# Section 4: Environmentally Friendly Community Planning

Developing regions and communities by adopting an environmental point of view and utilizing local features has drawn attention. In this section, we will look at local initiatives that have utilized and integrated the “environmental spirit” described in this chapter.

In the Yusuhara Town, Kochi Prefecture, environmental conservation measures using mainly wind power are being undertaken (“Let the wind blow. Let us develop our town.”). Electricity is produced using wind power to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Profits from electricity sales are used to set up an environmental fund to help finance photovoltaic power generation facilities for housing and to carry out thinning to pursue sound forest development. Furthermore, community-based environmental conservation activities, such as the Thousand Rice Fields Ownership System, are being carried out.

###### (http://www.town.yusuhara.kochi.jp/)

People of Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, are working together to “build a city that can coexist with the stork.” Residents, businesses, and the local government have all joined forces to promote the “15 Menus to Become Healthy.” Farmers build “Rice Field Biotopes” and adopt the “Pesticide-free Duck Farming Method.” And citizens hold the “Stork Thanksgiving Festival.” In April 2000, the “Toyooka City Stork Fund” was set up to support activities to make rice paddies in Toyooka a habitat for stork. Such activities have paid off. In 2002, a stork flew from the Asian mainland and made Toyooka its home. (http://www.city.toyooka.hyogo.jp/)

Citizens and city government officials in Hino City, Tokyo, formed partnerships to tackle environmental problems in their community. First of all, they proposed through direct petition to draw up the city's Fundamental Environment Ordinance. The Basic Environment Plan was formulated with the participation of citizens through public invitation. Then in the year 2000, to "create a zero-waste city" with its citizens, the city government explained to about 30,000 residents the need for a "Waste Revolution." Sorted waste is collected from each household and dust boxes were removed. Thanks to these activities, Hino City was successful in reducing waste by about 50% in a year's time.

Primary school students visiting a wind power plant (Courtesy of Yusuhara Town, Kochi Prefecture)

Rice field biotope

(Courtesy of Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture)

Lecture on waste revolution for citizens (Courtesy of Hino City, Tokyo)

It helped extend the useful life of final landfill sites. (http://www.city.hino.tokyo.jp/info/)

Such improvements to the environment can invigorate the economy and a revitalized economy can, in turn, better the environment. To develop this kind of relationship in communities (a virtuous circle for environment and economy), the Ministry of the Environment has started “A Community Model Project of a Virtuous Circle for Environment and Economy” (“Heisei Mahoroba (Utopia)” Community Creation Project) since 2004. This project gathers ideas for protecting the environment, such as reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, and for revitalizing the economy from cities and towns nationwide. It commissions cities and towns that are successful in obtaining a wide participation of businesses and citizens through inventive ideas that utilize regional characteristics to carry out environmental conservation activities, and also subsidizes the establishment of facilities. It is hoped that models such as these will bring results, and community creation aimed at creating a virtuous circle for environment and economy will further spread.

(http://www.chie-no-wa.com/)