OISCA`s Approach in the Restoration of

the Coastal Forest Damaged by Tsunami

in Tohoku Region
Sub-contracting of disaster survivors, professional
forest workers and mobilizing volunteers for the actual
project implementation
Case study
May7,2017
Dr. Kunihiro SEIDO

Forestry Adviser
OISCA JAPAN
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the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Directors or the governments
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any representation concerning the same .

Planted site(5/21/2016
March 11, 2011 Great East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami Photo by Mainichi Shinbun

TSUNAMI
March 11,2011
3 55 PM
CoastalForestwas
uprootedandwiped
outbythe
tsunami
FarmlandsandHousesweredestroyed
Disaster affected area

CoastalForestsof3,660ha Miyagi pref.1750ha

Aomori

Iwate
Project
Miyagi site
Fukusim
a
Ibar
aki
Tokyo Chiba
OISCA took the initiative to collaborate with
various stakeholders for the project
implementation.
The project is in line with the government`s reconstruction work.
It will be promoted as a national movement
The learnings will be disseminated worldwide.

April 4,2011 , OISCA proposed to

implement the project during the meeting
March17,2011 OISCA submitted a paper of OISCA Japan`s Chairman and Director
to DG of Forestry Agency General of Forest Agency.
The first consultation with the residents
of Natori City (project area)

(at the evacuation center, Natori City Second Junior

High School on May 24, 2011)
 Consultations with
national & prefectural
governments, community
forestry and seedlings
producer cooperatives.

Field Survey
 Goals of OISCA Coastal Forest
Restoration Project
Target area: About 100 hectares with a total length of 5 km
between Kitakama and Yuriage districts in Natori City, Southern
Miyagi Pref.
Production of Seedlings: 500,000 black pine trees, carried out
by disaster-affected local residents
Support for Tree-planting: local residents, Local forest
association, private companies, citizens altogether plant trees
Support for maintenance: weeding, improvement cutting &
vine cutting by local residents and private companies etc
Public relations and advocacy activities
Period and budget: estimated one billion yen in 10 years
 OISCA aims to:
Involve wide range of local residents and volunteers
Establish a platform for independent activities that reflect the will of the
local residents.
Collaboration with various sectors such as the government, local residents,
forestry experts & business organizations, seedling producer cooperative,
private companies, foreign organizations, NPO and the general public.
Wide participation by Japanese and Foreigners through a network of
international cooperation organizations.
End
Result

Restoration of coastal forests that perform wide-range of functions

(windbreak, prevention of wind-blown sand & salt, tsunami reduction,
environment education, places for recreation, scenic tourist spots)
Through local governments and communities, coastal forest
preservation activities are voluntary and sustainable.
 Significance of the Project

It complements the functions of the government
Limitation of public fund and organizations
Good footwork of OISCA

Promotion of the importance of coastal forest

restoration, with the involvement of local citizens.

Information dissemination worldwide through mutual

exchange and cooperation.
National emergency issues are also global issues

 NGO OISCA Target Coastal

Area
Post disaster
100ha

Yuiage

Kitakama

SendaiAirport

Coastalforestsimportantlifelinesforpeopleslives
Coastalforestrestorationmustbetackledasatop
priority.
 Local residents stood up and started
seedling production March
2012
Local survivors were provided with jobs
through the project.
After first sowing (March 30 ,
Black pine Germination one month after sowing
Containers seedlings
The tsunami survivors are in-charge in the seedling
production.
 Start Planting78,000seedling /16ha
(April28 May30, 2014)

Forest workers plant seedlings mainly

May24, 2014 Tree Planting Ceremony
by 350 volunteers
Planting area 10 ha in 2015 50,000seedlings

May23, 2015 Tree planting Ceremony

500 volunteers 10,000seedlings
Planting area 10 ha in 2016 50,000seedlings

May21, 2016 Tree Planting Ceremony

by 520 volunteers
 Combined use of
professional people and volunteers
The mobilized volunteers play an important role in the
project implementation.
 Volunteers donate

The achievements so far

The result of the seedling production
Total 354,726

2kg
Results of Tree Planting Activities
Total 6ha
16ha

201420152016
Employment of disaster survivors
Total 3,453

2012201320142015
 Volunteers
Total 3,588

201220132014 2015
Growth of the planted Black Pines

Seedlings

Height

2014
2015
2016
 Establishment of 7 systems
1. Conclusion of large-scale public-private partnership
agreement (about 100 ha)
2. Large-scale seedling supply (Production of 500 thousand
nursery seedlings out of 6 million required in Miyagi prefecture)
3. Employment of disaster survivors (average: 1,500 people/year)
4. Efficient integrated work (nursery seedling ~ planting
~ maintenance) .
5. Low cost Forestry (own production seedlings are less costly
than purchase of seedlings)
6. Citizen participation (average1,500volunteers, 500 visits,
5,000 reporting meetings)
7. Introduction of Private vitality and fund introduction
(Goal total amount of 1 billion yen )
Thank you for your attention
We want to restore a coastline with white s
and green pines in Tohoku