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Press Release

Japan-China Joint Crested Ibis Preservation Plan

October 27, 2003

The Japan-China Joint Crested Ibis Preservation Plan (hereinafter the "Joint Plan") was signed by Ms. Yuriko Koike, Minister of the Environment of Japan, and Mr. Zhou Shengxian, Administrator of the State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China, on October 27, 2003. The Joint Plan provides the basic framework for activities to protect the crested ibis until 2010, including targets and areas of cooperation. The Plan aims to strengthen and enhance the cooperative efforts for crested ibis protection which Japan and China have been undertaking since 1985 so as to protect and restore the population of the crested ibis, which exists only in Japan and China and which is globally recognized as an endangered species.

Background
As one outcome of the summit meeting in October 2000 between Mr. Yoshiro Mori, then Prime Minister of Japan and Mr. Zhu Rongji, then Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, a joint press announcement titled Joint Efforts for the 21st Century by Japan and the People's Republic of China -Results and Progress was issued. Formulation of a Japan-China Joint Crested Ibis Preservation Plan was agreed upon by both countries as one of 33 cooperative areas.
In line with this basic agreement, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the Chinese State Forestry Administration have been discussing and coordinating the issues of overall framework and the items to be included in the plan.

Aims of the Joint Plan
This plan stipulates that Japan and China should carry out protection and restoration of populations of the crested ibis, whose habitats exist only in Japan and China and which is recognized globally as an endangered species. This would be accomplished by joint efforts by Japan and China in strengthening and developing the relationship between the two countries on the basis of the outcome of joint efforts in protecting the crested ibis undertaken since 1985.

Outline of the Joint Plan
The Joint Plan stipulates the basic framework for mutual cooperation in preserving the crested ibis until 2010, including objectives for conservation of the crested ibis and the areas in which China and Japan will cooperate. The plan is comprised of the four items below.

i) Objective of the plan
In order to stabilize and expand wild populations of the crested ibis, including those returned to nature, as well as artificially raised populations existing in both China and Japan, the plan stipulates objectives that China and Japan should address. These include breeding, management of genetic lineage, improvement of habitat and/or the return to nature of artificially raised populations.
ii) Crested ibis preservation projects conducted by China
Projects include the conservation of wild populations, the promotion of breeding and raising, returning of crested ibises to nature and the promotion of research and study on preservation of the crested ibis.
iii) Crested ibis preservation projects conducted by Japan
Projects include the promotion of breeding and raising, the securing of population and genetic diversity, improvements in habitat and promotion of the return to nature and promotion of research and study on conservation of the crested ibis.
iv) Mutual cooperation conducted by China and Japan
Projects include promoting exchange of crested ibises between China and Japan and cooperation in the area of breeding, Japanese technological assistance to China's crested ibis preservation project, promotion of exchange of technology and research and information exchange related to crested ibis preservation.

Expected effects of formulation of the Joint Plan
The crested ibis preservation projects conducted by China and Japan are expected to be advanced considerably through the stipulation of concrete objectives and specific activities for crested ibis preservation.
The Japan side expects that promotion of the exchange of crested ibises between China and Japan and cooperation in breeding will ensure genetic diversity among the crested ibis population in Japan, and significantly contribute to stabilizing and increasing the number of crested ibises in Japan.
China expects that the Joint Plan will promote conservation and the improvement of the living environment of the crested ibis and contribute to stabilizing and increasing the number of crested ibises in China as a result of technical cooperation by Japan.

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