Simultaneous Survey of Current State of Inhabitation of Japanese CranesThe Japanese Crane has been a familiar bird to the Japanese since ancient times and has been considered a bird of good fortune. The bird Is printed on the back of the thousand-yen bill. In the Meiji era, it was said to have become extinct. However, more than 1O individuals were discovered in Kushiro Marsh in 1924. Later, the Japanese Crane was designated a National Natural Monument in 1935 and a Special Natural Monument in 1952. In 1964, they were designated the prefectural bird of Hokkaido and are loved not only by Hokkaidoans but also by the people of the country. In eastern Hokkaido (Kushiro, Tokachi, Nemuro and Hidaka), where most of the Japanese Cranes can be observed, a survey on their number has been conducted every year to obtain basic data for their future protection and propagation measures. In the first survey in Japanese Fiscal Year 1951, a total of 33 individuals were found, while the number had increased to 598 by the 44th survey in FY 1994.  Simultaneous Survey The survey is carried out by bird-watchers at each survey site by counting the number of cranes simultaneously at a fixed time of the day. The total number of Japanese Cranes observed at the total of the survey sites is considered to be the population of cranes in that year. This year's survey was conducted by 1,265 people, which included 870 pupils and 220 teachers and staff, 1,090 in total, from 40 elementary schools and 23 junior high schools. This is an extremely important survey for understanding the trend of the number of Japanese Cranes. We hope to continue the survey, with the cooperation of the local residents. February 1996 Nature Preservation Section, Forestry Division, Economic Affairs Department, Kushiro Subprefectural Office, Hokkaido Government JICA Hokkaido International Centre will Open The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will open its "Hokkaido International Centre" in April 1996. JICA is the organization responsible for undertaking technical cooperation programs as an arm of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and it annually assigns more than 2,000 Japanese experts, dispatches over 1,000 volunteers to developing countries, accepts approximately 7,000 participants for technical training and conducts other forms of technical cooperation programs. JICA has 11 International Centres throughout Japan where they provide overseas participants with training courses in various fields ranging from "soft" know-how such as business administration. quality control and environmental conservation to "hard" technologies such as construction engineering. The Hokkaido International Centre will be JICA's 12th centre and will have accommodation and training facilities in Sapporo and Obihiro with capacity for accepting 1OO and 50 overseas participants, respectively . The Centre will carry out approximately 45 group training courses for overseas participants mainly from developing countries. In addition, the Centre is expected to provide overseas participants as well as regional residents with opportunities and places for promoting friendship and mutual understanding. Hokkaido International Center, Obihiro Japan International Cooperation Agency Report on 1995 JICA Training for Wetland Conservation and Protection of Migratory BirdsJICA Training for Wetland Conservation and Protection of Migratory Birds was given in the fields of the Ramsar sites in Kushiro Marsh and elsewhere, for about one month last autumn. (.The purpose and outline of the training were explained in the first issue.)This year, seven trainees (including one woman) from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand participated. Through lectures and exercises in the training, trainees learned necessary information and techniques for wetland conservation and protection of migratory birds. The participants had keen interest in the training, and engaged in active discussions in each program. Ms. Takako Sako, Course Leader ■ The 2nd Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas of East Asia Organizers: IUCN-CNPPA-EA Steering Committee and Japanese Organizing Committee for the Second Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas of East Asia Assisting Organizations: Environment Agency,Forestry Agency,Agency for Cultural Affairs,Hokkaido Prefecture,Kushiro Organizing Committee for the 2nd Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas of East Asia,Japan Environment Corporation,Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund,Relevant Nature Conservation Organization Date: July 1(Mon.) - July 5(Fri.), 1996 Place: Kushiro Tourism & International Relation Center Theme: Mobilizing Community Support for National Parks and Protectecl Areas in East Asia Participants: 150 (50 from overseas and 1OO from Japan) ■ The 7th IMCG Field Symposium in Japan 1996 Organizers: Organizing Committee for the 7th IMCG Field Symposium in 1996, Kushiro International Wetland Centre Date: August 26 (Mon.) - September 6 (Fri.), 1996 Place: Kushiro Tourism & International Relations Center, Ramsar Sites in the Kushiro Region Theme: Conservation & Management of Mire Ecosystems - The Wise Use of Mire - Participants: 80 mire researchers (40 from overseas and 40 from Japan) ■ The 14th International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture Organizer: Architectural Institute of Japan / PLEA 1997 Japan Committee Supporters: Japan Solar Energy Society, Japan Institute of Architects, Japan Federation of Architects and Building Engineers Associations, City of Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Environment Agency Sponsor: OM Solar Association Date: January 8 (Wed.) - January 10 (Fri.), 1997 Place: Kushiro Tourism & International Relations Center Theme: Sustainable Communities and Architecture - Bioclimatic Design in Cold Climates - Participants: 800 (100 from overseas, 700 from Japan)
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