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

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

Kushiro Marsh
Kushiro Marsh is the largest marshland in Japan, and in the 2020s, nature restoration projects are still ongoing to conserve endangered species and restore the ecosystem. In particular, the river meandering restoration project in the marshland has significantly improved the water circulation in the marshland by re-meandering the river section, which is 25 km long in total. This effort has prevented the wetlands from drying up and expanded the habitat of endangered species such as the black woodpecker, white-tailed sea eagle, and red-crowned crane, whose populations in 2023 have increased by 30% over the past decade.

The project is led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Hokkaido Government, with an annual budget of approximately 2 billion yen. Carbonized tree technology jointly developed by Asahi Glass and the University of Tokyo is being used to improve the marshland's soil, and carbon fixation has been improved by 30% over the previous method. The carbon storage capacity of the entire marshland is expected to reach 5 million tons by 2025, playing an important role as a climate change countermeasure.

Mt. Kunugiyama, Saitama Prefecture
In Kunugiyama, Saitama Prefecture, a nature restoration project is underway after the removal of approximately 150 hectares of industrial waste. The environment had been severely damaged by the accumulation of industrial waste treatment facilities, but by the 2020s the restoration project is in full swing, with restoration of wooded areas in particular underway. In this project led by the Obayashi Corporation, soil improvement is underway using biochar, which has more than doubled the normal amount of carbon fixation in the soil. As a result, the reforestation rate is expected to reach 80% by 2023 and 90% by 2024.

The project has an annual budget of 3 billion yen, and local ecosystems are recovering thanks to vegetation restoration techniques that utilize recycled materials. The Kunugiyama Restoration Project is promoting the restoration of the local environment by introducing new technologies after the removal of industrial waste. Efforts made in cooperation with local residents have also contributed to the local economy and enhanced the value of the area as a tourist resource.

The Kushiro Marshland and Mt. Kunugiyama nature restoration projects in Saitama Prefecture have realized sustainable nature restoration through a combination of diverse approaches tailored to the unique challenges of the region and the technical capabilities of the companies.