The Green Wave is a global diversity campaign to educate children and youth about the diversity which OISCA has participated since 2008.

The Green Wave campaign carried out worldwide on and around May 22th which is designated as the International day for Biological diversity. OISCA also carried out various activities not only domestic but also international, mainly with CFP participating schools.

In Hong Kong, the OISCA Hong Kong Chapter held “building squares of TSUMIKI: Wood blocks”※ on March 21st 2019.

A total of 55 kinder garden children and teachers took part in building squares of TSUMIKI. They made artworks by using 3 kinds of wood blocks. 

At the end, they made a big town by gathering their respective artworks. After that, they watched the Kamishibai (story telling with pictures) which tells the importance of forest. They intently listened to the story narrated by the speaker and learned about the importance of appropriate forest management.

In Hong Kong’s urban area where the population is concentrated, children have no opportunity to spending time with natural environment. Therefore, through this experience, they have been able to know the importance and blessing of forest.

In Japan, we carried out tree planting and silvicultural activity in various places.

In Yamanashi Prefecture, OISCA held a planting event on June 5 which was designated as the “Environment Day” by the United Nations.

Employees of OISCA supporting companies and staff of the Indian Embassy and local elementary school children planted trees on Environment Day in Mt. Fuji. Mt. Fuji was added to the World Cultural Heritage list in 2013 but a part of forest had lost ecosystem due to insect damage. They mended some nets which protect seedlings from the damage by deer and carried out supplementary planting of broadleaf seedlings in the damage area. These seedlings planted on this day were donated by the Embassy of India to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. We hope that these seedlings will grow well and Mt. Fuji will show a beautiful appearance to make people delighted.

2020 will marks the end of the UN Decade on Biological Diversity.

OISCA has been tackling the conservation of biodiversity on the whole earth through various projects. As one of the Green Wave Official Partners, OISCA intends to strengthen cooperation with Japanese government agencies and make further contribution in Japan and other countries.

※“Building squares of TSUMIKI: Wood blocks” :  It is a program that communicates clearly the importance of forest to children by using wood blocks made from thinned wood.

Learning the blessing of the forest and develop a grateful spirit

  One of the unique activities in the Malaysian Children’s Forest Program is “building squares of TSUMIKI: Wood blocks”. It is the activity that OISCA has been carrying out utilizing thinning materials for environmental education mainly in Japan. In Malaysia, former trainees utilizing what they have learnt in Japan, is conducting the program to tell children the blessings of the forests and the importance of protecting the forests. 

Although Japan and Malaysia are totally different countries, the children are the same in that they cooperate with their friends and create unique works. While the children are crazy about TV or games, many of them do not go out in the recent years. We are promoting to offer opportunities for thinking about the environment in fun. 

In collaboration with Tambunan`s Department of Forestry and Department of Agriculture, OISCA KPD Tenom Training Center initiated the implementation ofCFP activities at Pegalan Kusob Tambu from April 8-10, 2019. The event wasparticipated by 90 students and teachers, 7 OISCA trainees, and 2 OISCA staff.

Activities that make use of the learned knowledge

This school is in Sabah state. The school has continued activity positive with OISCA since 2013. They have focused on Planting tree in the school and organic farming, 3R campaign. They were taught about rule of wasting separation by OISCA coordinator.

Children are interested in cultivate of vegetable so they visit KPD/OISCA training center to learn about environment and sustainable method of agriculture.

They use the knowledge which they learned in a small vegetable garden in the school.

They put garbage can in the schoolyard and they try to reduce the trash in daily life. For example, they use towel and Dust cloth instead of Tissue paper. 

They were awarded as the best school of Sabah state by department of education.

The principal said “Children take part in the activity enjoyably. I appreciate to given the chance to learn about environmental.”　

Selamat petang

 My name is Siti. I am a third grade of SK Chi Vun Elemnntary School. I stay in dormitory usually because my house is one hour away from school by car .

My favorite activity in CFP is organic farming. The vegetables which I grow with my friends use on dormitory meal. I will call my friends to planting tree and separating garbage.

Aiming for a comfortable school

SK Ladang Sapong is located in Sabah state. There are no trees in the schoolyard and they were worried about exhaust gas. In 2017, They participated in the "CFP" with the desire to make the environment where children can concentrate on studying , and also want local people to be interested in the environment.

The first activity was planting tree with their parents. They planted various types of flower, sweet lemon fruit, mango seeds,durian belanda seed and mangosteen.They held the environment seminar in day of biodiversity (May 22nd). In the semminar, they recognized that their life is supported by environmental. The teacher said: “We appreciate that we got an opportunity to learn about the environment with students, local people and to practice what we learned together.” Although the activity has just begun, they continue to make the forest!!

