U.S. Military members and Sustainable Daisen Unite for Conservation

By Richard Pearce & Francisco Garcia

Sustainable Daisen collaborates with a group of U.S. Military members for our second consecutive year of practical conservation work for the Japanese giant salamander (JGS). This annual event highlights the persistent challenges arising from weirs that impede the vital habitat connectivity essential for the species’s survival.

A U.S. Marine and Richard Pearce showcase the “4 finger salamander pose.”

In 2022, Sustainable Daisen, alongside members of the U.S. Military, local residents, and university students, began this collaborative endeavor to help Daisen’s special wildlife. This volunteer initiative was not part of any official military program but a genuine effort started by three individuals from the Iwakuni American Military base who were moved into action after witnessing the importance of JGS conservation during an observational tour.

A JGS faces a weir, blocking it from traveling upstream.

After several months of hard work and frustration, we as an organization were granted special permission to build temporary bypass slopes using natural materials in an important JGS habitat in Daisen Town. After being granted access, the three individuals promptly mobilized a group of twenty-one Marine, Army, and Navy members from the Iwakuni base, who generously volunteered their time and resources. The work itself involved moving hundreds of large, heavy stones. The volunteers, a group of physically fit and highly motivated U.S. Military members, tackled the work with enthusiasm, often smiling and sharing laughter. It was truly an ideal team, and it almost felt as if the divine intervention of the Gods of sacred Mt. Daisen had guided them to be there.

The team builds a rock bypass.

A completed rock bypass.

October 2023 marked the second year of this joint conservation journey. Our mission was to remove debris obstructing a tunnel beneath the road, impeding the salamanders' movement in a vital area. Additionally, the team took on the task of constructing and repairing bypass slopes, facilitating the salamanders’ movement for breeding purposes.

A large amount of debris obstructs a tunnel.

The efforts of the volunteers, who willingly endured the challenges of moving tons of rocks and clearing bamboo from the river course, exemplify the dedication required for the conservation of this unique species. The positive outcome of their labor was witnessed almost immediately, as a young salamander appeared to test the newly created passage, offering a glimmer of hope for the future.

U.S. Military members clear tunnel debris.

The group poses after removing the obstruction.

The conservation journey for the Japanese giant salamander in Daisen Town has reached a pivotal juncture. Recognition by officials of the detrimental impact of weirs on the future survival of the JGS, and the acknowledgment that bypass slopes offer a practical remedy, underline the importance of our ongoing efforts. It is imperative that we push forward and advocate for the installation of permanent bypass slopes without delay. While the struggle persists, the strides we’ve made constitute a significant and crucial step toward securing a sustainable future for the JGS.

Superhero conservationists flex for the camera.

As we reflect on the challenges overcome and victories achieved, we find ourselves indebted to the remarkable individuals who volunteered their time and efforts. Their unwavering enthusiasm, kindness, and hard work, even in the face of strenuous and dirty tasks, created a shared sense of enjoyment and purpose. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these young salamander saviors, who, through their dedication, have become beacons of hope for the future of this unique and endangered species.