Silva's Dream: Restoring Lost Forests and Connecting a Society Where People and Nature Coexist to the Next Generation #AprilDream

Our organization endorses April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to express dreams. This press release is the dream of "Non-profit General Incorporated Association Silva."

Non-profit General Incorporated Association Silva (Silva) promotes forest creation and greening activities using native plants, based on the philosophy of "sustainable green restoration for the next generation." Our dream is to foster a lifestyle where people and nature coexist and realize a sustainable society through these efforts.

**Background of the Dream** With the progression of climate change, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and torrential rains have become commonplace, significantly impacting our living environment. Furthermore, in various parts of Japan, the loss of native vegetation due to development and other factors is increasing. For us to live, safe air, water, and soil, sustained by ecosystem activities, are indispensable. The creator of these is the existence of "forests." Forests generate the circulation of ecosystems and serve as a social infrastructure that supports our lives.

Silva has been working on "forest regeneration using native plants" suitable for each land since 2015, aiming to restore the ecological functions of lost forests. Our dream is to make a society where people and nature coexist a matter of course by continuously restoring the vegetation landscapes that should originally exist in each region.

**Silva's Main Initiatives and Achievements**

**① Forest Regeneration at Shonan International Village Meguri no Mori** * Planted 86,292 trees in an area of 2.55ha (as of October 2025) (*1) * Held 29 regular tree planting and nurturing festivals since 2009 (as of November 2025) * In October 2024, a delegation from the G20 Global Land Initiative was invited to the tree planting festival, with 55 participants from 27 countries. * Since 2015, conducted annual tree surveys for carbon sequestration measurement and vegetation surveys to create vegetation scenarios necessary for vegetation restoration. * Since 2017, in collaboration with university research labs, conducted soil animal surveys and analyzed the natural richness index in planted areas.

**② Creation of Leaders through Forest Regeneration Instructor Training Courses** * Since 2018, conducted 5-day training sessions by experts certified by the Ministry of the Environment. * Produced 89 instructors who acquired basic knowledge and skills as advisors to guide the regeneration of ancient forests lost due to development and other factors.

**③ Holding "Forest Lectures" Nationwide** * Held "Forest Lectures" to learn about forest regeneration for the future at companies and elementary schools nationwide.

**④ Acquired "Support Certificate for Nature Coexistence Sites" issued by the Ministry of the Environment** * "Shonan International Village Meguri no Mori," where Silva conducts forest regeneration, was certified as a "Nature Coexistence Site" promoted by the Ministry of the Environment in 2024. * Acquired a "Support Certificate for Nature Coexistence Sites" in 2025 as an organization contributing to the maintenance and improvement of the quality of the site.

**⑤ Presentation at an International Conference** * In November 2025, participated in the "IBD2025 International Conference on Biodiversity and Conservation" held in Thailand, focusing on biodiversity. * Representative Director Toshiko Kawashita conducted a poster session (*2).

**28th Tree Planting Festival**

**Forest Regeneration Instructor in action**

**Future Main Initiatives** * Hold the 30th "Shonan International Village Meguri no Mori Tree Planting Festival" on Sunday, April 5, 2026. * Tree planting festival details and application page: https://www.silva.or.jp/お知らせ/ * Applications for projects eligible for SDGs contribution-limited donations from the "Green Fund" of the Public Interest Incorporated Association National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization are currently being accepted. * Purpose of donation: Expenses for the 30th tree planting project. * Details: https://www.green.or.jp/bokin/crowdfunding/sdgs-r8-03 * Charity goods "Original Logo T-shirt" on sale. * A portion of the sales will be used to promote forest regeneration and tree planting activities. * URL: https://www.silva.or.jp/森基金グッズ/

**Silva Original Logo T-shirt - 13 colors available**

*1: At "Shonan International Village Meguri no Mori," a Kanagawa Prefectural property, various activities related to forest creation are carried out in collaboration with citizens, companies, and the administration. In 2024, it was certified as a "Nature Coexistence Site," an area where biodiversity conservation is achieved through private initiatives, by the government. Silva, as the "Mixed and Dense Planting Promotion Group" of the Collaborative Participation-type Meguri no Mori Creation Promotion Council, has been continuously engaged in tree planting activities at "Shonan International Village Meguri no Mori" since 2009, aiming for sustainable forest regeneration.

*2: IBD2025 (International Conference on Biodiversity and Conservation) is an international conference where researchers, practitioners, administrators, and citizen groups gather to exchange knowledge and discuss biodiversity. URL: https://www.biodconference.org/

**About Non-profit General Incorporated Association Silva** Silva is a non-profit organization that promotes forest creation and greening activities using native plants, based on the philosophy of "sustainable green restoration for the next generation." We work with many experts to conduct research and improvements through multi-faceted approaches such as trees and soil, acting as professionals in vegetation restoration.

Silva has inherited and developed the forest creation method practiced by Professor Akira Miyawaki, Emeritus Professor of Yokohama National University, for 50 years, which has been recognized both domestically and internationally. Instead of conventional mound creation, we implement "Ecosystem Function Recovery-type Vegetation Restoration," which restores the soil ecosystem in a short period of six months to one year, without altering the existing landscape, and prepares it as a mound for tree planting. Forest creation based on plants suitable for the land requires a scientific prescription, and Silva is an organization that can provide it. Various environmental contributions become possible through this developed Ecosystem Function Recovery-type Vegetation Restoration.

* Representative Director: Toshiko Kawashita * Main Businesses: Forest regeneration consulting, restoration of potential vegetation landscapes, vegetation surveys, forest education, etc. * Location: Suishin Building 7F, 1-11-1 Kitakokko, Nishi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture * Forest creation consultation, membership registration, inquiries, etc.: https://www.silva.or.jp/お問い合わせ/ * Website: https://www.silva.or.jp/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silva.assocation