OISCA members, CFP school's students and many friends participated actively in the Green Wave 2018!

The Green Wave is a global biodiversity campaign to educate children and youth about biodiversity. Towards 2020, last year of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (2011-2020), the United Nations has been appealing more vigorously for its promotion worldwide. 

On March 13, 2018, OISCA, together with 7 other Japanese organizations, was appointed as Green Wave Official Partner by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and Japan Committee for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB-J) in Tokyo. The appointment is thanks to OISCA’s contribution and international collaboration for implementing the Green Wave activities.

   In Japan, “Green Wave Asakura Water Source Forest Development” in Fukuoka Prefecture held on March 11 spearheaded OISCA’s Green Wave activities of the year. A total of 140 participants including trainees at the OISCA Nishi Nippon Training Center planted wild cherry trees, Forsythia and other species.

 Moreover, at the site of the Coastal Forest Restoration Project in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, this year’s volunteer activities started on April 21. The participants numbering 124 persons carried out such field work as making drainage. At the planting site, it has become possible to observe various animals and plants. According to a survey conducted by the Forestry Agency last year, it has been confirmed that 337 plant species, 278 insect species and 43 bird species are inhabiting in the area. Thus, the project has been proven to be contributing to the recovery of biodiversity. 

 Tree planting and silvicultural activities were also carried out mainly by CFP participating schools in various foreign countries. In Mongolia, the children who visited Japan as CFP Children’s Goodwill Ambassadors are leading the activities and at a school in Bulgan Province, they planted on May 7 Mongolian cherry, acacia and other tree species. They visited other schools in Ulaanbaatar, the Capital City and Erdent City and carried out planting activities with school children. 

Report on the Current CFP Activities in Sabah, Eastern Malaysia

Recently, OISCA Sabah in Eastern Malaysia organized a series of tree planting events. The first one was held on the afternoon of April 25 at Kungkular School and was joined by about 40 people including school teachers, parents and OISCA trainees. The participants planted herbs and flowers. Since the land area of the school was of red soil, they had to apply some compost before planting.

The second one was carried out at Ladong Sapong School on the morning of May 1 with the participation of teachers, parents, OISCA trainees and invited guests. They first cleared the school ground and then planted fruit trees and flowers.

Furthermore, OISCA Sabah organized on May 22 another tree planting event to celebrate the Green Wave, a global biodiversity campaign created in 2011 in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of the United Nations. The event took place at Pulong Tenom School with the participation of 145 children, teachers, CFP staff and OISCA trainees. Prior to the tree planting activity on site, the CFP coordinator briefed the participants on the meaning of the Green Wave and the importance of preserving the environment and also explained a bit about how to make compost. Then, they planted soursop and ornamental plants.

As result of planting, seedlings budded !

 The school is surrounded by mountains. When it is fine weather, Mr. Kinabalu, Malaysia’s highest mountain, can be seen from the school yard. The area is surrounded by rich greenery. But in the face of the rapidly progressing destruction of forests, the school joined CFP in order to educate the students about the importance of environmental conservation and protection.

 Mr. Haji Moin Ahmad, School Principal, said: “The seedlings we planted with Japanese volunteers in 2005 have grown into big trees and resulted into the establishment of a mini-forest. In the forest, the school is organizing camping activities three times a year. The students are very fond of this program in which they can learn about the forests.” Eleanor Jor, 16-years old student, said: “Threes are now protecting us from the direct sunlight. I feel grateful for the Japanese people who helped in planting trees. I have learnt that without forests, there might be big disasters such as floods and landslides. I realized the importance of protecting forests and keeping our mountains full of trees to defend our FURUSATO from natural disasters.

Just joined CFP  !

 The school is located in a mountainous community that has a famous water rafting spot. It joined CFP just in March 2017. The principal of another CFP participating school moved to this school and requested OISCA for starting CFP activities. In the first activity, they planted 65 seedlings of mainly fruit-bearing trees such as Pomelo, Mangosteen and Langsat. The children are looking forward to seeing that the seedlings they planted would bear fruits. Grasecencelly Pilineus, 12-years old students, said that she was very happy in the actual tree planting activity because it was her first time to do it.

 She planted one seedling with her best friend. The school principal said: “The people here don’t have a habit of planting trees and tend to think tree planting as an event. We would like to develop it as a program in which the school children are continually involved including the maintenance of seedlings. Also, we want the children to realize the importance of proper waste management. The community is facing a problem of garbage left along the riverbanks, playground of the children.”

