15 Indonesian High School Students and Others to Study Forests and Forestry in Kiso Town from May 11 (Mon) to May 13 (Wed)

The National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization and OISCA International are jointly conducting the "Japan-Indonesia Green Youth International Exchange Program." This initiative focuses on developing future leaders in sustainable global forest management and enhancing international collaboration. The program brings 15 participants from Indonesia, comprising 8 high school students, 5 teachers, and 2 environmental education instructors, all of whom are engaged in forest conservation activities through OISCA's "Children's Forest Program." During their visit, they will gain practical knowledge about the current state of Japan's forests and forestry, as well as the conservation and development efforts undertaken by various stakeholders from industry, government, and academia. The program also facilitates deeper understanding of sustainable forest resource management and the relationship between local communities and forests through interactions with Japanese high school students and diverse forestry-related personnel. As part of this program, the group will visit Kiso Town, Nagano Prefecture, from May 11 (Monday) to May 13 (Wednesday), 2026. Activities in Kiso Town include exchange classes at Nagano Prefectural Kiso Seihou High School, which has students studying forests and forestry, and Nagano Prefectural Forestry College. They will also conduct site visits to forest cooperatives, allowing for experiential learning about Japanese forestry practices and forest education initiatives. Furthermore, visits to Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest and Makio Dam will deepen their understanding of how forests nurture water resources, support downstream livelihoods, and the historical and natural environment of communities coexisting with forests. The overall schedule for the program is from May 8 (Friday) to May 15 (Friday), 2026, including arrival in Japan, visits to Toyota City Watarigari Clean Center and Mori no Gakusha, a Forest Health Diagnosis Workshop, and a visit to Nagoya Castle before their departure. This project is supported by the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization's "Green and Water Forest Fund." OISCA's "Children's Forest Program" supports tree planting activities and practical environmental education in school grounds and local communities, fostering a love for nature and promoting global afforestation. Currently, 5,670 schools in 37 countries participate in this program.