This project aims to create “lifeguarding forests that function as seawalls” along the northeastern coast of Japan affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.

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.