Newly organized together with Chikyu no Midori wo Sodateru Kai = Green Globe (GG). GG was founded in 2001 to revive the green civilization by growing many seedlings of native, broad leaf trees, plant about 30,000 of them in 5-6 ha of the artificial, conifer forests of Tsukuba mountain and organizing eco-tours in China. In the tree plantation program in Fukushima (disaster area) in 2011 where their members and NICE vols. had good collaboration, so we have agreed to start a pilot workcamp!
Work:
We will mainly cultivate the land on the slope of the mountain to prepare the tree planting program on the 3rd June.We may also help to prepare the seedlings (moving them into each pot) .
Accommodation:
A simple house of GG.
Tsukuba is famous for its big university and related institutions and 4% of inhabitants are foreigners. By the new train started recently, access to Tokyo is quite easy though the venue is in the suburb.
Organized together with Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS) since 06. The Shirakami Mountains is a huge mountainous area and one of Japanese valuable preserved natural forests consisting primarily of beech trees.
Work:
We will do various types of nature conservation works such as...
1) Cutting grass to improve ecological richness of the forest and 2) Maintain the forest with the villagers. We will also help local farmers. Part of World Tanabata Action.
Accommodation:
A simple house.
Location:
The Shirakami Mountains, located in the northern part of Honshu Island, is a huge mountainous area (130,000 hectares on the border between Aomori and Akita Prefectures).
Terminal:
Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus).
Organized since 2011 together with Kirikiri-Koku, a Non-Profit Organisation which local people set up after the giant earthquake to stand up again and revive the area. They chopped and reused the rubbles of woods into firewood and sold 5,000 packs x 5 kg of them by 2011 Sep. with volunteers. Then, they have been working to revive the rich and beautiful forests and sea like 100 years ago since 2011 Oct. NICE has organized several workcamps here with Japanese and international 19 volunteers (551 vols. x days) since 2011 Jul.
Work:
We will mainly collect and carry woods from the forests, so be flexible and also ready to do hard, simple and (could be) risky work. By removing some overplanted trees, various grasses and bushes can be grown, that will bring more bacteria, that will be carried to the sea and enrich the nutrition!
Study theme:
Revival of the disaster areas in the world and global cooperation.
Accommodation:
A small container house in the working place and sometimes, in tents or different buildings. Sleeping bag needed. Self-catering.
Location:
East coast of Iwate prefecture. Due to rich natural resource of fish, shells, etc., the main industry has been fishing. People have quite independent spirits from a long time ago.
Terminal:
Tokyo - 7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus. You need to arrive at Narita airport by 19:00 one day before the first day and can leave there after 09:00 one day after the last day.
Leisure activities:
Excursions, parties, etc.
Requirements:
High motivation to work for disaster area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization!
NB:
Motivation letter is required.
Medium and Long Term Volunteers (09/06-02/09 and 31/08-25/11) are also recruited.
Newly organized together with Shirakami Mountains Preservation Society (SMPS). The Mutsu-bay is famous as a place of production of a scallop, but the scallop of the Mutsu-bay has been in an annihilation state by the abnormal weather in 2010. SMPS aims to improve and maintain water quality in Mutsu-bay by preserving forest surrounding a bay.
Work:
We will do various types of nature conservation works such as 1) cutting grasses to improve ecological richness of the forest and 2) maintain the forest with the villagers. We will also help local farmers.
Accommodation:
A simple house.
Location:
Aomori Prefecture is located on the northernmost tip of Honshu Island, where the Mutsu-bay nestles between the eastern Shimokita, and western Tsugaru Peninsulas.
Transport:
Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus.
Volunteers must be prepared to work outside in good and bad weather and have motivation to actively work in the forests with local people!
Organized since 2011 together with Kirikiri-Koku, a Non-Profit Organisation which local people set up after the giant earthquake to stand up again and revive the area. They chopped and reused the rubbles of woods into firewood and sold 5,000 packs x 5 kg of them by 2011 Sep. with volunteers. Then, they have been working to revive the rich and beautiful forests and sea like 100 years ago since 2011 Oct. NICE has organized several workcamps here with Japanese and international 19 volunteers (551 vols. x days) since 2011 Jul.
