＜事業概要＞
八王子市の北西、あきる野市との境に広がる広大な緑地「上川の里特別緑地保全地区（以下「上川の里」という。）」について、複数の谷戸で構成された上川の里を都市緑地法に基づく特別緑地保全地区に指定し、「八王子市みどりの基本計画」において、リーディング・プロジェクトの１つに位置付けて保全と活用を図っています。
この活動には、市民やNPO、企業、行政など様々な主体が関わり、相互連携・協働で活動を実施しています。特に企業やＮＰＯなどとは保全活動に係る協定を締結し、積極的な里山環境の保全と活用を進めています。
活動にあたっては、活動する団体と協働で策定した「上川の里保全と活用の方針」をもとに、里山が有する多様な機能や魅力を将来に継承していくために、各団体が有する知見を発揮し、様々な手法によって里山環境の保全に取り組んでいます。
様々な主体により、特色のある活動が活発に展開されることで、自然環境への意識啓発や良好な自然環境の保全につながるとともに、地域の活性化やコミュニティの形成にもつながると考えます。
＜活動の一例＞
・近隣小学校の児童による稲作体験
地域の協力のもと、田植えから稲刈り、脱穀までの水田耕作を実施し、自然の恵みをいただくとともに食卓の「ごはん」になるまでの大変さを体感します。
作業では、昔ながらの足踏み脱穀機や唐箕を体験し、歴史と文化も学びます。
・親子里山体験講座
子どもたちが里山探検隊となり、虫取り網や鋸を片手に、生き物探しや森のお仕事を体験します。自らの五感で自然と触れ合い、健やかな心と体を育みます。
・企業やNPOによる里山保全活動
長年にわたり人の手が入らなくなった森林の間伐や休耕地を活用した稲作・畑作を実施します。
企業の従業員ご家族による耕作活動では、収穫した野菜などは地元のフードバンクへの寄贈や、地域の児童に向けて、IT技術を活用した「きこり体験プログラム」などを実施し、里山を保全しながら地域貢献や環境教育に活用しています。
＜ＳＤＧｓへの貢献＞
行政による緑地・里山の保全には、様々な側面から限界がありますが、地域や企業等の活動主体と協働して取り組むことで、良好な環境が取り戻されつつあります。
みどりの保全、気候変動に対する取組に貢献するだけでなく、環境教育・環境学習の場としての活用（ＳＤＧｓの4番「質の高い教育をみんなに」）や、複数の活動主体がそれぞれの特性を活かし、協働して取り組む（ＳＤＧｓの17番「パートナーシップで目標を達成しよう」）ことで、ＳＤＧｓの各目標の達成へ貢献できるものと考えています。
＜Project Summary＞
The “Kamikawa-no-sato Special Green Space Conservation District (hereinafter referred to as ‘Kamikawa-no-sato’)” is a vast green space located in the northwest of Hachioji City on the border with Akiruno City is designated as a special green space conservation district under the Urban Green Space Law. It is positioned as one of the leading projects in the “Hachioji City Basic Plan for Greenery” for conservation and utilization.
Various entities, including citizens, NPOs, businesses, and government agencies, are involved in these activities through mutual cooperation and collaboration. In particular, conservation agreements have been concluded with companies and NPOs to actively promote the conservation and utilization of the satoyama* environment.
*satoyama: A region between natural and urban spaces, made up of villages, secondary forests, farmland, ponds, and grasslands
Based on the “Policy for Conservation and Utilization of Kamikawa-no-sato,” which was formulated in cooperation with participating organizations, efforts are being made to conserve the satoyama environment using a variety of methods, drawing on the expertise of each group to ensure that the diverse functions and attractions of the satoyama will be inherited in the future.
It is believed that the active development of unique activities by various entities will help raise awareness of the natural environment and conserve a good natural environment, as well as revitalize the local community and build community.
＜Example of activities＞
・ Rice cultivation experience for local elementary school students
With the cooperation of the local community, local students experience rice cultivation, from planting to harvesting and threshing, and experience how hard it is to harvest nature's bounty and turn it into “rice” for the dinner table. They also learn about the history and culture of threshing by using an old-fashioned foot-pedal threshing machine and winnowing.
・ Satoyama Experience Class for Parents and Children
Children become explorers of the satoyama, searching for living creatures and working in the forest with insect nets and saws. They will experience nature with their five senses and nurture healthy minds and bodies.
・ Satoyama conservation activities by companies and NPOs
Thinning of forests that have been inaccessible for many years, and rice and field cultivation using fallow land. In cultivation activities by employees and their families, harvested vegetables are donated to local food banks, and a “woodcutter experience program” utilizing IT technology is offered to local children to conserve satoyama while contributing to the local community and environmental education.
＜Contribution to the SDGs＞
Although there are limits to the conservation of green spaces and satoyama by the public sector, a good environment is being restored through collaborative efforts with local communities, companies, and other actors.
In addition to preserving greenery and combating climate change, using green spaces for environmental education (SDG 4: Quality Education) and fostering collaboration among various actors (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals) will help achieve SDG goals. It is believed that these efforts can contribute to the achievement of each SDG goal.