One of the key components that makes the R2R experience unique, is that volunteers participate in the hands-on conservation activities of TIDE. It isn’t just a learning experience, but a way for every volunteer to contribute. Thus, volunteer programs are carefully planned with the different teams at TIDE to ensure that participants are fulfilling a need, as well as gaining the experience they seek.

There are two ways this is done. The first, is when interested participants or groups have a particular interest in mind. In this instance, the R2R team discusses options with the relevant TIDE personnel, to identify projects that are required by TIDE, that will fulfil the groups interests. The second method used to achieve this, is to plan projects before identifying the participants. On a regular basis, the R2R meets with different TIDE teams to discuss future needs, and identify any programs that would be suitable for volunteer participation. These programs are then proposed to new contacts and partner agents.

The key thing, is to always ensure that participants have a great and enriching experience, in a safe environment, whilst helping TIDE to progress with its mission.

Engaging the private sector in support of the Collective Statement of Intent required a solid understanding of company risks (reputation, market, operational, legal) associated with sourcing coffee linked to deforestation. This required an understanding of existing private sector sustainability efforts and their challenges in order to identify innovative solutions. There is limited demand for traceable and certified coffee, and companies recognize that completing full ‘to source’ traceability assessments for individual supply chains is prohibitively expensive. Using a collective responsibility approach, as established by the 'Collective Statement of Intent', committed companies can work collaboratively and with other stakeholders to pool resources. This represents a cost-effective way for companies to reduce both their operational costs and reputational risk, while effectively and proactively tackling deforestation and supporting biodiversity conservation in BBSNP.

In order to define the Conservation Agreement, the partners adapted and applied the model of Tri-sector partnership building. The model helps build alliances between sectors with diverse interests aimed at promoting local sustainable development initiatives. In this case, we involed the community of Aripao, the company Givaudan, the buyer of the non-timber products from the forest and Phynatura, the organization of support and articulation.

The city applied a variety of capital improvement projects and urban operation schemes for city core revitalization. A centerpiece of the revitalization package is the development of Grand Plaza – a major social open space equipped with audio-visual amenities for various events and covered by a high-ceiling glass roof under all-weather conditions, in particular to deal with Toyama’s heavy snowfall climate. The city also established a 24-hour bicycle-sharing system by placing 17 bike stations with a private operator in the city core district. A central marketplace and local community facilities were constructed through the unique redevelopment schemes and incentive arrangement.

The city designated 436 hectares for an urban core district, 19 public transit corridors (including both light rail transit and bus lines), and 3,489 hectares for residential promotion areas along the corridors, for which special subsidies became available for qualified home builders, new housing owners, and multi-family apartment residents. Consequently, the number of new residential properties along the promoted transit lines increased 1.32 times for the period of 2004 to 2009.

The city introduced Japan’s first light rail transit (LRT), called PORTRAM, by utilizing the former JR Toyama-port line’s right of way accompanied by the extension of bullet train services to Toyama Station. The PORTRAM system with barrier-free stations and low-floor vehicles over the operation length of 7.6 km can smoothly carry elderly and disabled passengers to a variety of city destinations and bring wider environmental benefits, such as reduction in noise, air pollution, and CO2 emissions, to the whole city. Importantly, innovative project finance schemes were applied to split the roles of railway construction and system operation between public and private partners for the Toyama LRT. The public sector covers all the construction cost of the LRT system, including vehicles, railways, and depots, and the maintenance cost of these facilities, whereas the transit operator founded by several local governments and private companies recovers operation costs from fare revenues. The city filled the capital funding gap by arranging the national government’s road improvement programs and contributions from transit companies and by saving land acquisition costs with the former JR railway’s right of way.

Three types of data were particularly important in the design and promotion of the “Program for Earthquake-Resistant School Buildings”: school data, data on damages, and data on hazard risks. School data was collected by surveys and investigations conducted by FDMA and MEXT. A list of the surveys is indicated below.

One of the biggest instigators for developing and promoting school retrofitting is the past experiences of earthquakes. The 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake triggered the development of the program’s comprehensive guidelines, and the program gained momentum after the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake and 2008 Sichuan Earthquake in China which caused the collapse of 6,898 school buildings and 19,065 deaths of schoolchildren. This prompted MEXT officials to pass the revised Act on Special Measures for Earthquake Disaster Countermeasures, which supported additional national subsidies toward the school retrofitting and reconstruction program. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake prompted the program to give higher priority to nonstructural elements and highlighted the need for tsunami countermeasures and functional improvements of schools as evacuation centers. Learning from each disaster event and applying the lessons learned to the improvement of the systems has contributed to ensuring the seismic safety of public schools.

The Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve Concession utilizes climate smart agriculture such as agro-forestry and Inga-alley cropping. Both of these methods combine agriculture with conservation of trees to create a sustainable land-use system, which increases carbon sequestration and crop yield. In addition, Inga-alley cropping uses species such as Inga edulis and Inga fueillei (leguminous, nitrogen-fixing trees) to improve soil health and reduce use of herbicides. With the preservation of permanent shade trees, and the planting of temporary shade trees and fruit trees, the cyclical production of the farm provides a sustainable yield that maximizes all products on the land. Planting Inga trees in rows supports a healthy yield of integrated fruit trees that are nurtured by the improved soil fertility provided from Inga species. This system reduces the amount of land needed for planting and provides valuable secondary uses like firewood, mulch and pest control.

Communities took ownership of the following EbA measures once prioritized and implemented in a participatory manner in the basin:

1. Restoration of riparian forests. Binational reforestation events are held involving local communities and schools. These efforts reduce erosion, mitigate the risk of floods, and reinforce cross-border cooperation and local empowerment, including youth. The sustainability of this action is integrated into a reforestation strategy for the middle basin.
2. Integral farms / agroforestry systems. Practices are incorporated to manage ecosystem services and generate a high diversity of products (agricultural, forestry and energy). Soil conservation practices and a transition to agroforestry systems with crops and tree diversification, tropical orchards, sowing of basic grains and protein banks are promoted.
3. Recovery and valuing of autochthonous seeds and varieties. Agrobiodiversity Fairs are organized to promote the conservation of genetic diversity (criollo seeds) and their traditional knowledge. The impact attributed to the Fair can be seen in the increases in: participation (exhibitors), diversity of species (> 220) and offer of value-added products.