SEACOLOGY PRIZE
Many foundations recognize exemplary achievements by scientists, educators, business leaders and other individuals who work towards conservation. Seacology has chosen to recognize heroic achievement by people who seldom receive any publicity: indigenous leaders who risk their own lives and wellbeing to protect their island's ecosystems and culture.
The Seacology Prize is underwritten by Ken Murdock, President of Seacology, in honor of his mother, Lalovi Fish Murdock.
2007 - Kokichi Kariya of Japan:
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| 2007 Seacology Prize Recipient Kokichi Kariya receives the Prize trophy from Seacology President and Prize sponsor Ken Murdock. |
Mr. Kokichi Kariya was awarded the 2007 Seacology Prize for his efforts to save one of the few remaining ancient forests on Honshu Island, Japan. Mr. Kariya received the $10,000 Prize on October 3, 2007 at a ceremony in San Francisco, California.
After World War II, a logging industry began in Japan, mainly focused on deciduous trees including three to four hundred year old beech trees in the Aizu Mountains above Mr. Kariya’s home village of Fuzawa. In the 1960s, Mr. Kariya, fearing that lack of forest coverage could cause a devastating flood in his village, proposed that logging be halted. He endured harsh criticism from his fellow villagers, who feared they would lose their jobs if the logging stopped. Mr. Kariya and other concerned individuals formed a movement to advocate for the forest. In 1969, Mr. Kariya’s fears were realized when a flood devastated Fuzawa Village. In the ensuing decades, Mr. Kariya continued to work tirelessly to advocate for the protection of the beech forest.
Finally, after years of lobbying and education, the logging in the Aizu Mountains was halted. In 2000, the forest ministry decided to designate over 200,000 acres of the mountains as a protected area, the largest in Japan. In 2003, 2,300 acres of Fuzawa’s forest was designated a “Home Forest.” Thanks to Mr. Kariya’s selfless commitment, the beech forests are protected in perpetuity.
According to Mr. Kariya, "We have been protecting our forests for a long time. We are both surprised and moved that you valued our work and awarded us with honor. Forests protect human lives, nurture all living things, and sustain abundant oceans and beautiful earth. Now the earth is in danger. As more forests are destroyed, the land turns into a desert. We are determined to continue our work to protect forests for our mother earth and humankind in the future."
