Activities to raise awareness of the need to protect valuable rainforests finally showing results.
We use video and other materials to make people aware of the negative impact of deforestation on traditional lives in rural areas. As a result, the awareness of the local people has changed significantly, and in three villages, including Arabam, taro production, which does not rely on slash-and-burn farming, seems to have a bright future. And last year we also supported cacao and other crop cultivation for 272 families. The goal is to get to a point where stationary organic farming can be carried out by local people by themselves.
Centered on fast-expanding vocational training schools, we developed experimental products like chocolate.
In the Solomon Islands, economic disparity between urban and rural areas is a problem. The Eco Card Fund supports the management of vocational training schools in rural areas to eliminate this gap. One initiative is agroforestry, which produces agricultural products while developing forests in the training school grounds. Last year, we also developed an experimental product, chocolate, as well as extending multi-use workshop space and establishing a beekeeping area.
Mangrove planting protects against tsunamis and storm surges while nurturing ecosystems too.
Located in the Pacific Ocean, Kiribati is an island nation consisting of 33 atolls. But while Kiribati may seem idyllic, it is faced with uncertainties stemming from rising sea levels and king tides triggered by major tidal fluctuation due to global warming. In order to protect people's lives from these threats, last year we planted mangrove trees. We toiled under the harsh Kiribati sun with the support of Kiribati's Ministry of Environment staff, local Environmental Club members and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.
Successful planting surpasses target by 250%. Local-level environmental consciousness is growing.
In Tuvalu, too, rising sea levels triggered by global warming are causing coastal erosion. Last year we also carried out activities to stop erosion and promote sand accumulation by planting mangrove seedlings. In spite of a cyclone hitting Tuvalu after the plantings, the seedlings refused to give up and continued to grow. The next issue is to transfer technology to local Tuvaluans to extend this natural breakwater further.
Tree planting in the village of Sama at 3,500 meters continues despite heavy snows that linger until spring.
Sama Village, located at the foot of the world-renowned Himalayas, was in a state of desolation because of excessive deforestation. So the afforestation project that kicked off in FY 2016 started with raising seedlings. We protected these by covering them with blue sheeting and scraped away the snow to ensure they survived the brutal winter cold. Then, on May 16, 2018, project leader Ken Noguchi and the local people worked together to nally plant out 3,000 trees.
Creating a forest that can withstand even massive typhoons. Size surpasses target in area.
In the Philippines, where powerful typhoons frequently make landfall, we are working to create forests able to withstand abnormal weather. What's being planted is largely native species adapted to strong winds and dry conditions, as well as fruit trees that will help sustain life. We are also educating the local people to help establish 75 hectares of forest in five years. Last fiscal year, we held environmental conservation seminars at three schools. We are aiming to construct a system that can maintain and manage forests even after the Eco Card Fund support ends.
