| Name |
Activity |
| Committees' Comments |
ASHCRETE Co., Ltd.
>>Website(Japanese only) |
Challenge to product food in sea areas using industrial byproducts. (Development of artificial seabed mountain range construction technology that uses hardened coal ash.)
To turn ocean areas into food production centers, we must first control the actions of humans, who continue to interfere with the natural food producing traits of the ocean. The vast amounts of industrial by-products that humans continue to dump into the ocean are creating landfills out of irreplaceable marine forests and wetlands. To quickly put an end to this, we must develop technology that, in the form of a public project, will allow us to use large volumes of industrial by-products in our costal waters - an area of 200 nautical miles giving Japan the 6th largest costal area in the world - to create high-output fishing areas that can stably provide protein resources to the national population.
The nutrient salts added to the ocean surface as a result of seabed mountain ranges created using large amounts of ashcrete blocks have stimulated photosynthesis and increased amounts of phytoplankton. This has led to vast increases in the number of fish that depend on this phytoplankton for sustenance. It has been confirmed by NASA satellites that the amount of phytoplankton in the large square 15km test area off Ikitsukishima has increased by 1.5 times as a result of the seabed mountain range. Follow-up research by test fishing ships reported that the amount of fish in the test area continues to increase and that, since completion of the project, intake of anchovy, which eats plankton, in up to 1500t/year ? intake that is 6 times higher than before the test project. These results indicate not only the possibilities for increases in sea-based food production, but also fixed levels of CO2 and increased production of O2 as a result of photosynthesis. This also shows that the use of industrial by-products will prevent landfills in shallow water areas and protect the ocean environment.
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- I want to see the end results of these actions.<Ms. Unoura>
- This is ultimately a construction-based idea and I'm concerned about the effect of forcibly changing sea currents. Right now the focus should be on promoting vegetation that supports sea life.<Mr. Oguro>
- This is a very difficult project for me to evaluate. The building of artificial mountains may (apparently ‘does’) result in increased productivity of some species of fish. But, sand environments and related biodiversity is destroyed, current flows are changed and the ocean environment has been changed by human impact. In my experience it seems that the Fisheries Agency has a ‘one track mind’, producing more food, regardless of the effect on biological diversity and a healthy, balanced ocean environment. I cannot recommend this project, due to lack of environmental assessment that takes in a much wider range of environmental parameters than mere food production. <Dr. Moyer>
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Audubon International
>>Website |
Audubon International spearheads education and conservation assistance programs that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability on golf courses and other land areas.
Audubon Internationalfs premiere education program, The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), educates people about environmental stewardship and motivates them to take action in their daily lives that will enhance and protect wildlife and their habitats and conserve natural resources.
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- It is a valuable action, but in Japan the golf courses themselves are a problem so it would be difficult to award a prize.<Dr. Kubo>
- There are many cases of golf courses damaging the environment, and so this is a meaningful action for citizens and golf enthusiasts especially. I wish we had this kind of action in Japan.<Ms. Unoura>
- I hope these actions continue long into the future.<Mr. Oguro>
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Highclay Co., Ltd.
>>Website(Japanese only) |
Playing field and schoolyard development using recycled soil produced at water treatment plants.
Thinking of school children on rainy days, we decided to try developing a schoolyard without sludge. We discovered that the soil generated at water treatment plants was optimal for improving the quality of schoolyard soil. Further, the plants were having trouble disposing of the material. We felt such activities would further the development of a recycling-based society, so it was turned into a project where we have continued with development so this material can be used in schoolyards, playing fields, and tennis courts. This project contributes not only to the creation of recycled products, but also to the control of waste created at processing facilities, a significant reduction in the amount of imported natural resources, and also to a transition toward transport energy savings.
Through corporate activities, we are promoting environmental contributions to sports facilities and, specifically, trying to promote understanding by local governments. Over 2000 sites around the country. Used not only by schools and other educational facilities, but also by public parks and welfare facilities for the elderly.
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- I'd like to see the establishment of an authority for the reuse of locally produced soil in that area as part of a nationwide scheme.<Mr. Nagashima>
- An enterprise that validates the effects of recycling.<Dr. Kubo>
- Please expand this program worldwide as part of Japan's ODA activities and to spread environmental education.<Ms. Unoura>
- I'd like to know more about the after-care process and I hope that schoolchildren are made aware and that it is incorporated into their environmental education.<Mr. Oguro>
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Kyu-yu-souzoukai <Field Sports Society (NPO)>
>>Website(Japanese only) |
Undertaking the challenges of a sports egreenificationf project and handmade fields. Working to enhance the basic environment...
