In order to study the environmental structure of canals, a habitat for Unionoid mussels field investigation was carried out from April to November 2012 in six canals which take water from the same river. As a result, two species of Pronodularia japonensis and Anodonta japonica Clessin inhabited in only one of the canals. The study details on shell length showed that species breeding had occurred. Comparison between the inhabited canal and other canals further revealed differences in sediment composition sizes. The inhabited canal was found to have particle sizes of more than 1mm and less than 5mm a counting for move than 40% of total deposited material. Furthermore, appropriate flow velocity value was important for deposition of the sediment. The best velocity value may found to be related to water management structures such as diversion.

View full abstract

The COP13 to the Convention on Biological Diversity has started a discussion on whether the utilization of digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI) was equivalent to the utilization of genetic resources. Parties decided on how to proceed with discussion on DSI issue, without concrete discussion. This paper aims to analyze the views of each Party, using the responses to the notification of the SCBD, and consider the arguments of each country from a legal point of view. As a result, in addition to the interpretation of "the utilization of genetic resources" defined in Article 2 of the Nagoya Protocol, "utilization of genetic resources as well as subsequent applications and commercialization" prescribed in Article 15 of the CBD and Article 5 of the Nagoya Protocol are starting to be mentioned in the context of utilization of DSI. This point means that there is a difference in legal interpretation.

View full abstract

A precious forest of Migukurumitama shrine occupying Kojii (Castanopsis cuspidate) and Arakashi (Quercus glauca) in southern part of Osaka Prefecture have been protected for many years. The forest is registered in one hundred selections in forests of Osaka. However, survey at the site showed tree decline of both species. Soil chemical analysis revealed low soil pH value. In addition, strong statistical correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient, rp = -0.719, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, rs=-0.730) was found between the decline score and the soil pH around Kojii trees.

View full abstract

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which are clinically important, are detected not only in clinical settings but also in aquatic environments, such as rivers, in the world. Environmental bacteria are suspected as a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) for human pathogenic bacteria. However, there is very little data available about AMR including environmental bacteria in Tokyo. To obtain some data about AMR in environmental bacteria of surface water, we investigated AMR from 2016-2017 at 20 sites of surface water in Tokyo. As a result, AMR were detected at all sampling sites, and we got 86 isolates. Of which, 64% of isolates showed resistance with ampicillin with sulbactam (SAM20) and 54% with clarithromycin (CLR 15).

View full abstract

I produced barrier-free teaching materials for environmental education on a natural experience-based activity. Instead of relying on eyesight and focusing on visual impairment, I tried instead to implement teaching materials that relied on touching and grasping certain features of creatures by hand. Then I evaluated a student with visual impairment and a teacher using a questionnaire. The trial production of the teaching materials clearly showed that it was difficult to grasp creatures. Furthermore, teaching materials development requires direct touch using fingers by the visual-impairment teacher, who already knows the features of the creatures being examined. Moreover, JASSO reports showed clearly that the disability studies student enrollment rate at the Faculty of science and agriculture is notably low compared with that at the Faculty of sociology and humanities. I consider that this shows that environmental education is not taught during childhood, and thus development of barrier-free teaching materials is needed.

View full abstract

In Khulna city, Bangladesh, I developed environmental education materials (flip cards, carta, board game and action plan sheet), including the topics for understanding that waste pickers contribute to circulate the community resources by the separate collection and to conserve the environment, that the community society alleviate waste picker’s social exclusion, and that citizens acquire their capacity of appropriate waste management. This research aims to consider their level of understanding of learning through the environmental education program, targeting 1,690 elementary and 828 secondary school students in the 40 schools in total, which are responsible for the next generation. As a result, it was clarified that more than 80% elementary and secondary school students could understand the contents on the developed environmental education materials, and it was usefulness and necessity according to the comments from teachers and guardians.

View full abstract

The university students have conducted volunteer activities focused on traffic accidents which are one of the major reasons for the declining population of Tsushima Leopard Cats. Through a series of activities, the students were satisfied with the experience on the forefront of the wildlife conservation and became interested in the conservation activities participated in. Also, they became more willing to explain their thinking to others and cooperate with others. It was also found that the students' key-competency can be expected, as well as deepening their knowledge and interests about Tsushima Leopard Cats.

View full abstract