information
The region of Tohoku (literally “North East Region”) was severely affected by the tsunami of 2011. The Morino Project is building a five-meter-high embankment from soil and debris created by the earthquake. Then, they will plant evergreen broadleaf trees to create a lifeguarding forest.
CONTEXT
The Tohoku region was severely affected by the tsunami of 2011. Cranes are still clearing the disaster area, where mountains of waste are sitting, coming from devastated houses and cars. Many personal belongings are scattered throughout the zone, recalling the violence of the event and the loneliness of the place now. PUR Projet developed a first solidarity project in Ishinomaki, a city particularly affected by the 2011 tsunami. The Ishinomaki project was launched in 2012 and aimed at planting cherry trees in memory of the victims, and fruit and timber native trees to restore the local ecosystems and participate to reconstruction efforts (5 000 trees planted). The Morino Project is the next step.
The Morino project is the continuation of the Ishinomaki project, supported by AccorHotels since 2012.
OBJECTIVE
The Morino project is an effort to protect lives from futures tsunamis by mixing disaster debris with soil to form an embankment along the Tohoku coastline and planting various types of native trees along its top. Trees are planted close to each other in order to simulate natural conditions of growth and competition. For the same reason they plant trees randomly. The planted trees will strike root deep in the ground for about four to six meter, and in 15 to 20 years, they will grow into a reliable forest that acts as a buffer against a possible tsunami attack. Embankments have been created by local government and trees are being planted during volunteer’s events called “Planting Festival” that immense supports from donation all over Japan.
Planting tree seawalls is more than a pragmatic, sensible return to nature, it is also a way of recovering spiritually.
Morino project is a Japanese Foundation founded as a response to the Great East Japan earthquake in 2011. The President is Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan.
The Vice-President is Dr. Akira Miyawaki, a vegetation ecologist, professor emeritus of Yokohama National University. He is active worldwide as a specialist in the restoration of natural vegetation degraded land. Dr. Miyawaki promotes forest regeneration using the local potential natural vegetation. Planted trees are a combination of species local to the region, such as Castanopsis, Machilus and evergreen oak.
Location
Tōhoku region, Japan (Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture)
Type
Agroforestry and reforestation
Local partner
Morino Project
Participants
Communities affected by 2011 tsunami in northeast coast of Japan: inhabitants, local authorities, voluntaries, schools, students
Local partner
The Morino Project is a Japanese Foundation founded as a response to the Tohoku Earthquake of 11 March 2011. The President is Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan.
Plantation models
Trees are planted on small hills that serve as evacuation points in the event of natural disasters.
Trees are planted on small hills that serve as
evacuation points in the event of natural disasters.
Species planted
participants
Local communities affected by the 2011 tsunami in northeast cost of Japan: inhabitants, local authorities, schools…
Volunteers come from all over Japan. The motives are always varied and intense, but building the forest wall is an opportunity for everybody to come together as a community, with a common concern for the future.
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