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26 Panel 1In Toyooka, local government agencies, NGOs, andcommunities work together to save the oriental whitestork, a species that used to be common throughoutJapan but later on dwindled due to the loss ofwetlands, and the use of chemicals and fertilizer in ricepaddies. The breeding center was set up before theextinction of the species from the wild in 1971.It takes considerable effort for a breeding program tosucceed. The key to success is the getting thecooperation of farmers under the “Stork FriendlyFarming” program, which aims to minimizeenvironmental damage by promoting organic farming.Moreover, fish ladders have been installed to connectthe rivers, irrigation channels, and rice paddies. Theseenable various fish and amphibian species to movearound in these networks. Through these farmingpractices, they have been able to synchronize riceproduction, i.e., the economic activity essential for thelocal livelihood, with the conservation of biodiversity.Mayor Nakagai Muneharu of Toyooka stated that there-introduction of storks has contributed to thecreation of eco-tourism in Toyooka. About 400,000tourists visit the Eco Museum Center every year to seethe storks. This translates to about $11 million dollarsin tourism revenue per year. Setsuo Satake, Director ofthe Wetland Action Circle for the Oriental WhiteStork said that there are lots of students, farmers, andtourists who visit the Wetland Education Center, aplace where people can observe the storks’ behavioreither directly or through a monitor. Students are alsoprovided hands-on activities such as rice planting,wetland restoration, and species monitoring.In Kushiro, Hokkaido, there were formerly lots of redcrowedcranes. Later on, their population rapidlydeclined due to hunting and the loss of wetlands. Thelast flock of birds was rediscovered east of Hokkaido.Then the government declared the red-crowned cranea Special Natural Monument in order to protect thespecies.Seiji Hayama, manager of the Conservation Divisionof the Wild Bird Society of Japan (WBSJ) said thatWBSJ has been working with government agencies,communities, and academics for years to restore thewetlands and the bird species. Cranes utilize large areasof wetlands and are very sensitive to any disturbance.It was in 1966 when Mr. Ito Yoshitaka, a farmer, beganto feed cranes. This initiative is challenging becausethere are about 400 birds in one feeding site.WBSJ currently has a pilot project in line with its questto create an area where cranes can find some food bythemselves during winter. There are volunteers,farmers and junior students who help make a waterfloor and cut some branches to make it suitable forcranes in winter. The WBSJ also organizes meetingsamong stakeholders to resolve issues involving thebirds and the farmers.At the site level, WBSJ distributes Tancho’s teacher’sguide and conducts workshops for school teachers,who then teach their students and talk to touristsusing the information from the teacher’s guide. Theschoolchildren who come in groups are made to helpfarmers grow grain from cranes but the most popularactivities among them are the wetland tour, birdwatching, and doing illustrations of cranes and nature.All their illustrations are exhibited at the Museum.This activity has been ongoing for 17 years already.There are some students who develop a deep interestin this project and bring their parents to the wetlands.Matsumoto Fumio of the Akan International CraneCenter explained that CEPA is an important tool forcrane conservation since the people do understandcranes but not the environment, so a major subject isto conserve the crane. By conducting lectures oncranes, CEPA is able to make everyone see them withtheir own eyes. The CEPA approach also entailsfacilitating a dialogue between the local farmers andlocal government agencies for them to understandeach other better. Fumio has been working closely withthe local conservation NGO, Trust Sarun Kushiro.Trust Sarun Kushiro has carried out national trustactivities for Kushiro Marsh. Sarun translates to“marshland” in the indigenous Ainu language.Due to the long history of crane feeding, cranes are notafraid to get close to people. An attitude survey ofgeneral farmers revealed that while they do not likecranes damaging their crops or getting close to theirfarmland, they appreciate the beauty of cranes. CEPAhelps make the farmers recognize the existing problemsof the crane and this is important because the farmers’attitude toward the cranes needs to change. Actually,in Kushiro, farmers do not grow rice but corn for cattleso the cost of the damage is different from that inIzumi, where farmers grow rice and are not keen to askfor compensation. People in Kushiro feed cranes withcorn.Recently, the population of the red-crowned craneincreased to 1,300 birds. Their major habitat inThe Work of the 2010/2011 API Fellows