Ramsar Symposium Niigata　　Niigata, November 28 - 30, 1996

The "Ramsar Symposium Niigata - People, Wetlands and Living Creatures" was held in the City of Niigata from November 28 to 30, 1996. The symposium, held to commemorate the designation of Lake Sakata, a lake in Niigata bordered by sand dunes, as Japan's tenth Ramsar site, was organized by the Ramsar Center, NGOs such as the Association to Discuss Waterfronts in Niigata, the Environment Agency and local municipalities. The aim of the symposium was to provide an opportunity to review the present state of wetlands conservation in Japan and to exchange information and promote cooperation among people active in nature preservation. 
　The symposium featured a key note lecture and four working sessions, the themes of which were "Wetlands," "People," "Living creatures" and "Sakata." The 385 participants included representatives of NGOs, researchers and administrative bodies throughout Japan, from Okinawa to Hokkaido. A total of 57 10-minute presentations were made almost continuously over the three days. On the second day, an open symposium for citizens was held which attracted 450 people, making this event one of the largest wetlands conferences ever in Japan.
　The definition of Ramsar sites is extremely broad. Also, a variety of people from every walk of life are involved in wetlands use and conservation. This symposium is therefore hoped to facilitate the establishment of a network linking those people and their abilities.

Reiko Nakamura
Secretary General
Ramsar Symposium Niigata
Organizing Committee,
Ramsar Center Japan

Publication of the Report of the Sixth Ramsar Conference of Contracting Parties

The KIWC published the "Report of the Sixth Ramsar Conference of Contracting Parties" last November, following the publication of the Japanese version of "The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: Its History and Development."
　The Report is a collection of summaries of past contracting parties' conferences and subcommittee meetings and Japanese translation of the resolutions, recommendations and strategic plans made at the sixth meeting, which was held in Brisbane, Australia, in March 1996. The Report was published with the cooperation of major NGOs in Japan, in response to an appeal from the Environment Agency that the results of the Conference be published in translation to contribute to the conservation of wetlands and to promote awareness. Specific tasks in the publishing of the Report were shared as follows:

　It is hoped that the Report will be extensively utilized at all levels.
　It is being distributed free of charge (postage not included) on demand.Please contact KIWC Bureau.

Report from the Second Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas of East Asia
Kushiro, July 1 - 5, 1996

The Second Conference on National Parks and Protected Areas of East Asia was held in the City of Kushiro, protected areas and national parks in the vicinity for five days between July 1 and 5, 1996. The IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas (IUCN / CNPPA) holds the Conference as part of a series of measures to expand and strengthen protected areas around the world, aiming to conserve global biodiversity.
　The Second Conference was held with the main theme of "Developing Public Support for National Parks and Protected Areas in East Asia." It included one plenary and six working sessions and four different excursion courses. The Conference attracted 180 experts and people concerned with protected areas, primarily from East Asia. Participants discussed natural characteristics of their regions and the present state of the conservation and utilization of nature.
　For this significant occasion, the Kushiro Organizing Committee, comprising the City of Kushiro, municipalities in the Kushiro region and related organizations such as the Kushiro International Wetland Centre, was organized to develop various projects. Projects included free-of-charge escort plans for visitors from overseas, a welcome reception, opening the Conference to the public through simultaneous interpretation and citizens' symposium, all of which were intended to introduce the environment of Kushiro to the world.
　The Conference proceeded smoothly with the help of local people, including volunteer groups which develop public support. On the last day, the Kushiro Declaration and the Regional Action Plan for Protected Areas of East Asia were adopted. The Conference concluded an absolute success. 

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