Ħ2002 JICA Training Course of Wetland Environment and Biodiversity Conservation

A JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) group training course program, titled "Conservation of Wetland Ecosystems and Their Biological Diversity", was carried out from May 27 to July 4, 2002, by the JICA Hokkaido International Centre of Obihiro as the training organization, with the Nature Environment Bureau of the Ministry of the Environment and the KIWC as collaborative organizations.
This was the fourth program. Participants included eight people from eight countries, including those from research institutes or educational institutions and mid-career administrative professionals. In the program, a wide variety of activities was provided: introduction of nature conservation policies in Japan, practical research and monitoring methods, environmental education and eco-tourism, etc.
In addition, wetlands and coral reefs in the Okinawa area were experimentally added this year to conventional training sites such as the eastern district of Hokkaido and wetlands in the Kanto and Tokai areas. There was a program, which introduced the activities of local residents, including practical training in environmental education at an elementary school, where participants had contact with school children and played with them. The children were full of curiosity and excitement.

ĦRiver Environment Observation Program

On October 5 (Sat.), 2002, the Observation Program to Learn About Water Quality and the Environment of Kushiro River was held. It was jointly hosted by KIWC and the Kushiro-shitsugen National Park Liaison Association, supported in part by the River Environment Fund in charge of the Foundation of River and Watershed Environment Management, Japan. About 50 people participated in it, including little rangers who belong to the Association, their parents and JICA participants who were staying in Kushiro for eco-tour training. Students from Kushiro campus of Hokkaido University of Education offered voluntary service in interpreting and guiding.
The participants first visited Lake Kussharo, which is a source of the Kushiro River, and moved downstream while observing the river surface in a rafting boat. We were able to feel the changes of color and turbidity of the water according to the river environment through water tests conducted in each basin: upstream in pristine wilderness, midstream in pasture land and town area, and downstream in wetlands.
We ended up visiting Aikoku Filtration Plant, which pumps up water from downstream, and learned the process of making tap water from river water.

Ħ2002 JICA Training Course on Administration/Management and Wise Use (eco-tour) of Natural Parks

A JICA training course program, titled "Administration/Management and Wise Use of Natural Parks", was carried out from September 17 to October 25, 2002 by the JICA Hokkaido International Centre of Obihiro as the training organization and KIWC as collaborative organization.
It was the first time to carry out a group training course on eco-tourism. Participants included eight people from seven countries (Argentina, China, Kirghiz, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, and Rumania), including administrative professionals who are involved in environmental conservation at natural parks as well as environmental conservation regarding tourism services. In the program, a wide variety of activities was provided: presentation of eco-tour examples in Japan, focusing on experimental training for them to introduce and utilize in their own countries; lectures on natural park systems and concepts of eco-tourism; and they inspected environmental education program.
Since they were involved in field training everyday, it was a tight schedule for one month. However, the participants' average age was about 28 years old, and their youth and enthusiasm enabled them to continue participating in the training until the last day. They also participated in the River Environment Observation Program held during the training course and researched the Kushiro River environment with children.

ĦDispatch of KIWC Specialists to Mongolia

As a special short-term dispatch project of JICA, a specialist from KIWC and a technical staff member of the Akkeshi Waterfowl Observation Center visited Lake Ogii and Lake Terhiyn Tsagaan in Mongolia, designated wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. They stayed there for a month from July 22 to August 20, 2002.
This project was requested by Mongolia and planned by JICA. It was follow-up training for a JICA training course intended for the Mongolia area entitled Conservation of Biological Diversity and Wise Use of Wetlands designated as Ramsar Sites, which was carried out by KIWC from January to February, 2002. Its purpose was to give suggestions on the assessment and conservation of designated wetlands under the Ramsar Convention concerning waterfowl protection as well as the introduction of eco-tourism at Lake Ogii.
The two specialists visited the above two wetlands and conducted investigations with the cooperation of the Ministry of Nature and Environment of the Mongolian Government. They reconfirmed that those wetlands are world-famous breeding grounds for many kinds of waterfowl, including the Whooper Swan, the Swan Goose, and the Demoiselle Crane, and are highly valued as resources for ecotourism. They also held a briefing session for local people living around Lake Ogii, and explained how to introduce and promote ecotourism as wise use of natural resources while curbing harmful influences on the natural environment and the region by the increase of tourists.
As a result of the exchange of opinions, they came to the conclusion with the approval of almost all residents that they would establish an ecotourism association with local residents as central members. They have started to prepare earnestly for the implementation of ecotourism.
Since some staff members of the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Environment and the Mayor of Lake Ogii Village had participated in the JICA training course before, they gave our specialists great cooperation during their stay. Our two specialists were delighted with the reunion and were deeply impressed by the warm welcome.