Up to now, people who wanted to play baseball, soccer, or other outdoor sports had to rely on public facilities. However, a difficult situation continues to exist because competition for renting these spaces on weekends in so fierce. In most cases, people have blamed governments for the lack of facilities. However, in this current state of a poor economy, rushing to blame everything on the government is, conversely, an act of irresponsibility. We will create low-cost handmade fields mostly out of idle and little used land without depending on the assistance of the government. These areas will have low maintenance requirements - with construction, operation and management being performed by the people who desire to use such fields - but will maintain a certain level of quality.
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- This is a fascinating organization and a model case of initiating action and cooperation with local regions.<Mr. Nagashima>
- These actions are currently focused on baseball grounds but we can expect to see it widely applied in the future.<Dr. Kubo>
- This is a lovely initiative where everyone gets involved in creating a common-use baseball facility.<Ms. Unoura>
- Creating a common play area or sports field using ‘human power' is in every sense ‘eco-friendly'. Great job.<Mr. Oguro>
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Surfrider Foundation Japan
>>Website |
National Mussel Watch Project (Health exams for the ocean using common blue mussels)
The Japan affiliate of the Surfrider Foundation, which is active in Europe, North and South America, and Australia, Surfrider Japan sees itself as an early warning system, identifying ocean and coastline environmental problems and educating governments and citizens alike.
The ‘Mussel Watch' project was initiated in response to an alarming report by the Environmental Agency that detected high dioxin levels in the Hikijigawa river (Kanagawa Prefecture). Surfers, academics and private institutes came together to collect and analyze dioxin levels in mussels collected from 20 to 30 spots nationwide. It is this kind of data that will be used to put pressure on primarily disaster-driven government agencies to act now, as well as educate the public on the true state of Japan's oceans and coastlines.
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- This is very valuable data. I look forward to the greater availability and sharing of information.<Mr. Nagashima>
- I hope they continue to gather this data.<Mr. Oguro>
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The Sea Beautification Society
>>Website(Japanese only) |
Creation of marine forests
In the past, Tokyo harbor had several wetlands and was abundant with many varieties of ocean grass and seaweed including seaweed called “fish's cradle” and sea trumpet. However, with continued societal growth, these wetlands have been turned into landfills and, along with the effects of water pollution, this has led to the destruction of marine forests.
“Creation of marine forests” is work that involves the underwater cultivation of seaweed. We started our efforts because, as scuba divers, we knew this was something we could do. In addition to this seaweed project, we also are conducting the “Dream Wakame Workshop”. With the same goals as the marine forest project, this test involving the planting of wakame seaweed in Yokohama Harbor is the first step in our “Water Reform” program. Wakame grows on nitrogen and phosphorous.
We thought that if we collect (eat) the wakame seaweed, which absorbs underwater nitrogen and phosphorous with high sustenance levels, perhaps we could lower the density levels of the nitrogen and phosphorous present in the water.
Through actual test results, we have been able to determine that the water environment surrounding the area of planted wakame has improved (visual checks and water quality data). We are using seaweed and other methods in our attempts to improve the water environment. Such methods involve work that could not be accomplished without us scuba divers. We believe this is possible because we are scuba divers, and we continue study and move forward in our efforts.
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- This is a great idea for divers. Keep it up.<Mr. Nagashima>
- This is a unique approach of growing kelp near urban areas. <Mr. Oguro>
- I like this program. However, I wonder if it is wise to concentrate on only one or two species. Data on species diversity and quality per species in a healthy environment might lead to cultivating a wide variety of algae species at appropriate quantities of total ecosystem. <Dr. Moyer>
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INTERNATIONAL STUDIUM YOKOHAMA
>>Website |
Efforts by large-scale stadiums to building a recycling-based society
The public is paying serious attention to the future operation and maintenance management plans of large-scale stadiums that hosted World Cup soccer matches. We currently are working to devise a plan that will receive the understanding and support of the public.
- Active use of electric energy from waste processing plants. -- Reduction of electricity costs (approx. 30 million yen)
- Use of rain and treated waste water. -- Reduction of water costs (approx. 15 million yen)
- Improvement of waste collection methods (increasing rate of recycling) -- Reduction of waste emissions
- Others -- Energy saving activities (turning off lights, elevators, etc.)
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- I understand the idea of showing data and taking measures. But what about informing people? When you develop a great facility it is also important to fully inform people about those environmental features.<Mr. Nagashima>
- It is clear to see the effect of showing results through concrete data.<Dr. Kubo>
- I expect that working on a facility that stand as symbols of a city, would have a tremendous effect.<Mr. Oguro>
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