Environment Minister announces support for introducing AI and drones to combat bear damage, also mentions promotion of recycling of decontaminated soil

Environment Minister Hiroyoshi Sasakawa gave interviews to media outlets on the 28th, and expressed his intention to support local governments that introduce artificial intelligence (AI) and drones for bear tracking and other purposes as a countermeasure against a series of bear attacks. The government will work to foster public understanding through visitor centers in national parks and other places to expand the reuse of ``decontaminated soil'' generated as a result of the decontamination of the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Exemption from hunter tax for bear capture as damage continues, efforts to secure bearers - Ministry of the Environment study

―Although you also serve as the person in charge of bear damage countermeasures.

Prompt response, including emergency gun hunting (where guns can be fired in urban areas at the discretion of municipalities), will give (the people) a sense of security. This is the season when bears become more active, so we will use various methods to warn people to be careful. Securing human resources must be considered over the medium to long term. I also want to help with the introduction of technologies such as AI and drones.

- How can we spread understanding and recycling of decontaminated soil?

Fukushima Prefecture Governor Masao Uchibori's sense of crisis (over final disposal outside the prefecture) must be taken seriously. We ask related ministries and agencies to increase the number of local agencies that recycle decontaminated soil. I would like local governments to explain this carefully and understand it. We will work carefully on each step, including the use of the visitor center.

- How can we contribute to decarbonization and climate change countermeasures?

I do not believe that promoting decarbonization will impede economic growth. Technological innovation to overcome this will lead to increased competitiveness. The trends in the United States and China, which are the largest emitters, are significant. How we can contribute to climate change countermeasures in Asia will also contribute to the world.