Kushiro Wetlands and Saitama Prefecture Kunugiyama Nature Restoration Project - April 2020s

Kushiro Wetlands and Saitama Prefecture Kunugiyama Nature Restoration Project - April 2020s

Kushiro Wetlands
The Kushiro Wetlands is Japan's largest wetland, and in the 2020s, nature restoration projects aimed at preserving endangered species and recovering ecosystems continue. In particular, the river meander restoration project within the wetlands has restored 25km of river sections to their original meandering state, greatly improving the water circulation throughout the wetland. This initiative has prevented the desiccation of the wetlands and expanded the habitat of endangered species such as the black woodpecker, white-tailed eagle, and red-crowned crane, with their populations increasing by 30% over the past 10 years as of 2023.

This project is being led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Hokkaido Prefectural Government, with an annual budget of approximately 2 billion yen. Soil improvement in the wetlands utilizes carbonized wood technology developed jointly by Asahi Glass and the University of Tokyo, which has increased carbon fixation efficiency by 30% compared to previous methods. The total carbon storage in the wetlands is expected to reach 5 million tons by 2025, making a significant contribution to climate change mitigation.

Kunugiyama in Saitama Prefecture
In Kunugiyama, Saitama Prefecture, a nature restoration project covering approximately 150 hectares is underway following the removal of industrial waste. The area had been severely affected by the accumulation of industrial waste, but the restoration project has accelerated in the 2020s, particularly focusing on the recovery of the coppice forest. Led by Obayashi Corporation, the project uses biochar for soil improvement, doubling the carbon fixation capacity of the soil compared to conventional methods. As a result, the forest regeneration rate reached 80% by 2023, and 90% regeneration is expected by 2024.

This project is funded with an annual budget of approximately 3 billion yen, and vegetation restoration using recycled materials is progressing, leading to the recovery of the region's ecosystems. The Kunugiyama restoration project, with its use of new technologies following the removal of industrial waste, is promoting environmental recovery in the area. Additionally, collaboration with local residents is helping to revitalize the local economy, increasing the value of the area as a tourist resource.

The nature restoration projects in the Kushiro Wetlands and Kunugiyama in Saitama Prefecture are examples of sustainable restoration achieved through diverse approaches tailored to the unique challenges of each region, combined with advanced corporate technologies.