Japan

Over 350 participants joined the celebrations by attending events planned in Nagoya, Japan. On May 21st and 22nd, Ryo Kohsaka, CBD Junior Programme Officer, made a presentation on the importance of biodiversity. The audience, composed of citizens, NGOs, university researchers and students, responded positively to the presentations which were a great success. Additionally, a signing ceremony was held for a wetland affiliation with the City of Greater Geelong, Australia. Migratory birds which stop over at the Fujimae Tidal Flat in Nagoya, pass the winter in wetlands in Geelong. Click here to see pictures of activities that were held in Nagoya.

The United Nations University (UNU) Institute of Advances Studies, the Global Environment Information Centre and the Ministry of Environment of Japan organized a day-long symposium at the United Nations University Centre in Tokyo. The event began with opening remarks of the Senior Vice-Rector of the UNU, as well as the Director General of the Nature Conservation Bureau of the Ministry of Environment of Japan. This was followed by the reading of the messages of the Executive Secretaries of the CBD and the UNFCCC. There were two other presentations followed by two panel discussions and open forums on biodiversity and climate change issues. Click here to see programme and to read report. (English only)

The Biodiversity Network of Japan commemorated IBD by launching their information booklet, "Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Business - a Japanese perspective," which is available in English and Japanese.

At Waseda University, a daylong symposium was co-organized by the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) and Waseda University Environmental Research Institute, and supported by Ministry of the Environment and Forestry Agency. The symposium included several scientific presentations on climate change and biodiversity and ended with a panel discussion. At the same time several halls were set up for school children to visit focusing on different themes such as invasive species. Within the halls were exhibits, presentations and games for the children to participate in.

For more information click here. For more photos click here.