Skip to content
  • About
  • Partner with Us
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Indonesia
Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Latest
  • News
  • Brief
  • Interview
  • Opinion
  • Figure
  • Youth
  • SDGs
  • Topics
  • #LetterfromtheFounder
  • Featured
  • News

Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen

Sustainable Daisen aims to protect and conserve the Japanese giant salamander and its natural habitat through outreach, education, research, and ecological intervention.
by Kresentia Madina January 26, 2023
A Japanese giant salamander is lying on top of measuring tape

The Japanese giant salamander. | Photo by Sustainable Daisen.

Sustainable development is about equal and balanced environmental, social, and economic improvements. Unfortunately, the environment has been greatly affected by human activities for the past centuries. One of the impacts is biodiversity loss.

A lot of work needs to be done. Conservation attempts are being made across the globe to reconcile the relationship between humans and nature. In Japan, the Sustainable Daisen works to save the Japanese giant salamander and its habitat.

The Treasure of Japan

The Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) is one of the largest amphibians in the world. This endemic Japanese species is designated a Special Natural Monument and Treasure of Japan. Unfortunately, the population is declining due to habitat loss.

The Nawa River Basin of Mount Daisen is one of the places with the highest population of the Japanese giant salamander. Mountain streams and cold rivers with rapid water flow are ideal habitats because these environments provide the right oxygen level and breeding grounds for the salamanders.

However, as roads, weirs, and dam construction increase, the river basins get blocked and fragmented. The salamanders are unable to migrate upstream to mate and raise their kids. Furthermore, the chemicals from agricultural residue also threaten the water quality and affect the salamanders’ health. This calls for efforts to save the giant amphibian.

Conserving the animals and the habitats

Sustainable Daisen is a non-profit organization based in Daisen Town, Tottori Prefecture. Established in 2021, it aims to protect and conserve the Japanese giant salamander and its natural habitat through outreach, education, research, and ecological intervention. 

In the past, conservation efforts focused primarily on preserving the animals only. As the developments around river areas slowly increased, it became clear that habitat fragmentation and loss are also something to actively watch out for and prevent.

Currently, several projects are running under Sustainable Daisen. The complete list can be found on the organization’s website, among them are the following:

  • Providing schools and local communities with educational materials on the Japanese giant salamander and Mountain Daisen ecosystem. The materials will be accessible to everyone so the program can go beyond the local regions.
  • Securing spots for the Japanese giant salamanders’ sanctuaries and working on ways to cultivate the lands to be beneficial for the salamanders.
  • Conducting research at the Nawa River Basin of Mount Daisen to further understand the unique habitat.

Sustainable Daisen has a lot of goals to achieve in the future. One of them is to establish rescue centers and sanctuaries.

Human-nature balance

In the end, no development should be made at the expense of others. Sustainable Daisen believes the human-nature relationship should be grounded in respect and balance. Conserving and protecting our biodiversity and ecosystems  is one of the ways to restore the balance between humans and nature.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

Thank you for reading!
If you find this article insightful, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter to stay up-to-date with sustainable development news and stories from multistakeholder communities in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Kresentia Madina
Website | + posts

Madina is an In-House Reporter and Content Writer at Green Network Asia. She covers Global, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Australasia.

  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    Creating Inclusive and Accessible Public Transportation for All
  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    Hope and Action: Faith and Religion in the Time of the Climate Crisis
  • Kresentia Madina
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/kresentiamadina/
    Singapore Appoints the First Government Chief Sustainability Officer

Continue Reading

Previous: How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
Next: The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities

Related Stories

a crowd at a stadium concert The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities
  • Featured
  • News

The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities

by Nazalea Kusuma January 27, 2023
IKEA’s blue building with a sign that says “IKEA Home" How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
  • Featured
  • News

How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model

by Kresentia Madina January 25, 2023
greyscale photo of an empty class room Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better
  • Featured
  • News

Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better

by Nazalea Kusuma January 24, 2023
a night sky full of stars over kazakhstan’s golden steppe the altyn dala Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe
  • Featured
  • News

Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe

by Nazalea Kusuma January 20, 2023
a blue parking sign that reads “Blue badge holders only” indicating designated space for people with disabilities Creating Inclusive and Accessible Public Transportation for All
  • Featured
  • News

Creating Inclusive and Accessible Public Transportation for All

by Kresentia Madina January 20, 2023
miniature of man reading newspaper, sitting on top of piled coins Bank Syariah Indonesia’s Start in Financing Sustainable Initiatives with Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Featured
  • News

Bank Syariah Indonesia’s Start in Financing Sustainable Initiatives with Corporate Social Responsibility

by Kresentia Madina January 18, 2023
  • Latest
  • Popular
  • Partner
  • a crowd at a stadium concert The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities
    • Featured
    • News

    The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities

  • A Japanese giant salamander is lying on top of measuring tape Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen
    • Featured
    • News

    Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen

  • IKEA’s blue building with a sign that says “IKEA Home" How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
    • Featured
    • News

    How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model

  • greyscale photo of an empty class room Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better
    • Featured
    • News

    Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better

  • a night sky full of stars over kazakhstan’s golden steppe the altyn dala Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe
    • Featured
    • News

    Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe

  • The green landscape of Semakau Island in Singapore Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore
    • Featured
    • News

    Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore

  • Indonesian spices as cultural heritage Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News

    Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia

  • illustration of National SDG tracker by Unescap UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker
    • Featured
    • News

    UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker

  • In frame: Beena Rao with the children | Image source: beenarao.com Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums
    • Figure

    Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums

  • Customized water bottle by Muslimat NU Bojong | Image: Muslimat NU Bojong Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production
    • Featured
    • News

    Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production

  • green big containers, blue building, and large tube at Hamparan project site B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization

  • the TEPI Talks #4 event poster Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia

  • Kecak Traditional Dance. | Photo by Aminoz Acid on Unsplash. Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery

  • The illustration of Harm Reduction with the fundamental purpose of upholding the safety and dignity of all people. An Introduction to Harm Reduction
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    An Introduction to Harm Reduction

  • A young adult from we day ugm and three elementary schoolers planting mangrove seed. Photo is taken from above and shows only their heads and backs. WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment

About Us

  • About
  • The Team
  • Partner with Us
  • Sponsored Content
  • Contribute to Our Mission
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Advisory Network
  • Youth Advisory Network
  • Author Network
  • FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Telegram
  • Etsy
  • Tokopedia
  • Media Link 11
  • Media Link 12
  • Media Link 13
  • Media Link 14
  • Media Link 15
© 2023 Green Network Asia