A Model Case of Nature Restoration - Kushiro Marsh, Hokkaido (June 2004)

A Model Case of Nature Restoration - Kushiro Marsh, Hokkaido (June 2004)

In the late 1990s, the national government, local governments, and local residents began a collaborative nature restoration project in Kushiro Marsh in Hokkaido, an area where wetlands had been severely reduced due to development and agricultural land expansion. Specifically, work was undertaken to return the straightened waterways to their original meandering patterns and to remove invasive alien plants. As a result, a wide variety of flora and fauna have been reintroduced, and rare wildlife such as red-crowned cranes and kingfishers have been reported to inhabit the area. This initiative was highly acclaimed internationally as a model for sustainable conservation that goes beyond mere nature conservation and involves the understanding and participation of local residents. The site is also registered as a Ramsar wetland, and has been introduced as a successful example of a nature restoration project in Japan. It is a valuable attempt to seek a symbiosis between nature and pe
ople in the midst of a trend that prioritizes development, and is expected to be applied to other areas.