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On 10 July 2016, a public participation survey on a restored river environment was conducted in the Kayanuma District of Shibecha Town, where the meander of the Kushiro River has been restored. This was the thirteenth survey since 2010, and was attended by 27 people including local residents and KIWC staff members.

Participants were divided into three groups (a soil survey team, an aquatic organism survey team and a vegetation survey team) and carefully conducted their surveys under the guidance of experts. The soil survey team investigated riverside geological formations and river sandbank scale to gauge the status of sedimentation and flooding in the restored channel. The aquatic organism survey team observed fish in different habitats at survey locations. Meanwhile, the vegetation survey team investigated vegetation changes in four demarcated areas of the forest

After the survey, participants assembled at a nearby facility to look back on and summarise their surveys. They then compared their survey results with past data and discussed changes they found.

The event provided valuable opportunities to witness the works and impacts of the meandering river.

This initiative was implemented with the River Improvement Fund provided by the River Foundation.

From 17 May to 6 July 2016, eight government administrative officials from Mexico, Uruguay, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Colombia, China, Malaysia and Tajikistan came to Japan to learn about the sustainable use of wetland resources for local benefit.

This issue-specific training program was organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, and was hosted by the Kushiro International Wetland Centre (KIWC).

Traveling from Tokyo to Chiba, Okinawa, Fujiyoshida, Tochigi and Hokkaido, the trainees learned about a variety of wetlands, including marshes, tidal flats, coral reefs, rivers and rice paddies. Specifically, they were introduced to activities and initiatives conducted to conserve wetlands in these areas, methods and ideas to use them for industry and education, and other efforts. They had opportunities to talk directly with people engaged in conservation activities, local residents and government officials at Ramsar sites including Yatsu-higata (Chiba), Manko (Okinawa) and Watarase-yusuichi (Tochigi), as well as Kushiro Wetland, Lake Akkeshi and Bekambeushi Wetland, and Kiritappu Wetland (Hokkaido). Through these interactions, the trainees learned the background behind decisions to implement conservation efforts as well as examples of regional development utilising wetland characteristics (e.g., branding of agricultural and fishery products, related utilisation for tourism, and environmental education).

Based on these various experiences, the trainees developed draft activity plans to be implemented after returning to their countries to promote the conservation and sustainable use of wetland resources and biodiversity by local residents for local residents. They gave presentations on these plans at the end of the training program.

The Winter Eco-Tour 2016 for local residents was held on January 30, 2016, to mark the annual World Wetlands Day (February 2). During the event’s fieldwork and at a workshop held at Kushiro-shitsugen (Kushiro Wetland) and Lake Toro, KIWC Technical Committee Chair Mr. Hisashi Shinsho provided commentary on ideas including how the blessings of wetlands can be preserved for future generations in order to enrich people’s lives in line with this year’s theme of Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods.

Participants started the eco-tour near Lake Toro, where they created bark rubbings on paper to highlight differences between textures and other variations. They then trekked over the snow-covered Lake Toro and observed frost flowers, animal footprints and pond smelt in the lake. The walk kept the group warm on this very chilly day, when morning temperatures fell below minus 20 degrees Celsius, and was followed by a meal of deep-fried local pond smelt (a blessing of the wetland) provided by local outdoor pursuits company Lakeside Toro.

At an afternoon treasure hunt workshop, attendees learned about eco-tours and treasure hunting in nature. The earnest and lively discussions helped to highlight local treasures related to the wetland, and attendees planned eco-tours by which these resources can be leveraged for community revitalization. Inspired by their wetland fun, related films and other stimuli, the group came up with various ideas in the workshop’s lively atmosphere for eco-tours that would promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands as well as community revitalization.

On October 15, 2015, the KIWC Technical Committee held an on-site study meeting to examine case examples under its 2013 – 2015 research theme of blessings of wetlands in communities. Committee members visited Hyotan Marsh, Lake Taro and Lake Jiro among Lake Akan’s neighboring lakes under the guidance of Dr. Isamu Wakana, a KIWC Technical Committee member and the curator of Kushiro City Board of Education’s Marimo Laboratory.

The first stop was the shallow eutrophic Hyotan Marsh, which has an average water depth of just 2 meters. Its increased summer phytoplankton growth causes water turbidity and a sparse population of underwater plants. Dr. Wakana’s commentary also covered the terrain upstream of the marsh.

The Committee members then moved on to the trailhead of Mt. Oakandake to visit Lake Taro and Lake Jiro. The water in the latter is clear because the yellow-brown lakebed mud is not agitated, making it visible from the surface, and has a blue hue when viewed from inside the lake. From Lake Jiro, the Committee members climbed almost vertically to an area with a cave from which cool wind blows. Ground temperatures in this area are under 1°C, indicating the presence of permafrost.

This cave area is home to flora from northern regions, whereas the area on the Mt. Hakuto side provides a habitat for plants from tropical and subtropical regions. The luxuriant growth of different types of flora in these areas despite their proximity demonstrates the Akan region’s high level of biodiversity. The area is also known for lakes and marshes that show the ecological succession of lakes. Its forest roads and mountain trails provide easy access to Lake Akan’s neighboring lakes, including Hyotan Marsh, Lake Taro and Lake Jiro. These characteristics make the region advantageous for research activities and as a place for learning.

Lake Akan is often associated with marimo algae balls and hot springs, but the area’s lakes are rich in other areas of diversity and potential. Possibilities for local research include: (1) genetic studies of fish and other organisms in Lake Akan, in neighboring lakes and elsewhere; (2) development of narratives based on traditional views of nature in the culture and history of Ainu people; and (3) efforts to strike a balance between environmental conservation and tourism promotion. The region is expected to continue yielding novel research findings that will highlight its uniqueness and significance.

On November 6, 2015, the sister-wetland relationship between Kushiro wetlands (specifically Kushiro-shitsugen, Kiritappu-shitsugen, and Akkeshi-ko and Bekambeushi-shitsugen) and Hunter Estuary Wetlands was renewed in Australia. These wetlands originally established this relationship in 1994 to collaborate with each other on promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands, and renewed the relationship in 2004.

KIWC President Hiroya Ebina (Mayor of Kushiro City) visited Newcastle, New South Wales, and signed a renewal agreement on the sister-wetland relationship along with Newcastle deputy mayor Michel Osborn and Port Stephens mayor Bruce MacKenzie, reaffirming the commitment to ongoing collaboration toward wetland conservation.

On the next day, Mr. Ebina visited an organization engaged in wetland restoration and planted a commemorative tree.