The Purpose of Uminowa
In addition to showing visitors the beauty of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, Uminowa seeks to keep people engaged with nature so that the park’s beauty can be conserved for future generations. Local volunteers participate in such engagement by helping with regular forest maintenance, control of the populations of certain types of starfish to prevent damage to corals, and other activities. Uminowa also aims to connect visitors with people in the local community in order to build the bridges necessary for conservation of the area’s nature and culture. Furthermore, the center seeks to pass on the community’s knowledge and customs to the next generation through engagement with local schools and other institutions.