Link Inspired by Migratory Birds
Focusing on Wetland Conservation
| There are shorebirds which annually embark on an epic 25,000 kilometre
journey between wetlands in Siberia and Brisbane in Queensland, resting
en route at a wetland in metropolitan Tokyo. This amazing fact has
brought together the cities of Narashino in Chiba Prefecture, Japan,
and Brisbane in Queensland. |
|
 Nature
conservation volunteers from Narashino
inspect the Boondall Wetlands in Brisbane |
Narashino Mayor Isamu Araki and Brisbane City Lord Mayor Jim Soorley
signed an agreement in Brisbane on 25 February 1998 committing their
cities to joint research and cooperation for the conservation of the
cities' wetlands, which are vital for the survival of the migratory
birds.
Located just 30km from the centre of Tokyo, Narashino City boasts
the last remaining natural wetland on the highly industrialised and
developed Tokyo Bay. This wetland, Yatsu Higata, covers just 40ha.
- small by Australian standards - but is of great ecological significance
for the bird and marine life found there. Of the 100 bird species which
frequent the wetlands, 60 are waterbirds. Such is its significance,
Yatsu Higata is one of Japan's ten and the world's 931 wetlands registered
under the Ramsar Convention. Yatsu shares this prestige with the Boondall
Wetlands, which are a significant component of the Moreton Bay Ramsar
site of Brisbane City.
The agreement between Narashino and Brisbane commits the cities to:
joint research and the exchange of study information in relation
to wetland preservation and the protection of migratory shorebirds;
the exchange and reciprocal training of officers involved in wetland
protection; and
the development of educational programs to increase community environmental
awareness and understanding.
This is just one good example of a pragmatic, theme-oriented grassroots
link in which a Japanese local authority is keenly participating.
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