• Recently, in the countryside, especially in the hilly and mountainous farming areas, serious bird and animal damages have increased because of the decline in community activities resulting from shrinking populations and aging, the increase in abandoned cultivated land, and insufficient functioning of animal capturing systems resulting from a decrease in hunters and aging.

• The local community residents should make concerted efforts to prevent such damages. Furthermore, in cooperation with the central government, the local governments should provide appropriate support for the local communities. For example, the central government should promote development of a plan to control animal populations, provide necessary support, cultivate human resources including technical advisers, and develop methods for preventing bird and animal damages.

Changes in the Number of People Who Obtained the Hunting Licenses

Source: Investigated by Ministry of the Environment

Basic Concept of Countermeasures for Bird and Animal Damages

## [Adjustment of Bird and Animal Populations]

It is important to compartmentalize human territory and that of birds and animals.

• Control of the bird and animal populations according to a prefectural plan

• Capturing the harmful species and capturing by hunting

• Collecting data on the distribution of birds and animals

Factors promoting appearance of birds and animals in the human habitat

• Changes in the environment of village mountains and the human lifestyles

• Increase in the bird and animal populations and expansion of their home ranges

• Lack of knowledge about the countermeasures for damages

Comprehensive Programs

[Control of Habitat Environment]

• Promotion of programs for improvement of the village fields and mountains around the residential area (Pruning the bushes where birds and animals hide)

• Promotion of appropriate management and conservation of forests, with due consideration for the habitat environment of birds and animals

Source: Prepared by MAFF

## [Prevention and Avoidance of Damages]

• Promotion of programs that keep animals away from the human habitat

(Removal of fruits remaining after a harvest and reduction of abandoned cultivated land)

• Prevention of animal intrusion into farmland

(Building fences for security and introduction of a system for driving animals away from farmland)

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(1) Management of Abandoned Cultivated Land by Introduction of Livestock Grazing (This countermeasure has been adopted by farmers in Kinomoto-cho, Shiga Pref. and other farmers in Shimane Pref. and Yamaguchi Pref.)

One ha of abandoned cultivated land near the mountains was used as pastureland by pruning

Management of Abandoned Cultivated Land by Introduction of Livestock Grazing (Visual image of land utilization in the countryside)

bushes and building barriers and electric fences around the land. The farmers grazed Japanese beef cattle for breeding from 2001 to 2006, and sheep and goats from 2001 to 2002. As a result of utilization of the abandoned cultivated land, few wild boars appear in the farmland.

## (2) Planting Crops That Are Rarely Affected by Animals (animal repellent crops)

(Agricultural Technology Promotion Center, Shiga Prefecture)

In FY2001, the center conducted a survey on the conditions of animal damages and identified the crops that were rejected by wild boars and monkeys (chili pepper, mint). The farmers used such crops in combination with protective fences and demonstrated that the animal damages were reduced to some degree after planting them.

(3) Establishment of an NPO to Control Monkeys’ Access to the Human Habitat (Odai-cho, Mie Pref.)

The farmers, administrative officers and hunters established an NPO to control the monkey damages. They set radio transmitters on the monkeys to identify the location of the group. Their location information is distributed to all the members via e-mail. The members can drive the monkeys away from the human habitat by firing off bottle rockets simultaneously.