In addition, the PRTR system was introduced in Japan and the results will be announced after the end of 2002. The PRTR system is a mechanism for checking, aggregating, and announcing the amount of chemical substances harmful to human health or the ecosystem that is emitted to the environment or may be carried together with wastes. In the future, improvement of risk communication becomes more important to promote sharing of information and mutual understanding among citizens, industries, and governments regarding environmental risks caused by chemical substances.

## 6 ) Securing harmonious coexistence between human-kind and nature

The condition of the natural environment in Japan shows a decrease of natural forests and secondary forests and increase of plantations, urban areas, and reclaimed land areas, Tidal flat and algal areas and natural lakeshore areas and coastal areas are decreasing. Among the species found in Japan, a total of 57 species are specified as lean wild plant and animal species, including 2 types of Mammalia and 39 types of birds. The species whose existences are threatened in Japan include about 20% or more of Mammalia, Amphibia, and saltwater/fresh-water Pisces, about 20% or less of Reptilia and vascular bundle plants, and 10% or more of Aves.

Based on these circumstances, the Government revised the National Strategy on Biological Diversity in March 2002.

Cycle in the socio-economic system and cycle in the natural environment

Variation	Classification	3rd survey	4th survey	Increase/decrease
Number of meshes	Ratio	Number of meshes	Ratio	Number of meshes	Ratio
10	Natural grassland	4,038	1.1	4,011	1.1	−27	0.0
9	Natural forest	66,979	18.2	66,394	18.0	−585	−0.2
8	Secondary forest (similar to natural forest)	20,046	5.4	19,733	5.4	−313	−0.1
7	Secondary forest	70,484	19.1	69,030	18.7	−1,454	−0.4
6	Plantation	91,029	24.7	92,072	25.0	1,043	0.3
5	Secondary grassland (high grass)	5,737	1.6	5,626	1.5	−111	0.0
4	Secondary grassland (low grass)	5,939	1.6	6,498	1.8	559	0.2
3	Agricultural land (orchard)	6,798	1.8	6,817	1.8	19	0.0
2	Arable land (paddy fields and fields)	76,945	20.9	77,311	21.0	366	0.1
1	Urban land and reclaimed land	14,841	4.0	15,420	4.2	579	0.2
Natural bare land	1,392	0.4	1,416	0.4	24	0.0
Open water	4,170	1.1	4,211	1.1	41	0.0
Unspecified class	72	0.0	71	0.0	−1	0.0
Total	368,470	100.0	368,610	100.0	140	0.0

Presentation: "Vegetation Survey - by the 4th National Survey on the Natural Environment" by the Ministry of the Environment

Ratio of vegetation naturalness by locality

Presentation: "Vegetation Survey - by the 4th National Survey on the Natural Environment" by the Ministry of the Environment

In the new national strategy, the Government indicated the basic policies regarding the future biological diversity conservation measures with the following three major pillars based on the current condition of the crisis on biological diversity and maturity of awareness of the nation on these issues:

<1> "Enhancement of conservation" as the countermeasures for extinction of species, decrease of wetland, and problems of introduced species

<2> Suggestion of "Restoration of Nature" for actively regenerating and restoring the parts of Nature that were lost or damaged, in addition to the conversion of Nature

<3> "Sustainable use" in areas such as satoyama, community based traditional agriculture and forests, that is, promotion of regional conservation of biological diversity.

The conservation of areas with outstanding nature in Japan is also important issue. The Government is conserving the areas