## (4) Environmental education on rivers

As natural environments close to communities, recently, rivers host a variety of activities such as environmental studies and natural experience activities. In addition, we are promoting projects and disseminating of information so children can safely learn and play by riversides. Because there are hidden dangers and proper knowledge is essential for safe activity, we cooperate with the NPO River Activities Council (RAC), a citizens' groups which played a central role in establishment, to promote the cultivation of river administrators.

Also, in order to widely disseminate environmental education on rivers in the schools, MLIT is providing information to textbook publishers to introduce environmental education projects.

## ○ Children’s Riverside Rediscovery Project

With the cooperation of citizens’ groups, educators, and river administrators, rivers are registered as Children’s Riversides and receive various means of support from the Center for Supporting Children’s Riverside Activities. 300 locations are registered as of the end of March 2015.

## ☐ Riverside Fun School Project

Utilization is encouraged for riversides that are registered as Children’s Riversides and undergo riverside improvements required for enhancing experiential activities. 286 locations are registered as of the end of March 2015.

## ○ National Aquatic Organism Study

Conducted with the goal to increase interest in rivers through a survey of life forms found in nearby rivers. In FY 2014, 59,053 people participated. 61% of the inspection points (2,252 points) were judged to have “clean water”.

## 3 Preserving and improving coastal environments

Because we must preserve animal habitats, care for scenery, and sustain appropriate usage of beaches, while protecting the coast from storm surges, tsunamis, and high waves, we are proceeding with maintenance and conservation that balances between “defense”, “environment”, and “usage”.

In addition, based on the “Law for Protecting Beautiful and Rich Nature through the Promotion of Disposing Beached Coastal Waste contributing to the Preservation of Coastal Scenery and Conservation of the Environment (Coastal Waste Disposal Promotion Act)”, we implement effective measures for beached waste in close cooperation with relevant institutions in the future.

Support is being provided for efforts to deal with large-scale debris that drifts ashore and impedes the functions of coastal protection facilities through an emergency project for dealing with large driftwood and other debris items coming ashore in connection with disasters. This project enables concerned parties to process such debris in a concerted, efficient manner.

We are also providing support for the processing of neglected and stranded vessels and the removal of slime that abnormally accumulates in sea areas in order to secure the functions of coastal protection facilities, conserve the coastal environment, and facilitate the proper use of coastal areas.

## 4 Greening port and harbor administration

## (1) Basic direction of future port and harbor environment policies

In order for ports and harbors in Japan to uphold their position as grounds for logistics, industry and living, and sustain continual growth, they must recover as much degraded or lost nature as they can, and incorporate environmental conservation in various port functions. For this reason, we are working towards greening port administration, which involves the two parts of port and harbor development and utilization, and conservation, revival, and creation of environments in to one consolidated subject.