WIT Entrepreneur – NPO法人わたりグリーンベルトプロジェクト Watari Greenbelt Project

Mentor matching
Organizational development
Board & governance training
Vision and strategy development
Fundraising
English elevator pitch

◆◆　Location　◆◆

宮城県亘理郡亘理町
Watari, Miyagi
http://www.watari-grb.org/

◆◆　Issue　◆◆

約400年前に伊達政宗の主導で植えられた宮城県の海岸林は、津波や風等から農地や人々の生活を守ってきた。宮城県亘理町の長さ4㎞にわたる海岸林は震災時に津波の威力低減に大きく貢献したが、120haのうち77haが流出し、壊滅的なダメージを受けた。震災により沿岸部の住人が250世帯から約10世帯に減少し、海岸林の維持管理を担う人材が不足している。

Miyagi Prefecture is known for its coastal forests, located along the coast to protect towns from storm surges, high winds, and tsunamis. These forests were planted nearly 400 years ago. However, the coastal forest was damaged and washed away by the tsunami. The physical damage of Watari’s coastal forest was large. Furthermore, the population of the coastal area decreased from 250 households to 10, which is insufficient to maintain the forest.

◆◆　Solution and Input　◆◆

震災で町民を津波から守って流出した宮城県亘理町の海岸林を復活させるため、「町を守る海岸林育成」、「地域性を活かした海岸林づくり」、「復興プロセスへの住民の主体的参画」を通じて、次世代へ継承すべく、苗木づくり、植樹、教育活動を行っている。

With such significant damage to the environment in 2011, Watari Greenbelt Project immediately responded with a mission to rebuild, restore, and revitalize not only the coastal forest by planting seeds collected by the trees within the region, but also to establish greater harmony with the local community for generations to come.

◆◆　From Output to Impact　◆◆

地元の種から育てた50,000本以上の苗木を、地域住民や企業等のボランティアと共に植樹してきた。将来の担い手育成のため、地元の5つの小学校で環境教育も行っている。2020年までに森林20ha分に相当する60000万本を植樹すること、そして将来の世代にわたって、森林を維持管理していく仕組みをつくり、沿岸地域の環境保全と活性化につなげることを目指している。

WGB has planted over 50,000 seedlings that were collected from the local trees by working with volunteers. WGB is also teaching classes at five local schools to develop future leaders for environmental conservation. WGB’s goal by 2020 is to rebuild a forest of about 49.4 acres, and eventually grow the coastal forest made up of 60,000 trees. It also aims to preserve the coastal forests and surrounding nature by providing leadership training.