World Wetlands Day 2001: Japan

16. Jan. 2001

Secretary General
Ramsar Convention Bureau

Dear friends,

We members of the Kasumigaura Citizens' Association are holding the Symposium entitled "Lake Kasumigaura and Ramsar Convention" for raising public awareness on this issue. We would like to register this symposium as one of the associated events around World Wetland Day 2001.

Symposium: Lake Kasumigaura and Ramsar Convention

Date: 25th February 2001 13:30-16:00 pm

Venue: National Inn Suigo Major Congress Room(Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan)

Host organizer: Kasumigaura Citizens' Association

Snail Mail  Address:2-13-6 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura ,Ibaraki, 300-0033 Japan

Chairperson: Mr.Akira Horikoshi

phone: 81-298-21-05528(secretary) or 81-298-35-2252(laboratory,English Speaker)

fax:81-298-35-2253 e-mail: kca@cg.mbn.or.jp

Contents:

Key note lecture entitled "Ramsar Convention and Wetland in Japan and World " by Ms. Reiko Nakamura (Secretary General, Ramsar Center Japan)

Reports and Panel Discussion entitled "Aiming the registration of Lake Kasumigaura as the Ramsar Site".

panelist: Bird Watchers, Conservationist, Fisherman, Lotus farmer, Researcher and so on.

Introduction to Lake Kasumigaura

Lake Kasumigaura is the second largest lake in Japan, having a surface area of 220km2, the maximum depth is only 7 meters. This lake was famous for traditional fishery for Smelt, Icefish, Crucian Carp ,Goby and River Prawn. But now, the fishing production is drastically decreasing due to the water quality deterioration caused by the closure of the tide gate aiming at desalination in 1963.

However, the number of water fowls wintering in Lake Kasumigaura is over 40,000. So, the lake and wide surrounding wetland (used for lotus and rice paddies) are suitable for Ramsar Convention site in the near future.

We are looking forward to realize that Lake Kasumigaura would be 12nd Ramsar site in Japan.

Reported by Dr Atsushi Numazawa, Senior Researcher , Kasumigaura Citizens' Association

e-mail: kca@cg.mbn.or.jp