Public Participation Survey on the Restored River Environment 2010 - Second Survey in Autumn (Project to mark the 30th anniversary of Kushiro Wetland's registration under the Ramsar Convention)
Following the survey conducted in this summer, a citizen participatory environmental survey was held on September 25, 2010. 27 people ranged in age from elementary and juniorhigh school students to elderly participated in the survey. They were divided into three groups to board canoes and conducted soil investigation and riparian nature environrnent observation on the 5.5km sections from meander channel which was restored to downstream basin.
Under the direction of KIWC Senior Technical Committee member, Mr. Hisashi Shinsho, they landed on a sandbar and measured the size to compare with the previous one, and from sedimentary components they guessed sediment inflow conditions in the past. And all the participants tried guessing prospective changes of the sandbar in the future. From the canoes, they could also observe gradually-changing tree species of the riparian forest and landscapes on both banks as well as wild animals such as a flock of Bean Geese (Anserfabalis middendorfii) and fully enjoyed the nature of the wetland in autumn.
After returning from the canoe tour, at Lake Toro Eco-Museum Center, they reviewed the survey and made a handmade "nature information map" in which what they found or discovered in the tour were written.

JICA Training Course on Eco-tour
From September 6 to October 13, 2010, the JICA group training course on the "Sustainable Use of Natural and Cultural Resources (Eco-Tourism)" was held by KIWC as a host organization. The JICA Obihiro International Center was the administrative institution for this course and this year, the first year of the three-year term of training course, 8 middle-ranking administrative officers working for the state or local regions from 6 countries (Argentina, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam) who were involved in the management of natural parks or tourism promotion participated in the course.
The "Eco-tour", through which people can enjoy local nature and culture while considering environment, has recently been attracting attention especially in developing countries as one of the methods of regional development to utilize local nature and culture sustainably while conserving them. Participants could learn about eco-tourism from multiple aspects and spread their knowledge and increase experiences through lectures on the theory of eco-tourism and environment-related laws, tours and experience programs utilizing rich nature and existing industries such as fishery and dairy of the eastern Hokkaido, and case examples of environmental conservation utilizing spirits and techniques of flower arrangement in Kyoto.
During the training, participants had opportunities to meet with people of all ages through exchange programs with local residents by the cooperation of volunteer organizations of Kushiro, eco-tour experiences guided by elementary students, forums for exchanging opinions with university students who were learning eco-tourism in Kyoto.

Commemorating Event" Wetland Treasure Box"
To mark the 30th anniversary of Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland's designation under the Ramsar Convention, KIWC carried out some commemorative projects in 2010, and looked back on 30 years of relationships between people and Kushiro-shitsugen through surveys and events from the standpoint of biodiversity and wise use, and thought with the people about how to relate to the wetland in the future.
The event titled "Wetland Treasure Box" was held on December 19, 2010 co-hosted by Kushiro Regional Office for Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Environment and NHK Kushiro Broadcasting Station. Deeming Kushiro-shitsugen to be a "box full of treasures" of the region, the purpose of this event was to offer an opportunity to think about what is needed to hand over Kushiro-shitsugen to the following generations.
At Kushiro Citizens Cultural Hall, there were exhibitions introducing activities for conservation and wise use of Kushiro-shitsugen by 28 organizations. The following symposium was also held.

Symposium "Kushiro-shitsugen Flying into the Future"

☆Lecture "Ramsar Convention and Kushiro-shitsugen"
　 Lecturer: Yoshihiro Natori (Senior Fellow, UNU-IAS*)
☆Talk " Restoration of Kushiro-shitsugen-for the children of future "
　 Speaker: Tatsuichi Tsujii (President, Hokkaido Environment Foundation / 　
　　　 Chairman, KIWC Technical Committee)
　 Hisashi Shinsho (Environment Facilitator / KIWC Senior Technical Committee Member)
☆Presentation on Kushiro-shitsugen Nature Restoration by students
　 Presenters: Hokkaido Shibecha High School
　 Junior Eco Club Kushiro
　 Ayami Kawamura (Hokkaido Kushiro Koryo High School)
☆Panel discussion by student presenters
　 Coordinator: Tadaichi Takahashi (former Professor, Hokkaido University of Education Kushiro Campus)
　 Advisors: Yoshihiro Natori, Tatsuichi Tsujii, Hisashi Shinsho,
Takuma Segawa (Teacher, Hokkaido Shibecha High School)
　　　　 Seiji Sasaki (Representative, Junior Eco Club Kushiro)

(Titles omitted)
* Institute of Advanced Studies, United Nations University

Despite end-of-the-year rush and deplorable roads due to accumulated snow, approx. 300 local residents participated. Not only government institutions but many private entities set up booths and displayed panels and exhibits introducing their activities which were attracting many visitors. The exhibition gave them an opportunity to exchange information each other.
In the symposium, Mr. Yoshihiro Natori introduced the background of the conservation of Kushiro-shitsugen, then Dr. Tatsuichi Tsujii and Mr. Hisashi Shinsho had a talk on the utilization of the wetland for the future and proposed fresh ideas such as utilization of balloons and wetland exploration. Next, local students from elementary to high schools made presentations about what they felt through study of water clarification using wetland plants, extermination of alien species as well as the exchange activities between children of other Ramsar sites, and about a way of interacting with wetland.
At the site, a variety of events were held such as a mini live show of local popular duo
"HEAT VOICE" for a wetland campaign song, introduction of works of the master painter, Mr. Eisho Sasaki who is renowned as the "Artist of Wetland", display of a big air photo map of Kushiro-shitsugen and sales of wetland-related goods. The site was like a "treasure box", true to its event name.
The KIWC's commemorative events were implemented with funding from Hokkaido Environment Foundation based on donations from Asahi Breweries' Asahi Super Dry "Tasty! For Tomorrow! "project campaign.