Professor Yoshimi Umeda opened with a DVD presentation “Japan, Land of Forests” which illustrated the essential coexistence that the Sacred Forests and Groves of Shinto shrines are maintained in Japan. It also included stories of reforestation and the symbiotic relationship of humans and the natural world.

     The Very Reverend Minoru Sonoda discussed the deep spiritual life revealed within the sacred forests and groves of the Shinto shrine. He presented the “Deep ecological philosophy” which was first coined in 1973 by a Swedish scholar and developed in Europe and America, but whose roots can be found in Asian traditional values such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Popular Taoism that also influenced Japan’s ancient religion of Shinto. He stated that many spiritual traditions believe in humans as well as plants and animals sharing the equal right to live on earth. In keeping with religious foundations. Sonoda appealed to keep preserving the sanctity of deity power which exists vividly in the rich natural lives throughout the world and concluded that all religions in the world should reconsider the spiritual life held within their creed and cooperate with each other to foster the betterment of all the creatures.

     Dr. Yoshiko Y. Nakano, presented her foundation’s achievements towards agricultural development, forestation, and education since 1961. OISCA-International promotes Children’s Forest Program as an environmental program organized in 25 countries and regions, involving 2600 schools. Aid in education constitutes an important field within OISCA. Training of youth to nurture their technical ability and leadership has been the core program of our organization. She discussed her projects in Indonesia where they constructed eight schools that collapsed in the earthquake. Nakano states that local governments and international institutions should play leading roles. She emphasized people’s love for their homes. She stated that to some extent, all traditional worldviews uphold that Nature is either divine itself, or sacred as all things are made by the Creator.

     Rev. Bud Heckman stated that we must understand the particular concerns over individual forests and groves harmed by human behavior. We must also pay attention to the environment’s place in the scale of events and possible human attention/action and in the view of the possibility of religions working together corruptively to protect them. Heckman appealed that there are many signs of hope in our world and we still have time to reverse environmental degradation. Heckman also exemplified the successful get-together of leaders of various religions at the 8th World Assembly of the Religions for Peace held in Kyoto, Japan, late August 2006, from which he just returned.

     Tens of comments and questions on the above papers were presented from the floor. Some of them thanked the speakers for their valuable achievements, and others introduced their own experiences of similar tree-planting and green-keeping activities in various countries such as Armenia, Germany, United Kingdom, the United States and other parts of the world. In closing the workshop the moderator recommended to everyone to share those experiences and achievements by contacting with each other through internet.