Kiritappu Marsh - The Activities of the Kiritappu Shitsugen Center - The Kiritappu Marsh (area 3,168 ha) is a coastal marsh located in eastern Hokkaido. The marsh developed in the flood plain of the Biwase River on the sandy, quaternary accumulations. Due to the excessive humidity in the area, fog is a main feature of the marsh. Marsh vegetation has been categorized into four types: Sphagnum wetlands, Phragmites australis community, halophyte community, and Alnus japonica forest. The Sphagnum wetlands have developed at the center of the marsh in an area covering approximately 800 ha, while an A. japonica forest has developed along the edges of the marsh and covers an area of approximately 200 ha. The marsh is transected by the MG road, thus enab1ing travellers to appreciate its beauty year round. The Kiritappu Shitsugen Center was established on May l, 1993, and its hilltop location makes it the perfect place for viewing the marsh and its wildlife. The center provides newcomers with information about the marsh and its various nature programs. Two nature programs prepared for adults are the short lectures on natural history and nature hiking around the Kiritappu Marsh. In the short lectures on natural history, teachers and visitors engage in discussions on the various topics presented. You can learn about natural history from specialists, and admission is free! In nature hiking, a ranger of the Shitsugen Center will guide you on a tour of the marsh, and you can enjoy the beautiful view and wildlife, also free of charge. Our staff recognize the importance of environmental awareness, especially for young peopie. Therefore, we have prepared various nature programs for children as well. We have organized the"Nature Kids' Club," and its objectives are as follows: (1) to enable kids to recognize the importance and beauty of nature, and to help them become environmentally aware; (2) to help parents become more environmentally conscious through discussions with their children; and (3) to contribute to the community through cooperation with the schools. As a means of heightening children's interest in this beautiful natural environment and its preservation. two members of the Shitsugen Center's staff, Michie Ogasawara and Hiroko Torii, wrote a story about two famous monsters living in the Kiritappu Shitsugen. One of the monsters, "Yachimanako," is very shy. but he is a strong fighter for the cause of Justice. The otner monster, "Yachiboozu," Iives in the sedge grassland and he is cheerful and kind. We hope that children will love to learn about the wetlands and wildlife through our picture book, so we encourage you to have a look at it, too. One of the most notable features of the Kiritappu Shitsugen Center is the "Association of Friends of the Kiritappu Shitsugen Center." This association consists mostly of housewives from Hamanaka, whose active support is an indispensable contribution to the management of the Shitsugen Center. In conclusion, our staff hopes that the Kiritappu Shitsugen Center will become a mecca of environmental education and academic research of this wetland area. Please come and enjoy it! Thank you for your support. Mr. Hideo Tomizawa, Kiritappu Shitsugen Center & Ms. Mary F. Johnson, Hamanaka-town Board of Education 
Since 1992. Shibecha has been working on plans for constructing an "Ecomuseum" in the Kushiro Marsh area. The current plan is to make the museum a roofless facility in order to allow visitors ,to fully appreciate the natural surroundings. We also hope that such a structure will further encourage visitors to learn about the area's wildlife. history and culture. The structure of the museum would consist of the core facility, satellite facilities and discovery trails. All of them would be incorporated into one unified entity. The core facility is where people learn and obtain information before venturing out into the field. In 1995, the "Ecomuseum" project was introduced in the Kushiro Marsh area for the third time in Japan, after Sekigahara, Gifu Pref., and Chojabaru, Oita Pref. The "Ecomuseum Center" is to becompleted by I 997, with "water" as its unifying concept. The satellite facilities include: outlook hilIs at Kottaro and Sarubo, the local history museum, and Kushiro Marsh itself as a field and/or a satellite facility. Discovery trails connecting these facilities not only include conventional roads but also the wooden trails within the marsh. There are also rivers for canoeing, which can bring people into closer contact with the marsh. Because about 45% of Kushiro Marsh is located within Shibecha, the town has a special interest in the idea of its "wise use." as started in the Ramsar Convention. Our desire is to focus the town's attention on the "ecomuseum" project in order to better coexist with 'kushiro Marsh,while also putting our efforts into protecting precious plants and wildlife. Town of Shibecha 
For further information, please contact: KIWC Bureau: c/o Kushiro Tourism & International Relations Center 3-3 Saiwai-cho. Kushiro City, Hokkaido 085 Japan Tel: +81-154-23-5547 Fax: +81-154-23-8041 E-mail: 18104314 @people.or.jp
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