living environment (air pollution, water contamination, waste management, etc.) in urban areas, mainly in the Asian countries that are continuing to achieve rapid economic growth, is becoming a higher priority. Japan has accumulated many experiences and technologies in the process of addressing domestic pollution issues and it is utilizing these experiences and technologies to provide cooperation to address pollution issues in developing countries.

Specific efforts in this field include the promotion of cooperation between countries through the "Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia," through formation of a common understanding and information exchange regarding the acid rain issue in East Asia, the building of capacity to respond to environmental pollution in developing countries through technical cooperation for the "Environmental Center" which is the core of the environmental administration in six countries including China, Mexico, etc., and other such measures. And Japan is providing support for the building of a pollution control management system through the "Green Aid Plan (GAP)" inaugurated in 1992 and now targeted to seven Asian countries, support for creating manuals for environmental protection, support for research and development tailored to the unique technical and development issues of developing countries, and so on. Looking at a specific example, Japan made model cases of environmental improvement by providing practical advice, including on-site guidance in factories, and held dialogues with the government of the recipient country concerning plans for improvement, including the dissemination of the results of the model cases. Furthermore, Japan has formulated and provided response manuals through the project to support measures to address fixed sources of air pollution in developing countries.

## (c) Fresh Water Issues

In relation to environmental protection, Japan is implementing support for water supply and sewage systems that take into account the characteristics of urban and rural areas, and water resource management and water quality control (see Part II, Chapter 2, Section 3, 1-(3)).

## (d) Conservation of Natural Environment

Japan is providing support to developing countries for nature reserves management, forest-related issues, prevention of desertification, and natural resources management, while taking into account the poverty reduction of the residents in developing countries. Under the "National Strategy on Biological Diversity of Japan" which was approved by Japan's Council of Ministries for Global Environment Conservation in March 2002, it is stated that because Japan and the wider world, particularly the Asian region, have a deep relationship both in terms of the natural environment and socio-economics, it is necessary for Japan to actively contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in the Asian region, etc.

Specific efforts in this field include cooperation in research and education, the management of parks and habitats, and the promotion of environmental conservation under the Technical Cooperation Programme of Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation (BBEC) in Sabah in Malaysia and in enlightenment and education about research on and conservation of the coral reef ecosystem under the Palau International Coral Reef Center Strengthening Project in Palau, and the holding of meetings for the promotion of the "Asia Forest Partnership* $ ^{1} $ " which was established to promote sustainable forest management in Asia.

## (2) Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are not only a threat to lives of individuals in developing countries but also a serious obstacle to the economic and social development of those countries. As the progress in globalization allows people to easily cross borders, infectious diseases could spread to industrial countries. These diseases have thus become a global issue that the international community is required to address through cooperation. Realizing such situation, Japan raised the significance of tackling infectious diseases and announced the Infectious Diseases Initiative (IDI) at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit in July.

## $ ^{*} $ I: Asia Forest Partnership (AFP)

The AFP is a partnership established to promote sustainable forest management in Asia. The Asian countries (mainly the ASEAN countries), donor countries including the G8, etc., international organizations and NGOs, etc. cooperate through activities to control illegal logging, forest fires, rehabilitation of degraded land (reforestation), etc. It was formally inaugurated at the Johannesburg Summit held in South Africa in August and September 2002. The First Meeting for the Promotion of AFP was held in Tokyo in November 2002, the Second Meeting was held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in July 2003, and the Third Meeting was held in Chiba Prefecture in November 2003, and the fourth in Tokyo in December 2004.