Toyama Co-op holds various environmental activities annually with its co-op members. On August 9 of this year, the event "Let's Observe Insects and Plants in Satoyama*," which received positive feedback in 2023, was hosted. Participants entered the Satoyama with the assistance of knowledgeable staff experts in nature and used the living creature collection app** called 'Biome' to 'collect' insects and plants through photographs. A total of 22 participants, including 11 adults and 11 children, took part.

Awareness of environmental protection cannot be cultivated without first learning about nature. This event was designed as a way for children to become familiar with the local environment in a playful manner, using the living creature collection app to create a game-like experience.

*A Satoyama is a mountain located near human settlements, where agricultural and forestry activities have created features like farmland, ponds, and grasslands. Satoyama has its own unique ecosystem.

**When a photo of insects or plants is taken with the smartphone camera, the app identifies and suggests the species along with the probability. JCCU held the event 'Co-op Creature Hunting Quest,' a popular event from last year, within the living creature collection app 'Biome' from May 1 to August 31, 2024. There were two quests: 'Beginner' and 'Advanced,' and upon completion, participants could earn badges within the app, allowing them to become familiar with nature in a game-like manner.

The venue, "Toyama Prefectural Natural History Museum Neinosato," is a museum that occupies about 13 hectares of Satoyama and is dedicated to preserving and educating people about nature that coexists with human life. Guided by expert staff, participants strolled through the grounds and observed plants and insects.

　

The children launched the living creature collection app on their smartphones and, while confirming the types of insects and plants, continued to 'collect' them one after another through photographs.

　

One of the parents who participated shared the following while watching their child search for insects:

"Recently, children have fewer opportunities to engage with nature, making this a truly valuable experience. You can see just how much they are enjoying themselves."

We had the opportunity to observe and physically engage with the actual elements, allowing us to fully appreciate the richness of Toyama's Satoyama.

Toyama Co-op will continue to advance various environmental activities in collaboration with its co-op members, while focusing on the pillars of the SDGs.

*Toyama Co-op was founded in April 2022 through the merger of Toyama Prefecture Consumer Co-operative and Co・op Toyama. It is a consumer co-operative mainly engaged in home delivery and store business in Toyama Prefecture, and also provides welfare services and support for members' activities.

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