Arashan Center established to curb deforestation


　With the financial support of the Japanese government OISCA has established the Arashan Desert Ecological Research and Training Center in Arashan, Inner Mongolia. The Center’s inauguration ceremony took place on 13 October 2006 in the presence of officials from Arashan’s government, officials from the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, OISCA International’s Vice President Toshihiro Nakano and members of a Fukuoka group which supports local initiatives to counter the harmful effects of yellow sand. Other supporters included representatives from JAL, the Chinese Environmental and Cultural Promotion Society, OISCA International Foundation and local financial support organizations. JAL is committed to supporting OISCA’s initiative with its “milage fund-raising campaign.”

　 It is said that Arashan once had beautiful grasslands until 50 years ago. These have since disappeared as a result of overgrazing, deforestation, and exploitation of groundwater for irrigation. Now only dreary desert stretches as far as the eye can see.

　It is five years since OISCA launched its greening project and environmental education programs for secondary school children in Arashan. Now that this Center is established, OISCA plans to accelerate its reforestation projects, and also take up projects for composting, developing water-saving technologies and the utilization of renewable energies. It also plans to develop and introduce cultivation methods of some medicinal plants as a means of enhancing the livelihoods of local people.