The Green Wave in Japan, 2009

Children and youth in Japan are getting set to join The Green Wave for biodiversity on 22 May!

On 21 April 2009, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) issued a national press release about the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB), explaining the theme of IDB 2009, the objective of The Green Wave and how to participate in The Green Wave. It invited various sectors to organize and participate in the IDB celebration, including The Green Wave.

The Ministry of Environment has contacted several key ministries and agencies to help facilitate participation of young people in The Green Wave activities. As a result, with support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, several UNESCO Schools have shown great interest in participating in The Green Wave, in relation to, and as a contribution to, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

Several associations of potted native tree producers and a house builder have agreed to provide potted-trees to the participating schools!

The MOE is also translating The Green Wave website into Japanese in order to make the global Green Wave more accessible to children and youth in Japan.

A number of Green Wave activities are also planned by MOE, Ishikawa Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture.

At Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, which is managed by MOE, a Green Wave event is planned on 22 May. The Vice Minister, local school kids and “Miss Nature” of Japan will participate in the event.

In Ishikawa, tree-planting events involving local schools and kindergartens are planned in forest parks and the “Satoyama”, on and around May 22nd. The Satoyama is Japan’s traditional countryside landscape between the cities and the deep mountains – rich environments formed by long-term sustainable use of resources by the local people. The event includes a tree-planting with the Governor and kindergarten kids.

In Aichi, a tree-planting ceremony with elementary school children has been organized on 22 May at the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park. In addition, some local schools will conduct tree-planting events on the same day.

The CBD Executive Secretary, Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, will be participating in Green Wave ceremonies at Shinjuku on 22 May and in Ishikawa on 23 May.

We look forward to the involvement of schools and groups across Japan and to seeing their stories and photos of their Green Wave events!