How Can Information From Today Help Us Make Decisions for the Future?

“There is nothing permanent except change.” — Heraclitus

In this project, students embraced their role as agents of change, learning that effective change requires thoughtful planning, design, and collaboration. Focusing on the HIS Forest Ecosystem—the site of the school campus—they confronted an important challenge shared by all members of the Hakuba International School community: to take only what we need while minimizing our impact on the environment.

Students explored the concept of ecological succession, studying its stages and the processes that drive it. As environmental stewards, they reflected on how their own beliefs and mental models influence their relationship with nature, documenting their insights in a personal introspection portfolio.

Building on this understanding, students designed a 100-year study to monitor and evaluate changes in the HIS Forest over time. They presented their plans to peers in the Pathways Programme for feedback, then shared their final designs with forest experts in Hakuba and at Suntory, engaging in meaningful dialogue about sustainability and long-term environmental care.