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North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC)

Six countries in the Northeast Asian region (Japan, Republic of Korea, China, Russia, Mongolia, and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) have held the Meeting of Senior Officials on Environmental Cooperation in Northeast Asia every year to exchange opinions and information to build a regional cooperative relationship toward solving environmental problems at both a global and regional level through cooperation transcending national borders.

Under this meeting, to encourage environmental cooperation in the region, the countries are advancing the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), which includes training and data collection for pollution-abatement measures and conservation programs for large mammals and migratory birds.

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Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)

In order to address the acid deposition problem, which is a transboundary environmental problem, the activities of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) had been implemented with participation by thirteen East Asian countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand, and Viet Nam). The network conducts monitoring with harmonized methods in all countries, to promote common understanding on the current state of acid deposition ultimately aiming at counteraction including emission control on a scientific basis and under international collaboration.
The Network started its full-fledged activities in January 2001, following the Joint Announcement issued at the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on EANET.

Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)

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Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy

Since 1996, the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats in the Asia-Pacific region has been promoted through the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy, which is an international cooperative initiative.

The Strategy defines the current state of NGO activities and bilateral and multilateral agreements between governments, confirms the problems that have emerged in the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats, and establishes the goals and activities involved for settlement of problems and greater international cooperation. Under the Strategy, three networks of internationally important sites for migratory shorebirds, cranes and Anatidae have been developed. Numerous activities such as organization of symposiums and training courses as well as information exchanges have been undertaken at network sites. The Ministry of the Environment has actively supported the Strategy and three flyway networks in cooperation with NGOs and relevant governments in the region.

Major Waterbird Flyways in the Asia-Pacific Region

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Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP)

Regional Sea Programs have been implemented under UNEP initiative for the environmental protection of sea areas shared by several countries. In 1994, NOWPAP was adopted by Japan, China, Russia and the Republic of Korea for the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.

In 1999, the Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Center (NPEC) was designated as the Regional Activity Center (CEA-RAC), and in 2004 a co-hosted Regional Coordination Unit in Toyama and Pusan functioning as a secretariat of NOWPAP was established. The Ministry of the Environment will continue to promote this plan actively.

Meet the NOWPAP Family

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The Asian Network for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes

For the purpose of environmental protection, transboundary movement of hazardous wastes is controlled by the Basel Convention and the Waste Management Law in Japan. In particular, transboundary movement in the Asian regions is increasing rapidly along with the increase in demand for resources, and environmental problems caused by illegal transboundary movement of wastes and scrap are a major concern in the region. In this regard, the Government of Japan has proposed the establishment of the Asian Network for Prevention of Illegal Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes, which was agreed by the representatives from 9 Asian Parties to the Basel Convention in a Workshop held in December 2004, in Tokyo. The aims of the Network are to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information on transboundary movements of hazardous wastes in Asian countries, to assist participating countries in formulating appropriate legislative response to such movements under each country’s system as required by the Convention, and to provide useful information that can contribute to capacity development for the implementation of the Basel Convention.