
- Recent activities
-
- (1) Holding study meetings: study meetings on crested ibis and the nature, culture, and history of Sado are held once a month.
- (2) Restoration, maintenance and management of woodland and rice terraces in Shimizudaira: advancing initiatives that restore woodland and rice terraces in Shimizudaira in the Niibo mountains to create a habitat for crested ibises and protect the nature of Sado Island.
- (3) Biologial and environmental research: woodland and rice terrace restoration activities in Shimizudaira involve regular surveying of any increase in numbers and species of organisms.
- (4) Establishing eco-tourism and trekking courses and implementing eco-tourism initiatives: establishing trekking courses connecting the core areas of Shimizudaira, Haetsubaki and Kikenjo, and collaborating with professional eco-tourism guides to hold eco-tours.