| Type of Enterprise |
: |
Other |
| Field |
: |
Environment |
| Name of Local Authority (Japan) |
: |
Gunma Prefecture |
| Cooperation Partner |
: |
State of Para, Federative Republic of Brazil |
| Project Partner |
: |
Gunma-Brazil Association |
- Motivation for Project Implementation:
-
The important role played by the Amazon Rain Forests in the Earth's Environment was recognized at the Earth Summit (United Nations Conference on Development and the Environment) held in Rio de Janeiro 1992. The North Brazil Gunma Association which was founded by immigrants from Gunma and their families, petitioned the Governor to establish Gunma's Amazon Forest for the sake of the earth's environment and the tropical rain forest.
Fund raising efforts were held mainly by the Committee to build Gunma's Amazon Forest with the Governor as chairman. In order to protect the Amazon Rain Forest, children and students donated ¥ 50 and ¥ 100 coins, altogether 30,000,000 was collected from thousands of people and 500 different groups. 540ha of forest was acquired by the fund.
These activities are considered to be projects which symbolize not only the maturing of associations of Japanese immigrants in Brazil, but also the future of newly established ties between Japan, Brazil, and the Japanese population of Brazil.
Furthermore, as a result the continued efforts by all parties concerned, a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Project was started in January, 2004. This project is put into practice by the local governments of the State of Para in Brazil and Gunma Prefecture in Japan as an Autonomous Co-operation Project.
- Program Outline:
-
Gunma Prefecture will carry out projects which center on "forestry preservation, environmental education and agro-forestry". Such projects will be mainly implemented by the government of the State of Para and make use of "Gunma's Amazon Forest"
- Progress:
-
| 1992 |
The North Brazil Gunma Kenjinkai submits a petition to the Governor |
| 1994 |
Feasibility studies begin |
| 1996 |
Fund Raising Completed. 30,000,000 yen was granted to the North Brazil Gunma Kenjinkai through the Global Environmental Forum. Completion of land registration. |
| 1998 |
Completion of the Visitor's Center for Gunma's Amazon Forest |
| 1999 |
Five Children are dispatched as Green Ambassadors to participate in exchange with local children. |
| 2000 |
Eight Children are dispatched as Green Ambassadors to participate in exchange with local children. |
| 2002 |
A research group for JICA projects is dispatched.
Inventory Examinaton is performed. |
| 2003 |
Six Children are dispatched as Green Ambassadors to participate in exchange with local children. |
| 2004 |
Commencement of JICA project |
- Results and Projections:
-
Protection of the primeval woods
A regional center for "forestry preservation, environmental education and agro-forestry" in the eastern Amazon area
- Message:
-
The tropical rain forests of the Amazon basin are the largest of their kind on the planet and are approximately 11 times the size of Japan.
Due to logging and burning of rainforest to clear land for the grazing of livestock, approximately 13% of the rainforests total area, or about 1.4 times the size of Japan, has been lost.
According to one estimate, about 50 million m3of trees are being cut down each year. Nowadays this deforestation is a matter of internationalconcern it is seen not as a problem peculiar merely to the Amazon area, but also as an international problem of environmental protection of the global eco-system-namely, concerns regarding the extinction of various kinds of plants and animals.
The problem of protecting the tropical rain forests of the Amazon basin attracted attention in the Earth Summit' whichtool place in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil since it is responsible for the purification the earth's air and the production of oxygen.
The "Gunma's Amazon Forest Project", launched in conjunction with the Earth Summit, has tackled this problem head-on.
These activities are considered to have been projects which symbolized not only the maturing of associatons of Japanese immigrants in Brazil, buto also the future of newly established ties between Japan, Brazil, and the Japanese population of Brazil.
As a result the efforts by all parties concerned, a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Project was started in January, 2004.
Overseen by the local governments of the State of Para in Brazil and Gunma Prefecture in Japan as an Autonomous Co-operation Project, this project promotes infrastructure building as well as the development of various kinds of other related programs.
We hope that "Gunma's Amazon Forest", founded on the goodwill of citizens from both the North Brazil Gunmakenjinkai (association of people from Gunma Prefecture) and Gunma, will be deeply appreciated and continue to be passed on to younger generations, not only in Brazil and Japan but also all over the world, as a symbol of amity between Japan and Brazil.
- Department in charge:
-
Construction Bureau, city of Sendai
Yaziyama Zoo
- Division in Charge:
- International Affairs Division, Bureau of General Affairs
| Tel: |
027-226-2181 |
| Fax: |
027-223-1692 |
- Date of Publication:
-
The above information was published in July, 2004
|
