Topic

"Utilization of School Forests for Environmental Education"

In Japan, school forests were created in the post-war period to secure materials for school building renovation. However, they have not been utilized because most of school buildings have been constructed with reinforced concrete, and even in the cases when wood is used, imported timber is more competitively priced.

OISCA Yamanashi approached the Yamanashi Branch of the Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries, Yamanashi Provincial Government, and the Education Commission of Yamanashi Province, to approve the use of School Forests for experiential school education.

In Kofu, the capital city of Yamanashi Province, OISCA Yamanashi carried out under-growth cutting, making trails, and other work in four school forests in preparation to utilize them for educational purposes. OISCA Yamanashi also took the initiative to form a “Furusato (homeland) Nature and Culture Study Association” for school teachers to learn more about nature and culture in the localities, and learn how to guide students in the school forests.

Kofu-North Secondary School organized experiential educational programs in October 2002. With assistance from OISCA's member corporations, the school prepared the forest for the students to go into and work safely. The 137 school students learned about the history of school forests, the relationship between trees and global warming, and engaged in undergrowth cutting. They appeared clumsy in using sickles to cut grasses and small trees, but enjoyed working in the natural setting.

On 12 and 13 October 2002, OISCA Toyama organized the “Forest Environment Student Forum” to promote environmental education for students. About 65 students from 13 schools gathered to learn what young people can voluntarily do to protect the global environment.

OISCA Japan Branches promote utilization of school forests and organize workshops for the benefit of students and parents in the country.


	January 2003: February 2003: March 2003: April 2003: May 2003: June 2003: July 2003: August 2003: September 2003: October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 February 2004 April 2004	Rabaul Center Establishes a System for Recycling Life and Livelihood Renovating School Forests for Environmental Education OISCA Makes Contributions to the 'UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development' through the WSSD Elephant Gifts from Surin, Thailand OISCA Graduates Work to Support Palawan T.C. Tree Planting for the "Bridge of Forests Pioneering Women's Training in Bangladesh Fighting Poverty with Silk in the Philippines Mangrove Belt Expands to 50 km in Chokoria, Bangladesh Tree Planting Day with Youth from China and Japan OISCA Graduates Serve for Community-Building in Fiji CFP Activities Expanded Successful School Construction with Indonesian Villagers Efforts to Create a Local Sericulture Industry in North Sumatra