 Recently, OISCA Sabah in Eastern Malaysia organaized a series of tree planting events. The first one was held on the afternoon of April 25 at Kungkular School and was joined by about 40 people including school teachers, parents and OISCA trainees. The participants planted herbs and flowers. Since the land area of the school was of red soil, they had to apply some compost before planting.

 The second one was carried out at Ladong Sapong School on the morning of May 1 with the participation of teachers, parents, OISCA trainees and invited guests. They first cleared the school ground and then planted fruit trees and flowers.

 Both CFP activities were carried out for the purpose of further greening of school grounds and also strengthening the relationship among parents, teachers and students in the local community.

KPD/OISCA organized Children Forest Program (CFP) activities in Sandakan, Sabah

KPD/OISCA Training Center took the initiative to introduce the concept of CFP in SMK Elopura 2 in Sandakan, Sabah on April 10, 2015. Sandakan is located at the east coast of Sabah and is 7 hours drive by car from Tenom where the training center is located. Spearheaded by Ms. Azlinah Muhamin, CFP Coordinator, the event was joined by 110 participants including the school teachers, volunteers, KPD/OISCA staff and trainees and the 60 students from the 5 different schools of Sandakan. It was also joined by the students of SMK Muhibah which is a special school for the children with learning disabilities.

Within the compound of SMK Elopura 2, covering 1 acre land, the students planted a total of 300 seedlings which was donated by OISCA and the Sabah`s Forestry Department. Prior to the actual tree planting activities, Ms. Azlinah made a presentation about the concept of CFP as well as the activities of KPD/OISCA Training Center. Along with the volunteers and other staff of KPD/OISCA, Ms. Azlinah also introduced the tsumiki or the wooden blocks to further encourage environmental awareness among the participants as well as to develop the creativity of the students. During lunch time, staff of the training center introduced among the students the Japanese cuisine like sushi and korokke or potato croquette.

Since 1992, a total of 159 schools have been involved in the CFP activities in Sabah. This year, KPD/OISCA is targeting to introduce the concept of CFP in 5 new schools.

Nampasan Primary School joined Children's Forest Program and had the first activity in October, 2011. 74 children planted a total of 50 tree seedlings in the school yard together with their family members and local people. It marked a good opportunity for them to think about the importance of the environmental protection and the natural symbiosis.

After the tree planting activity, the children participated in Tsumiki No Hiroba (Environmental Education through Wooden Blocks) which was the first attempt in Malaysia. The activity is usually carried out indoor in Japan, but the school did not have any facilities such as a gymnasium so they hold the activity outside spreading out a carpet under the blue sky.

The children participated in the activity with great interests because this was the first opportunity for them to play with the toy made from wood. They had a great time building variety of works with various shapes of blocks enjoying the aroma and the warmth of wood blocks. This activity seemed to make the children more interested in and feel closer to the environment.

On 22 and 24 October, OISCA Toyota Aichi planted trees with 2 local junior high schools in conjunction with OISCA’s 50th Anniversary in Sabah, Malaysia.

Saturday, 22 October

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bingkor: Keningau, Sabah

For the second participation in the Children’s Forest Program (CFP) of this time, the total of 300 trees was planed. The kinds of trees planed were Cinnamomum, Spanish Cherry and Fir Tree.

24 October

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Mohamad Ali: Ranau, Sabah

For the first participation in CFP of this time, the total of 300 trees was planed. The kinds of trees planed were Cinnamomum, Spanish Cherry, Fir Tree, Canariumu and Honolulu Creeper.

The tree planting in the SMK Bingkor was appeared in the local news paper and demonstrated the high level of interest to environmental conservation in the local community. We would like to forward the enhance children’s environmental awareness through Children’s Forest Program.

Bingkor Junior High School is located in the central part of the Keningau district of the Sabah inland area.The school is participating in the Children’s Forest Program (CFP) since April 2010.

On April 22, the Earth Day, SMK Bingkor, jointly with OISCA, carried out tree planting activities. The school has originally promoted environment conservation activities, and has Nature lovers’ club as one of the extracurricular activities.

Regarding this tree planting activity, the members of the Nature lovers’ club took the lead in making preparations, and school teachers, children and the CFP coordinator took part.

The children are responsible for watering the planted seedlings every day, and are looking forward to seeing the subsequent growth.

Before the construction of the school, there was a forest with rich ecosystem in this place. For this reason, the school would like to continue afforestation activities in cooperation with the local residents so as to restore the environment a little close to its original state.

(SMK Bingkor)

Program starting year: 2010 Number of students: 1,255