carbon dioxide. These rural communities also tend to generate a smaller amount of waste per capita per day. Differences like these results in diversification in the vision for the future that each community pursues. For instance, the concept of a “compact city” has been proposed for urban communities. This concept aims to bring one’s residence and place of work closer together by distributing urban functions at an appropriate density within a certain area. On the other hand, the concept of an “ecovillage”—a community primarily emphasizing a harmonious coexistence with the environment, local

Structure of the Community Infrastructure

Broad classification	Medium classification	Narrow classification
Natural infrastructure	Climate	Temperature; Sunshine; Rainfall and snowfall; Wind; Tidal current
Geography	Geographical features; Longitude and latitude; Topography; Altitude; Terrain roughness; Volcanoes; Hot springs; Geological features; Soil; Underground resources
Fauna and flora	Natural monuments; Rare species; Regional endemic species; Primeval forests; Secondary forests; Natural grassland; Artificial forests; “Satochi-satoyama”; Agricultural land
Atmosphere	Environmental air quality; Fragrance; Sound environment
Water	Water quality; Groundwater; Surface water; Lakes and reservoirs; Oceans
Natural amenity	Scenic beauty; Landscapes; Accessibility to water
Social infrastructure	Population	Population; Number of households; Number of people per household; Age composition
City form and land use	Urban planning; Central urban district; Densely inhabited district population;
Transportation infrastructure	Green coverage rate; Agricultural land; Roads; Bikeways; Sidewalks; Railroads; Tramways; Route buses; New transportation system; Ships
Domestic infrastructure	Water supply system; Waste water reuse system (rainwater, treated sewage); Sewage system; Agricultural community effluent treatment facilities; Combined household water treatment facilities; District heating and cooling
Waste disposal	Amount of waste generated; Recycling rate; Waste treatment facilities; Final landfill sites; Recovery and recycling systems
Industry and Economy	Industrial structure; Local industries; Environmental industry; Shopping areas
Building	Houses; Offices; Office buildings
Cultural facilities	Cultural halls; Community centers; Libraries; Plazas; Parks
Educational facilities	Schools; Institutions of higher education; Schools for development of occupational skills; Community colleges
Technology and Information	Technology; Skills; Intellectual property; Know-how; Wisdom
Tradition and culture	Traditional culture; Performing arts; Folktales; Festivals; Customs; Dialects
Historical background	Historical monuments; Cultural assets and buildings of historic significance; Historical events (with or without incidence of pollution); Persons of distinction and prominence

Source: Ministry of the Environment

Ratio of Forests and City Parks to Total Area (FY 2000)

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment based on: 2000 World Census of Agriculture and Forestry by Prefecture (Survey of Forestry), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; FY 2000 Survey on Public Facilities edited by Financial Management Division, Local Public Finance Bureau of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications

Household Size and Per Capita Amount of Garbage Collected Daily (FY 2000)

Note: Figures represent the amount of general waste (including business waste) collected by local governments from which recycled amount has been subtracted.

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment based on FY 2000 Population Census of Japan, Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, and data owned by individual local governments.

material circulation, and autonomy—has been proposed for agricultural and mountain villages so that the sustainability of these areas may be maintained.

### 2. Actors Comprising the Community and Their Roles

The community is made up of many different actors—individuals, homes, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, local governments and NPOs—that engage in social and economic activities on the footing provided by the community’s natural and social infrastructures. These actors are interrelated with the environment in a diverse fashion,

Actors Comprising the Local Community and their Role in Environmental Conservation Activities