The "Kids Web Japan Section (Eco Kids)" on the Internet Homepage established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduces the unique activities of kids' eco clubs across Japan. The Kushiro Kids' Eco Club was the first profiled in the series. http: //jin.jcic.or.jp/kidsweb/

The Kushiro Kids' Eco Club was started in June 1996, by 10 children from three elementary schools in Kushiro in response to an appeal from the Environment Agency in 1995 to elementary and junior high school students throughout the nation to form such clubs to study regional and global environments. The members of the club have been learning about environmental issues and promoting activities related to the environment through cleaning of local parks, observation and study of dragonflies (mainly in the Aikoku greenbelt, close to Kushiro-shitsugen), observation of fireflies, survey on fossils, observation of plants and astronomical observation on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Most of their activities are conducted in Kushiro-shitsugen. Their work in Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park was described last year in the Mainichi Newspaper for Elementary and Junior High Schools. Some sixth graders in Notokawa, Shiga Pref., read the article and started exchanges about dragonflies, Kushiro-shitsugen and other environmental issues with the members of Eco-Club Kushiro.
　In March 1997, the Club published a report entitled "Dragonflies in a Housing Complex," which was a result of their observations of the ecology of 19 types of dragonflies and of the natural environment of the Aikoku greenbelt.
　This year, the 11 members in the fourth to sixth grades started their activities in April.
　Their main activity this year will be a comprehensive survey (including dragonflies, wild birds, plants and water quality) for the protection of Ezo-kaojiro (Leucorrhinia intermedia ijimai) and karakaneito (Nehalennia speciosa) dragonfly species living in Ashimi Pond in the Aikoku greenbelt.

*Schedule for this year

1. Cleaning of parks (May - November)
2. Participation in the Children's Environment Meeting (June 5, at the meeting room of the Hokkaido Government building, Sapporo)
   Club members will have exchanges with children from seven Eco Clubs selected from throughout Hokkaido and will describe their activities and present their report on dragonflies.
3. Participation in research for Hokkaido Flower-thon '97 (June 14 & 15)
4. Camp to commune with nature (International Work Camp, July 20 & 21)
5. Observation of fireflies, astronomical observation and birdwatching in Kushiro-shitsugen
6. Making a feeding station for wild birds and preparing "leaf mail"

Hitomi Kondo Supporter, Kushiro Kids' Eco Club

The town of Akan is planning to conduct, with subsidies from the National and Hokkaido governments, a biotope conservation & improvement project over three years, beginning in 1997. It is a project to restore land where cultivation has been abandoned to as close to its original state as possible by establishing minimum facilities required for restoration of wetlands, water supply, planting and fish habitats. The project site will also serve in environmental studies and as a forum for education and culture. The site is a 5.9-ha stretch of lowlands extending from the abandoned farmland in the east of the Akan International Crane Center to the forest on the banks of the Akan River in the town's Kami-Akan area.

Outline of Project Communication zone (observation path, planting) 19,000 m2 Wetlands restoration zone (pond, wetland, planting) 15,000 m2 Wetlands zone (improvement of watercourses) 21,000 m2 Training dikes 450 m Maintenance trail (elevated wooden path) 590 m Management road 190 m Environment and Lifestyle Division, Kushiro Subprefectural Office, Hokkaido Government

Conceptual image of Biotope Improvement Project

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