Introduction
Hi there! My name is Rui, and for the past six days, I had the incredible experience of taking part in the Natural Parks Foundation Internship Program at Kamikochi. Here is a summary of my experience and reflection throughout the program
To give some context, I had applied for the internship as a high school student while most interns from the past had been university students. As someone who had spent half of their life outside of Japan, I also had concerns regarding my Japanese proficiencies. But, from the moment I had stepped into the Information Center, I was greeted with nothing but kindness and warmth. I felt truly welcomed into the Kamikochi family.
The first day was comprised of a brief introduction to the Natural Parks Foundation: the history, work, and aims for the organization in the context of Kamikochi. By the end of the presentation, I was handed the official work uniforms that I would be wearing for the next six days. Little did I know, how much more pride I would have representing the Natural Parks Foundation as the week progressed. At this point, I was simply eager and excited for the days ahead of me.
For the next four days, I would be working under a variety of sectors, each with a distinct yet deeply interconnected focus. Through experiencing the works of each of these sectors, there were three prevalent themes that came up time and time again: conversation, conservation, and preservation. While three simple words cannot possibly describe the intricate complexities of the system of sectors that park up the efforts of the Natural Parks Foundation, this is my way of summing up the key aspects of what I learned and practiced during my internship experience.
Conversation
The first half of my second day of the internship program was spent going on a morning guide walk from the Visitor Center to the Myoujin Pond. This is where I saw firsthand a conversation between the park visitors and the park itself. Led by a park volunteer, much of guide focused on the natural beauty of Kamikochi as well as some of its historical and cultural roots.
The visitors and the park held a conversation with each other. The former took in the wonders of plants, flowers, insects, fish, mountains, and anything else we spotted along the way. The latter took the time to not only educate but share the passion and love for Kamikochi. What was left from the conversation was a strong sense of appreciation and an overwhelming feeling of awe.
In continuation, the second half of the day was spent at the visitor center. I worked behind the counter, counted up votes for the election on flowers (which was honestly much more fun than I had expected), and attended a lecture on bears at Kamikochi. Again, it was this concept of a "conversation" that was reinforced. Without the visitors, the park is left unappreciated and without the support. On the other hand, without the park, there is no place to be engulfed in the timeless wonders of nature. In my mind, this mutual reliance holds up one out of the three pillars of the Natural Park Foundation, summarized as a crucial conversation between the visitors and the park.
But, such conversation is not limited to just the park and the visitors. As humans, we hold a conversation with nature itself through conservation.
Conservation
Towards the end of the six days, I had the privilege of taking part in much more of the nature conservation efforts at the park. On the fifth day of the internship, I learned more about some of the wild animals that call Kamikochi home: the Japanese macaque and Asian black bear. Both hold unique traits that make them rare and extremely valuable in the context of the world.
For example, the Japanese macaque, unlike most other species of monkeys in the world, live much further north above the equator. The species possesses shorter tails and other distinct characteristics that allow them to live in much colder climates. Even their tribal structure differs to species closer to chimpanzees as macaque tribes tend to be centered around female mothers rather than dominant male leaders in the tribe. If I were to end it there, I would only be scratching the surface of what makes these species so special. However, referring back to the ideas of conservation, what is being done to help sustain the lives of these exceptional species and others?
From what I learned and experienced, the major issue in terms of conserving the precious wildlife is the presence of us, humans. In order to uphold the nature of the species, the interactions between the animals and humans need to be properly controlled and conditionally limited. This is done through keeping track of the activities and movement of the animals.
Data may be gathered from sensor cameras, but I learned that many times information is constantly shared through communicating with local businesses, hotels, and visitors. As a result of acquiring such information, the areas for animal activity become clearer. For the mutual benefit for both humans and the animals, it is safer to designate regions for human activity and tourism at Kamikochi. In the case with monkeys, it was firing airsoft rifles at them to force them into their better suited environments. The toy guns are harmless, and the bead bullets are biodegradable. They purely serve to keep a safe distance between the monkeys and visitors, crucial for the conservation of Kamikochi's indispensable wildlife and nature. Kamikochi is a shared space. It is a space for nature to be conserved but also for the visitors to enjoy it.
Preservation
From the very first day onward, I witnessed the immense popularity of Kamikochi through the sheer number of visitors I saw and interacted with each day. Again, the park is constantly enjoyed by thousands of visitors who come and go, which means the park is required to be clean and safe.
On the third day of the internship, I took part in what was the behind the scenes workings of the park. I took part in a maintenance walk along one of the trails, looking out for potentially dangerous branches and rocks whilst picking up any litter. This is one way the park is so well cleaned and preserved. Later in the day, I learned how the ways the bathrooms are cleaned with eight of them scattered across the park. I was intrigued to learn that bio-based solutions are used to treat the bathroom instead of harmful artificial chemicals.
Similarly, on the fifth day, I took part in a cleanup hike, a tradition that has lasted for approximately sixty years at Kamikochi. Once more, the aim of the hike was to ensure the trails are litter free for the visitors to enjoy. But, of course, the hike was especially fun for me, too. It was a chance for myself to enjoy the park and surrounding nature from a visitor's perspective.
Conclusion
I am writing this on the last day of the internship. Looking back at the past couple of days, I have had the opportunity to experience and learn more than I could have imagined. I was able to meet some incredibly kind and amazing people. I discovered a newfound appreciation for nature and the efforts that continue to allow people like me to enjoy it. While I have described conversation, conservation, and preservation from my experience at Kamikochi, the same concept of fragile balances with and within nature and human society remain largely universal. Much of present-day society relies on a network of balanced desirability, practicality, and ethicality. Where ever I go and whatever I end up doing in the future, I will carry with me all that I had learnt and felt from this internship.
I am immensely grateful for everyone at Kamikochi who made my time here so fun and worthwhile. This has truly been a memorable, valuable experience for me. Thank you.
