Natural Water Sanctuary Aso Initiatives

Building Nature-Friendly Logging Roads

Across Japan, plantation forests are becoming overgrown and poorly maintained due to a lack of thinning and proper management. Our Natural Water Sanctuary Aso also had unmanaged plantation forest areas before conservation efforts began. To restore such forests, the first step is to build logging roads for forest work.

In our Natural Water Sanctuaries, these logging roads are built using environmentally conscious methods that also ensure durability and longevity.

Logging road under construction

Learn about nature-friendly logging roads

Creating Hunting Grounds for the Grey-faced Buzzard

Birds of prey like the Grey-faced Buzzard, which sit at the top of the forest ecological pyramid, cannot hunt effectively in overgrown, densely vegetated forests. To enhance their habitat, a thorough survey was conducted on cedar-covered areas of the sanctuary where mountain streams flow through. This was followed by intensive thinning to create an environment suitable for raptor hunting.

Bird names are listed in accordance with the Check-list of Japanese Birds, 8th Revised Edition.

Learn about the Eagle/Hawk-Nurturing Support Program

Effective Use of Harvested Trees (Ikurinzai – Timber from Cultivated Forests)

In order to promote healthy forests, it is sometimes necessary to cut down trees. Trees harvested during forest management in our Natural Water Sanctuaries are what Suntory calls Ikurinzai — timber from cultivated forests — and this material is used to make utensils, furniture, and flooring.

Slash pine cut from this forest, which Suntory calls Ikurinzai (timber from cultivated forests) is being turned into furniture through a collaboration with Karimoku Furniture. Some of the pieces are on display in the observation lobby of the Mashiki Town Hall, in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Furniture made from Ikurinzai (timber from cultivated forests) at Mashiki Town Hall (Kumamoto Prefecture)

Learn about effective use of harvested trees (Ikurinzai – timber from cultivated forests)

Nature-Experience Education for Children

Our Natural Water Sanctuary Aso is not only a place for research and forest maintenance, but also serves as a classroom for Outdoor School of Forest and Water as part of Suntory “Mizuiku” - Education Program for Nature and Water that teaches children the importance of forests and water. Children explore the forest in person, touch trees and leaves, search for living things, and engage in various nature experiences.

Collaborating with the Local Community: Winter-Flooded Paddies

Forests aren’t the only source of groundwater recharge. Since 2010, in collaboration with local farmers, Suntory has been promoting winter-flooded paddies. It is being carried out in the farmland of Mashiki Town, which lies in the water-source conservation area of the Suntory Kyushu Kumamoto Plant.

The winter-flooded paddy method is used during the fallow winter season as a way to enrich the soil and local ecosystem. It also helps efficiently replenish groundwater by allowing surface water to penetrate deep underground.

Winter-flooded paddies with standing water

Under the guidance of Kyushu University, local children participate in surveys of rice field biodiversity, fostering a community-based approach.

Children conducting a biodiversity survey

Recovery of Winter-Flooded Paddies After the Kumamoto Earthquake

The Kumamoto Earthquake of April 2016 caused cracks and other damage to winter-flooded paddies. As part of the Suntory "Land of Water" Kumamoto Support Project—a disaster recovery initiative—repair work was carried out on the affected fields.

The goal was to restore the paddies in time for rice planting in June 2017. In January 2017, we began restoration work on winter-flooded paddies and adjacent rice paddies, focusing on repairing cracked paddies to prevent water leakage, adjusting field slopes, and restoring levees and irrigation channels.

Recovery Project for Winter-Flooded Paddies Following the Kumamoto Earthquake (Japanese Only)

Date of release: August 2018

Repairs were completed in May 2017, and planting was successfully resumed in June. Since then, ongoing activities include surveys of rice field biodiversity with local children and organic farming initiatives with local farmers.

Recovery Project for Winter-Flooded Paddies Following the Kumamoto Earthquake, Part 2 (Japanese Only)

Date of release: January 2019 Learn about our activities involving winter-flooded paddies