【Hosted by】
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, MORINO PROJECT.
Silwa, a non-profit general incorporated association
Pre-planting September 2021
After tree planting 1 March 2022
In the afternoon of Sunday 13 October, the same day that the tree-planting ceremony for the Miyawaki Method ended in the morning, the Township Forest Project recommended that the Hayama Town Hayama Primary School, one of the examples of school reforestation, continue the G20 Global Land Initiative related event. The delegation visited the Hayama Town Hayama Primary School's 'Hayappi Forest', which is one of the examples of school forestation, in an event related to the G20 Global Land Initiative.
The ‘Happi Forest’ had been realised as a result of a proposal to regenerate the ‘Hayama Town Original Forest’ in the school grounds in order to cheer up the children, who had been unable to take part in extracurricular activities or events due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This will be the site where 130 sixth grade students, graduates of the school at that time, and 130 trees of 22 potential natural vegetation were planted on March 1, 2022.
Before the arrival of the G20 leaders, there were many meetings to prepare for the event.
The school principal, the homeroom teacher of the 6th grade students, the PTA, and the children carefully considered how to ‘entertain’ the delegates.
The pose in the photo is the pose of Shirwa's ‘I'm curious about the trees’. By imitating the unique trees and simply posing, you can create a forest of humans. There were times when we had heated meetings with the teachers at the school until 7:30pm.
[Guests of Honour]
Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy Director, the G20 Global Land Initiative. (UNCCD)
UNEP Osaka Office
FAO, Rome
UNESCO, Paris
UNESCO Nairobi Office, Total 55 people (27 countries)
Mr. Ichiro Inagaki, Superintendent of Education, Hayama Town Hall
Mr. Yoshihiro Natori, Chairman, Collaborative Participatory Forest Creation Promotion Council
Mr. Hideki Hasegawa, Coordinator, Regional Policy Division, Kanagawa Prefecture
Finally, the members of the delegation arrived, and Hayama Elementary School Principal Mr. Adachi began his introduction of ‘Happi no Mori’!
In addition to looking after the children, Principal Adachi also acts as a contact point for the homeroom teachers and the PTA, and is also in charge of external negotiations.
His warm personality shone through in his role as MC.
As soon as he appeared, he started to talk mischievously, and the principal introduced him as ‘not a comedian’. He was in charge of the forest project at the time. He was strongly opposed by some people, and it was a difficult time for him for over half a year.
However, he literally ‘worked hard’ to make the forest project possible in the school grounds for the children who were suffering from the restrictions on their activities due to the coronavirus.
The ‘Happi no Mori’ forest, which was achieved through a lot of hard work, has received a lot of attention at international events, and I'm sure they are very happy to have reached this momentous day.
Next, the PTA members explain how to maintain the ‘Happi no Mori’ forest. After the trees have been planted, the children, teachers, PTA members and graduates all work together to maintain the forest.
Rather than the orthodox tree-planting method of the Miyawaki Method, the ‘wind weeding’ method, which also makes use of the life of the grass, is a method unique to Shirwa that nurtures the forest while maintaining the diversity of the target stage. I was deeply moved that the PTA members understood the deeper meaning of the method.
And now, the three main characters have arrived!
The children in the sixth grade read out their essays about their involvement in the forest creation project.
At first, the children didn't know the difference between a ‘forest’ and a ‘wood’, or what Japanese forests were like,
but taking the Shirwa Forest Course during their integrated studies time was an eye-opener, and their knowledge was elevated.
I would like to introduce some of the wonderful essays written by the children who gave the presentations.
These are messages from children that Japan can be proud of.
‘Through learning about the forest, I learned that plants absorb carbon dioxide (and solar energy) through photosynthesis and
convert it into oxygen.
I realized that plants are very important to us humans.
However, I was surprised to learn that most of the virgin forests have been lost due to the destruction of nature.’
‘Forests are the homes of many animals and plants and are very important for protecting biodiversity.
If small actions are accumulated, they can bring about big changes.
G20 members, please focus on measures to combat global warming for the sake of our future.
We will also do our best. Let's work together to protect the forests!’
