In addition, because the toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals, which impact the endocrine system (hormones) by causing damage to or having harmful effects on the body, is mostly unknown, studies are being promoted to gather scientific knowledge.

Moreover, Japan introduced the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register system (PRTR system) for chemicals that are suspected of being harmful to human health and ecosystems. The PRTR system assesses, aggregates, and disseminates the amount of these substances released to the environment or transferred off-site from industrial establishments via waste products. Since March 2003, the first results have been published and requests for disclosure of individual data have been accepted. The promotion of risk communication on chemical substances will take on more importance in the future.

### 6. Ensuring the Coexistence of Man and Nature

When we look at the current state of the natural environment in Japan, we see that natural forests and secondary forests are in decline while afforested areas, urban areas,

The areas of tidal flats and seaweed/seagrass beds as well as natural coastlines are also in decline. The number of species exposed to the danger of extinction includes 2 species of mammals and 39 species of birds. In total, 62 species have been classified as national endangered species of wild fauna and flora in the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The number of threatened species listed on the Red List has reached a little more than 20% of mammals, amphibians, brackish/freshwater fish and vascular plants (Tracheophyte), a little less than 20% of reptiles and a little more than 10% of bird species inhabiting Japan.

With this backdrop in March 2002, the government revised the National Strategy on Biological Diversity based on the following three pillars. (1) Strengthening conservation is proposed to tackle issues such as the extinction of species, decrease in

Top 10 Chemical Substances for Reported Releases and Releases Not Subject to Reporting (FY 2001)

Degree of Human Disturbance of Vegetation

Nutritional (of vegetation)	Category of Vegetation	3rd Survey	4th Survey	Increase/decrease
Number of meshes	Percentage (%)	Number of meshes	Percentage (%)	Number of meshes	Percentage (%)
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 (close 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	Afforested area	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 area, reclaimed land, etc.	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	72	0.0	71	0.0	- 1	0.0
Total	368,470	100.0	368,610	100.0	140	0.0

Source: 'Vegetation Survey' of the 4th National Survey on the Natural Environment, Ministry of the Environment

Distribution Ratio of Degree of Human Disturbance of Vegetation by Region

Source: 'Vegetation Survey' of the 4th National Survey on the Natural Environment, Ministry of the Environment