environment; giving greater importance to biodiversity education; and providing better supports to NPOs.

The Red List provides the status of threatened wildlife species. Facing extinction, it reports, are a little more than 20% of mammals, amphibians, brackish water and freshwater fishes, and vascular plants (tracheophyte), a little less than 20% of reptiles, and a little more than 10% of bird species inhabiting Japan. Furthermore, 73 species have been designated as national endangered species of wild fauna and flora pursuant to the Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, including four species of mammals and 39 species of birds.

A variety of measures are being taken to help conserve biological diversity in Japan.

To protect and increase the use of natural parks properly, the government is conducting an overall review of park areas and park plans to meet changes in social and other conditions surrounding parks.

To more effectively preserve internationally important wetlands, the government designated an additional 20 locations in Japan (including various wetland topographies such as marshes, tidal flats, coral reefs and karst topographies) as Ramsar Convention-registered wetlands.

Under the Law for the Promotion of Nature Restoration, 18 new Nature Restoration Committees had been established as of March 2006, initiating efforts toward nature restoration.

In accordance with the Invasive Alien Species Act (effective in June 2005), the government designated 37 species as invasive alien species in the first round, and 43 species in the second round.

List of Invasive Alien Species under the Invasive Alien Species Act

(as of February 1, 2006)

Class	Name of Species
Mammals	Brushtail possum, all species of the genus Erinaceus, Taiwan macaque, crab-eating macaque, rhesus macaque, nutria, Pallas's squirrel, Russian flying squirrel (excluding Japanese subspecies Pteromys volans ori), gray squirrel, Eurasian red squirrel (excluding Japanese subspecies Sciurus vulgaris orientis), muskrat, crab-eating raccoon, raccoon, American mink, Javan mongoose, all species of the genus Axis, all species of the genus Cervus (excluding the native subspecies of Sika Deer), all species of the genus Dama, Pere David's deer, and Reeves's muntjac
Birds	Laughing thrushes, masked laughingthrush, white-browed laughingthrush, and red-billed mesia
Reptiles	Snapping turtle, green anole, brown anole, brown tree snake, Taiwan beauty snake, and Taiwan pit vipers
Amphibians	Cane toad, Cuban treefrog, Puerto Rican coqui, bullfrog, and Asian tree frog
Fish	Channel catfish, northern pike, muskellunge, western mosquito fish, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, white bass, striped bass, Eurasian perch, pikeperch, Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), Mandarin fish (Siniperca scherzeri)
Insects	All species of the genus Cheirotonus (excluding Yanbaru long-armed scarab), Argentine ant or tropical fire ant, fire ant, red imported fire ant, and little fire ant
Invertebrates	All species of the family Buthidae, all species of the genera Atrax and Hadronyche (family Hexathelidae), 3 species of the genus Loxosceles, 4 species of widow spiders, all species of the genus Astacus, signal crayfish, rusty crayfish, all species of the genus Cherax, all species of the genus Eriocheir (excluding E. Japonica), all species of the genus Limnoperna, quagga mussel, zebra mussel, cannibal snail, and predatory flatworm
Plants	Alligatorweed, floating marshpennywort or pennywort, water lettuce, water fern, lanceleaf tickseed, Senegal tea plant, cutleaf coneflower, Madagascar ragwort, bur cucumber, parrotfeather, common cord grass, water speedwell

Source: Ministry of the Environment

Some regions have recently had an increase in deer, wild boar, and some other birds and animals as the number of hunters, who played an important role in controlling their numbers, has decreased. This contains a risk of serious damage to agriculture, forestry, and natural vegetation, as well as reducing the quality of habitats for wildlife and the number of migratory birds in some locations. To further encourage wildlife management by active hunting, the government submitted the bill on Wildlife Protection and Proper Hunting Law to the Diet.

The lawmakers amended the Law for Welfare and Proper Management of Animals (amended legislation came into force in June 2006), with the intention of enhancing animal welfare and management practices for animals. The main revised points are that the registration system for animal dealers and the nationwide permission scheme for specified animals (dangerous animals).

In addition, an emphasis is also being placed on people’s contact with nature. It is considered that nature helps develop a healthy mind, revitalize humanity, and learn more about coexistence with nature.

As a part of continued efforts to promote ecotourism since FY2004, the government has launched 5 new policy initiatives: i) The Ecotourism Charter; ii) The Ecotourism Promotion Manual; iii) The Ecotour Travel Guide; iv) The Ecotourism Awards; and v) model projects. At “the First Ecotourism Awards” to honor ecotourism best practices, the Minister of the Environment granted Grand Prix (1 award winner), Prize for Excellence (4 award winners), and Special Prize (6 award winners) at the commendation ceremony held at the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan venue. In addition, the Ministry of the Environment held a symposium to provide information on various best practices. In the “model projects,” the government has provided support for the rulemaking process or travel attendant training programs in 13 districts, paying careful attention to their local needs, as well as holding