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gained a profound appreciation for the local fish owl population, such as by
delicate balance between human building artificial nests for the fish owls and
intervention and natural processes in bringing together fishermen and farmers to
safeguarding biodiversity. After a brief devise collaborative mitigation measures in
lunch break, the participants reconverged balancing the socio-economic lifeline of
at the Nijibetsu Daily Centre, where they Nijibetsu and the conservation of
engaged with local residents in observing endangered species in the area.
artificial nests designed to protect the Participants had also gleaned first-hand
revered Blakiston's fish owl. These nests, insights into community-driven initiatives,
meticulously crafted and monitored, including tree planting festivals, river clean-
symbolize a harmonious coexistence up drives, and wildlife observation
between human communities and the programs, which underscored the
natural world, echoing the ethos of wisdom collective commitment to biodiversity
embedded within indigenous cultures. The preservation. The day culminated in the
visit seamlessly brought the ASEP 2016 "Reforestation 100 Years Later" tree
participants to a nearby Ainu village, where planting project, which saw the ASEP 2016
the local residents welcomed the group participants, in synergy with the Nijibetsu
warmly. ASEP 2016 was exposed to the Koro Kamui Association, embark on a
philosophical underpinnings of Ainu mission to restore habitats for fish owls.
wisdom by Mr. Akibe Hideo, a This collaborative endeavor, involving the
representative of the Ainu tribe, who planting of broad-leaf trees which served
illuminated the profound connection as the habitats for the Blakiston’s fish owls,
between humanity and nature. The not only symbolized a reclamation of lost
participants learned from the traditional ecosystems but also epitomized the
tales by Mr Hideo that the endangered transformative power of collective action in
Blakiston's fish owl had long been revered biodiversity conservation. In the end, the
as a divine guardian in Ainu culture. Other participants had planted more than 400
than the fish owl, Ainu traditions and trees in less than an hour, a commendable
folklore had also highlighted the symbolic success celebrated along with the
significance of Shiretoko brown bears, residents of Nijibetsu. Rooted in the ethos
portraying them as descended gods of the "Forest Reserves with Fish" Initiative,
entrusted with the protection of human this initiative exemplified the convergence
communities—a testament to the deeply of scientific knowledge and indigenous
entrenched bond between indigenous wisdom, which found that the restoration
peoples and their natural surroundings. The of broad-leaf forests has been shown to
participants of ASEP 2016 were then tasked have positive trickle-down effects on the
with engaging in interviews and aquatic life and all species that depended
conversations with members of the on them. All in all, the visit to Nijibetsu,
Nijibetsu Koro Kamui Association, a local Shibecha had been a great opportunity for
citizen conservation organization, which the ASEP 2016 to achieve ASEP's
provided invaluable insights into grassroots overarching objectives of promoting Asian
conservation efforts. The organization was wisdom in scientific, indigenous, and
spearheaded by Mr. Sadanori Tate as the wildlife conservation realms within the
chairman as well as a prominent participants.
conservationist of Blakiston’s fish owl. Mr. The fourth day of ASEP 2016 (August
Tate shared his experiences and wisdom 6th) saw the participants embark on a
gained from his effort in preserving the journey to Kushiro on the south-eastern
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