Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Our project site is part of the 3,700-ha coastal forest in Tohoku Region that was wiped-out by the 12-meter-high tsunami in March 11, 2011. The local people, especially the farmers whose farms were shielded by the former coastal forest became exposed and vulnerable from strong winds, salt-damage, and wind-blown-sands from the seacoast. Post-tsunami, the local farmers cannot produce good quality vegetables thereby affecting their livelihood. Without the coastal vegetation, even local residents living 15-km away from the sea are vulnerable from corrosion due to salt sprays. 

The project started under the following principles. 
1. Self-reliance as an NGO without relying on government`s financial assistance
2. As the site is owned by the government (central, prefectural, and city), an agreement was signed on March 14, 2011 entrusting OISCA the restoration of the 100-ha coastal forest in Natori City. The government`s agreement with an NGO to do such scale was first time in the history of Japan. 
3. Create a system that will encourage engagement of the local communities, private companies, academe, and the general public to guarantee sustainability of the project beyond funding. 

Why black-pines? 

Since the 1600s, the coastal forest in Miyagi was planted with black-pines by the order of Date Masamune to protect the farms and the lives of local communities from disasters. The fact that the ancestors planted black-pines for many years is that it is excellent in tide prevention, prevention of salt and sand, and is the most suitable tree species to be planted on the coast.

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Emphasizing the importance of self-reliance from government`s financial assistance, we created a system that focuses broad-based relationship fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, particularly the tsunami survivors. Reflecting on the needs and aspirations of the locals to restore the coastal forest into its former condition, the Association for the Coastal Forest Restoration in Natori City was established in 2011. The members of the Association are tsunami survivors and local farmers, who were mainly responsible in producing black-pines seedlings, tree planting, and forest maintenance. The production of high-quality seedlings is attributed to the tender loving care nature of the hired women tsunami survivors. 

After 10 years of project implementation, we have employed 7,916 tsunami survivors, mobilized 11,649 volunteers, and educated 39,604 people through the organized report sessions, symposiums, and photo exhibitions. Based on our volunteer data, in the past 3 years, there was 50% increase in local volunteers (90% have volunteered more than once). There was also an increase in the number of local high school and university students, and mid-career professionals who are mostly women.

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