Folks:
I've received a request from the Tokyo Office of Japan Wetlands Action
Network seeking URGENT help in their continuing strugggle to rescue the
Fujimae Tidal Flat from destruction. The value of these mudflats to
migratory birds is self-evident but anyone who feels they want to check out
the exact nature of this area could drop a line to:
KASHIWAGI Minoru
Tokyo Office,Japan Wetlands Action Network
Address: 3-18-1 #105, Higashi-Toyoda, Hino-shi, Tokyo 191, JAPAN
Tel/Fax: 042-583-6365
E-mail:
However, time is running out. The Deliberative Committee, which will decide
the final future of the mudflats, meets on 28 January (that's two days hence
as I type this). It is feared that the decision is already a forgone
conclusion - not good news for the mudflats or the shorebirds that use the
area. A last hope is immediate action of all who support the Japan Wetlands
Action Network by innudating :
Mayor Takehisa Matsubara,
Mayor of Nagoya City
with faxes (Fax: +81-52-972-4105) and/or
The Honorable Hiroshi Ohki,
Director General of the Environment Agency of Japan
with either faxes or emails (Fax: +81-3-3508-9573; E-mail:
Below I've attached a copy of the last communication I received from Japan:
FUJIMAE TIDAL FLAT'S FUTURE TO BE DECIDED JAN. 28TH
Committee About to Give "Go" Sign - Isahaya Project Still Continues
Another breeding season for shorebirds approaches, but the prospect is not
very bright for birds using the East Asia/Australasia Flyway.
We are very grateful for the support and action you have taken in the past
to save tidal flats in Japan, especially with respect to the closing off of
Isahaya Bay from the sea in April last year. All your letters and faxes
moved our government: Though it still insists on continuing the destructive
Isahaya Bay Land Reclamation project, change has been initiated in public
works project policy. The government decided to study a system of review for
public works projects in order to reduce the budget.
At this time, Fujimae Tidal Flat is at stake. As many of you know, Fujimae
Tidal Flat in Ise Bay is one of the largest shorebird staging sites in Japan
with more than 12,000 birds counted in spring. Almost all tidal flats in Ise
Bay were reclaimed, so the bird have nowhere else to go. The project in
question, first planned in 1984, will use Fujimae Tidal flat as a final
dumping ground for 1,100 tons of garbage a day from Nagoya City. The site
will only last for ten years before it is full. As with other projects in
Japan, Nagoya City was ready to start construction after an environmental
impact assessment which only satisfies legal requirements to collect
documents and functions as a mere formality. Scientific rigor is low,
assessments are carried out at the last stage of the planning process, and
none has ever resulted in a significant change to a project.
The letters and appeal that many of you kindly sent to the Mayor of Nagoya
were exceedingly effective. The city government carried out an additional
survey in autumn 1997. Apparently, Nagoya City came to this decision taking
into account many of your opinions and letters from all over the world, some
of which addressed scientific issues.
However, the process is again being forced as follows. The official
Deliberative Committee convened to review the environmental impact
assessment held a meeting on 8 January 1998 and attempted to finish its work
with a decision of "generally appropriate," that is, to go ahead with the
project based on the insufficient and twisted EIA. However, bird specialist
members on the committee insisted strongly that surveys should be continued
through the coming spring migration season. It was said that the member
expressed his/her strong insistence by saying he will quit the committee if
the survey will be stopped. A disastrous decision was avoided that day.
The next committee meeting is on January 28th. The prospects are very dark.
It is very likely that the committee will release a "go" decision on the
28th, with pressure being brought to bear to the effect that the present
dumping site is full.
Please send an emergency fax or e-mail before 28th January (Japan time) to
the Mayor of Nagoya City asking to delay the decision until the results of
an additional survey of shorebirds during the coming spring migration season
have been published. We would also appreciate it if you would encourage the
Director-General of the Environment Agency to take action to protect one of
the important shorebird sites in Japan, as identified in the "Inventory of
Shorebird Sites in Japan" released by the Agency in September 1997.
All help would be gratefully received. Damage to these mudflats could
rebound on our own birds.
Julian Bielewicz
Past President, QOSI
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