Khaldon Azhari

KOBE (Japan): Kobe City has unveiled the “Forest Future City Kobe” project, championing a circular economy that transforms forest resources into sustainable business opportunities.

Kobe’s first Forester, TOCHIMOTO Daisuke, states that the initiative aims to expand protected areas, including national parks and wildlife reserves, and support businesses and agriculture that promote biodiversity.

In August 2024, Kobe became the first location in Japan to be registered in a United Nations-managed database as an OECM (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures), supporting biodiversity protection.

A unique project is bringing trees from Mt. Rokko to flourish in the heart of Kobe, transforming the redevelopment area near Sannomiya Station into a greener urban space.

In October 2023, the satoyama in northern Kobe was designated a Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site by the Ministry of the Environment, highlighting its commitment to biodiversity conservation.

The Kobe Satoyama Nature Coexistence Center, opened in November 2025, manages and protects certified satoyama areas. It also provides educational programs and hosts public events.

The project unites city dwellers, students, civic groups, and universities in hands-on satoyama activities, from environmental planning to the revival of rice paddies and fields that shelter rare species.

Kobe introduced the Forester role to lead forest research, craft management strategies, and engage the public. With nearly 40 percent of the city covered in forest, Kobe stands out as a model of urban and rural harmony.

After the postwar economic surge, shifting lifestyles and a dwindling rural workforce left forests and satoyama overlooked. This neglect has triggered more landslides, diminished biodiversity, and led to a rise in wildlife encounters.

Decades of neglect have cast the satoyama forest in shadow as evergreens spread. Now, the city is sparking renewal by nurturing morning buds from Ochiba Hirogyo stumps, planting fresh seedlings, and transforming abandoned land into hubs for agriculture and conservation.

To enhance biodiversity at the OECM site, experts conduct field surveys and use environmental DNA testing to assess plant and animal populations. They also work with Kobe City to evaluate ecosystem services.