Photo/Illutration C.W. Nicol, a British writer and conservationist, in 2012 with the Afan woodland that he restored in the background (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

British author and conservationist C.W. Nicol, who made his home in Japan for the past 40 years, died of rectal cancer at a hospital in Nagano on April 3.

He was 79.

Nicol was involved in efforts to conserve marine mammals and wild animals in Canada and Ethiopia. He first came to Japan in 1962 to train in karate.

In 1975, he served as vice head of the Canadian pavilion during the Okinawa International Oceanic Exposition in Japan’s southernmost prefecture.

Five years later, he moved his base for activities to the Kurohime district of Shinano, a town in Nagano Prefecture in central Japan.

Nicol purchased a large tract of desolate woodland in the town, calling it Afan woodland, to restore it by thinning trees and eradicating weeds.

He also made many TV appearances and traveled to many parts of Japan to speak about the importance of restoring forests.

Nicol acquired Japanese citizenship in 1995 and later became the head of the C.W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust that he established in 2002.

In 2005, he received the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II.

Among his novels are “Harpoon,” in which he described whaling by fishermen in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, and “The Boy Who Saw the Wind,” a fantasy.

Nicol was born in Wales in Britain. He is survived by his wife, Mariko. A private funeral service was held with relatives in attendance.