Young People Start a Campaign Promoting the Coexistence of People and Forests

Copyright NPO Network for Coexistence of Local People and Forests

The students who learnt wisdoms and skills to live with forests from forest masters at the "Fox Fire in Japan" Forum started a campaign aimed at connecting people and forests. With support from others, a non-profit organization called Network for Coexistence of Local People and Forests was established in May 2007 with the aim to make connections among people, forests and communities.

The campaign is based in four "satoyama" woodland areas in Kanto, Kansai, Tohoku and Hokuriku regions. In each area key themes are established, developing activities such as cultivating forests, char- grilling, picking mountain vegetables and talking with elderly people. The NPO is also working with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to create "Sea Forest" at a garbage end disposal site, and with Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, where forestry is vibrant, to promote regional revitalization utilizing biomass energy produced by their trees.

At present, the campaign is expanding not only among students who participated in the Forum, but across generations of forest masters, adults and children in local areas.

- High School Students Learn from Forest 'Masters' through Interviews and Essays (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026350.html

Posted: 2009/01/20 06:00:15 AM