The Wolf Ecosystem Restoration Initiative - January 1999 to 2023."

The Wolf Ecosystem Restoration Initiative - January 1999 to 2023."

Background and Initial Concept (1990s)
The extinction of the Japanese wolf in Japan in 1905 had a serious impact on the ecosystem, and in the late 1990s, Professor Naoki Maruyama, an ecologist at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, proposed the idea of introducing Chinese wolves to Japan to replace the extinct Japanese wolves and restore the ecosystem, as forest damage by deer was becoming increasingly serious. This concept is particularly important in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. This concept is based on the fact that forests and farmlands have been devastated by an abnormal increase in the number of deer, especially in areas including Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture, and the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido.

Initial challenges and adjustments (2000s)
In the areas where introduction was considered, the impact of the increase in deer on vegetation was expanding, with soil runoff and deterioration of water sources becoming more pronounced. In Nikko National Park, 150 tons of soil runoff occurred annually, and on the Shiretoko Peninsula, more than 6,000 deer inhabited the area, causing the forest to lose its water retention function. These damages caused the forest to become increasingly degraded and the ecosystem to become increasingly unstable. However, local residents and farmers raised concerns about the risks that the introduction of wolves would pose to their livestock and the safety of tourists, and were cautious about implementing the plan.

Pilot Phase and Expanded Support (2010s)
In the 2010s, environmental groups such as WWF Japan and Ecology Network stressed the importance of wolf introduction and expanded financial and technical support. Successful wolf reintroductions in Canada and the U.S. helped promote the concept in Japan as well. In addition, ecotourism has spread in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and Shiretoko, Hokkaido, and the potential for forest conservation using wolves to help support local economies has become a promising development.

Concretization of pilot introduction and technological development (2020s)
In the 2020s, feeding damage by deer became even more serious nationwide, increasing the need for ecosystem management through the introduction of wolves In 2021, the Ministry of the Environment established the "Wolf Reintroduction Study Committee" and plans to manage the deer population nationwide began in earnest As of 2023, the deer population reached 3,000,000 throughout Japan, with an annual soil runoff of 500 tons reported in Nikko National Park in Tochigi Prefecture and 200 tons in the Kii Mountain Range. In Shiretoko, the forest ecosystem has been severely damaged and there is an urgent need to protect the local natural environment.

When wolves were introduced, electric fences were installed on a trial basis, and 200 kilometers of electric fences were constructed in Wakayama and Nagano prefectures. This has promoted measures to minimize the risk of attacks on livestock, and the cost of 1.2 million yen per kilometer is supported by subsidies from local governments and the Ministry of the Environment. In addition, a GPS-based wolf tracking system was installed, and with the cooperation of Cyber Technologies Corporation, monitoring data was shared to improve risk management for farmers and the local government.

Economic Benefits and Increased Community Support
According to an estimate by the Nature Sanctuary Foundation (NSF), an environmental protection organization, the introduction of wolves will save the equivalent of 500 million yen annually in environmental conservation costs. Demand for eco-tourism in Nikko and Shiretoko is also expected to increase, generating an annual profit of 2 billion yen for the local economy, making the introduction of wolves a valuable natural tourism resource. With a goal of raising 1 billion yen annually through crowdfunding, and a system in place where approximately 30% of donations are tax-deductible, the project is attracting support from businesses and citizens alike.

Prospects for the Future
It is hoped that the introduction of wolves will alleviate deforestation caused by deer and restore a healthy ecosystem cycle. The introduction of wolves will contribute to sustainable tourism and local economic development, and the support of local communities will lay the foundation for further conservation.