(Although we don't know the details of the situation in the forest), ‘I understand that we absolutely have to change the current global environment.
If Happy Forest can contribute even a little to improving the global environment
and even a little to slowing down global warming, I think it would be good if not just Japan but the whole world got involved.
If we can do that, I think the future we will inherit from now on will change a little.’
The venue was filled with emotion as the children confidently expressed their thoughts in front of the 55-member delegation from 27 countries around the world.
The suffering of children who have to face global warming in their short lives is immeasurable.
When I think of the stress they must feel when they learn about such a harsh reality with their small bodies,
I am reminded that Silwa must choose his words carefully when he conveys this harsh reality.
While listening to his speech, I was moved by the sight of the adult man,
but I also felt as if I were being crushed by a sense of guilt.
The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus is also a pandemic caused by the aftereffects of environmental destruction.
It is our responsibility as adults that we have driven innocent children to this point.
No one, not a single person, can escape from that responsibility.
In the tacit understanding that as long as we make a profit, we can do whatever we like,
we have destroyed the natural world and continued to commit genocide.
We adults must take responsibility for this until the day we die.
In this reality, the most effective environmental contribution activity that humanity can undertake is the Miyawaki Forest.
Starting with the planting of small saplings, a virgin forest will absorb carbon dioxide and solar energy at a rate 20 to 30 times faster than a forest that has already taken root and become established,
and will be a direct measure to mitigate global warming.
The ultimate weapon for us humans is ‘forest regeneration’.
As a member of the ecosystem of living things on this planet, we humans, who are unable to engage in any kind of ‘productive activity’,
have no right to claim ownership of land or fight over land.
For the sake of our cute children, for the sake of preserving our genes
for the sake of the many living things on this planet, now is the time to regenerate the Miyawaki Forest!
The deadline is fast approaching. Tomorrow will be too late.
It will take 20 to 30 years for the forest to regenerate and become stable.
Everyone can think of excuses for not doing it.
There is an ideal future that we envision beyond overcoming difficulties and continuing to create forests.
The future has not yet been decided.
The future we want is something we can create with our own hands.
Director of Silwa, Toshiko Kawashita
After the Q&A session led by Dr. Fujiwara, time was running out and it was time to say goodbye.
Dr. Muralee, the Executive Secretary of the G20 Global Environment Section,
declared his determination to ‘take action, not just talk!
In addition, there were offers of international sister school partnerships from various countries to Hayama Elementary School.
If children can study abroad and see Japan from a global perspective, their horizons will broaden.
There was a lot of happy excitement.
For Silwa, it was a great day to be able to meet friends from around the world who had inherited the teachings of Dr. Akira Miyawaki.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude.
And to everyone at the Shinto Forest Project, a public interest incorporated foundation, who helped to make this connection possible,
thank you very much. All the staff would like to express their gratitude.
After the farewell speech, we took a commemorative photo with the students of Hayama Elementary School, the Collaborative Participatory Forest Creation Promotion Council, and everyone from Silwa!
The teachers and children were all beaming with a sense of achievement.
The children were giving a reward to the stone monument that is the guardian deity of Hayama's forest.
The acorns they were using as a reward were from a different tree.
‘The main tree in Hayama Town is the Castanopsis sieboldii. Castanopsis sieboldii are even tastier.’ There is always something to learn in the forest, no matter what the situation.
By getting to know the forest, you can also naturally grasp the individuality of the area. Education is the cornerstone that supports the nation, and it is proof that you are human. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the teachers all over the country who are involved in education every day.
Please enjoy the photo works by photographers from ‘Forest Art Gallery’.
This is also a page where you can download the photos on the website.
[Announcement]
The 27th Tree Planting Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, 10 November.
To apply, click here
~I want to know about forests whenever I want~
Podcast
‘Emerald Practices’
No.32 [The importance of true forests, not just photosynthesis]
No.34 [Forest regeneration that we can do because we are human]
Making the most of what is there: Shilwa's first forest creation experiment site Before 2016.12
After2022.5.28
Silwa contributes to 11 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Silwa is an alliance member that supports this project promoted by the Ministry of the Environment.