Work:
We will mainly collect and carry woods from the forests, so be flexible and also ready to do hard, simple and (could be) risky work. By removing some overplanted trees, various grasses and bushes can be grown, that will bring more bacteria, that will be carried to the sea and enrich the nutrition!
Study theme:
Revival of the disaster areas in the world and global cooperation.
Accommodation:
A small container house in the working place and sometimes, in tents or different buildings. Sleeping bag needed. Self-catering.
Location:
East coast of Iwate prefecture. Due to rich natural resource of fish, shells, etc., the main industry has been fishing. People have quite independent spirits from a long time ago.
Terminal:
Tokyo - 7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus. You need to arrive at Narita airport by 19:00 one day before the first day and can leave there after 09:00 one day after the last day.
Leisure activities:
Excursions, parties, etc.
Requirements:
High motivation to work for disaster area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization!
NB:
Motivation letter is required.
Medium and Long Term Volunteers (09/06-02/09 and 31/08-25/11) are also recruited.
Organized together with Onuma Milestone 22, a local NGO made by President of Fishermen’s Cooperative and Director of international exchange association since 2004. Though Onuma lake has been a popular tourism spot for a long time because of its beautiful scenery, it has been polluted by over use of agricultural chemicals in cattle farming and erosion from abandoned forests with alien trees. President of Cooperative has bought a forest and wants to revive it to original nature with native trees!
Work:
We will remove some alien conifer trees that disturb growth of other plants and animals and also help to prepare/ run/ clean up the Lake Water Festival on 24-25 Jul. We will also make and put the carbon fibers in the lake to purity the water with some specialists.
Accommodation:
Local house rent for the workcamps.
Location:
South of Hokkaido island, in a national park near Hakodate city which is famous for romantic view in the night, especially for sweet couples!
Transport:
Sapporo (3 hours by express train. You need to arrive at Shin-Chitose airport by 08:00 on 21 Jul. and can leave there after 17:00 on 30 Jul.). From Tokyo, 10 hours by bullet train or 30 hours by ship.
Motivation to actively work in the forests and with local people! You may live and work together with 5 volunteers (Japanese and international)
Organized together with Touhoku Ashitanomori (TA) since 2011 . TA is a NGO running organic farming and agricultical practice. Rokkasho villadge is known by nuclear fuel processing facility, but TA set up the mission to set up the eco villadge only. We aim to farming through workcamps, also conservation these mountain to save water, and activate the area.
Work:
We will work in the farm doing activities, constructing small water power generator, constructing henhouse by which we can contribute to eco villadge fraiming. We will also clean up the cow shed early morning.
Accommodation:
movable house.
Location:
On the Pacific side, Aomori prefecture. The Rokkasho villadge is 253.01 km2. There are so many tee trees to tree thinning.
Transport:
Tokyo (7 hours by bullet train or 10 hours by bus, You need to arrive at Narita airport by 19:00 on 31 Jul. and can leave there after 09:00 on 11 Aug.)
Interest in agricultural & exchange with a community. Adaptability to enjoy a simple lifestyle!
Organized together with local NPOs, ‘Association to protect nature in Tondabayashi’ and ‘Hamuro club’. Even though 70% of Japan’s land is forested, the forests are not properly maintained, as there is a lack of investment in the health and ecology of these ecosystems, since imported wood is much cheaper. Over 90% of our forests are not virgin forests and cannot be left as “nature”, so it is important to provide continuing care for our forests. We will try to revive our forests and create a balanced ecology.
Work:
We will work in two different forests. One is the ‘NICE Forest’, where we often have weekend workcamps. We will cut and clear trees to make trails, cut grasses, bamboos, and make steps for a footpath in an abandoned rice field.
Accommodation:
Simple renovated house and a log house constructed by local people. Cooking with firewood.
Location:
60 km south of Osaka, but in a natural setting.
Transport:
Osaka (1 hour by train. You need to arrive at Kansai airport by 12:00 on 04 Aug. and can leave there after 17:00 on 18 Aug.) From Tokyo, 5 hours by bullet train or 11 hours by midnight bus.
Interest in nature protection and promotion and exchange with people. Adaptability to enjoy a simple lifestyle!
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