📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
This project is actively working for SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDGs 15 (Life on Land), organized together with NAP (Nobel Application of Plant resources) since 1992 and since 2016, as a part of SCC (Stop Climate Change) projects initiated by NICE with NVDA (Asian network). NAP is a local NPO to recover natural ecosystem cycles. Minamata had experienced the terrible industrial pollution though it is completely safe and clean now. As well as many other parts of Japan, bamboo trees, originally brought from China by human being, are severely spreading and damaging the eco-system. Also, COVID-19 has weakened ties in the local community and increasing isolation.
*Outcome of this workcamp: Workcamps have made various kinds of great impacts to activate this depopulated and aging area as fresh wind, create a forest on the reclaimed land, etc. In 2019, LMTVs and STVs together with local people, maintained 1ha of bamboo forest, made 541 kg of charcoal and reduced 1.1 ton of CO2 emission. In 2025, 7 vols. from 5 countries joined us! Please see the long-term goal of this project as Local SDGs athttps://www.slideshare.net/nice-workcamp/17-82084627 (only Japanese for the moment, but you can at least enjoy the pictures!)
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will mainly trim the bamboo trees that can increase the whole amount to fix carbon in the forest and make the bamboo charcoal to be used as fuel instead of oil as carbon offset project. Other work will be helping to run the marine environmental education for the local middle school students as well as helping the traditional cultural workshop a bit such as making a paper from natural materials and weaving also as your experience.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Community center (Volunteers will borrow the bathrooms of neighbors that creates nice exchange). Cooked by volunteers. Sleeping bag is needed! Moved by the bicycle.
📍 About the location
South west in Kyushu islands. People are cheerful and many of man like to drink sake!! If lucky, you could enjoy parties under cherry flowers! Other activities - To join the local events, exchange party, excursion, etc.
⚠️ Requirements
Be able to ride a bicycle. High interest in environmental issues and their activities, big motivation to work hard, open mind, cooperation with others. Any experience and skills of the environmental work, Carbon research and Crowd funding are welcomed!
ℹ️ Additional information
Study theme - Climate change, eco life, forests and future plan about Minamata. Bring some info.! Participation fee - 18,000 JPY (99 EUR by the rate on 2026 Feb. 14) of NICE Volunteers fee need to be paid in advance either by Card or PayPal. This is used for the project preparation/ coordination such as the transportation of the staff/ camp leaders, visa invitation cost, publications, etc. while the meals and the accommodation are provided by the local host by free (so, your fee is not used for those things!). Other - None
