Environmental Information Network in Asia and the Pacific (ECO ASIA NET)
Second International Workshop on
Environmental Information Network
in Asia and the Pacific
(ECO-ASIA NET)
3-4 February 1998
Tokyo, Japan
CHAIRPERSON'S SUMMARY
- The Second International Workshop on Environmental Information Network in Asia and the Pacific (ECO ASIA NET) was held in Tokyo, Japan from 3 to 4 February 1998. It was organized by the Environment Agency of Japan and was attended by 28 participants from 17 countries and 7 organizations (see Participants List). The workshop was chaired by Dr. Hidefumi Imura.
- The objectives of the workshop were to share updated information on development of environmental information networks by participating countries and organizations, and to develop the Guidelines for the Configuration of ECO ASIA NET, based on the discussions of the First Workshop, held in October 1996.
- Experts from China, Thailand, Indonesia, India, UNEP-IETC, GEC, SPREP, UNU and UNEP-EAP/AP made presentations about the current status and issues relating to environmental information networks in their respective countries/organizations. Their presentations highlighted the varying levels of development of environmental information systems, some being already sophisticated; and the diversity of the system designs.
- An active discussion was held about the Guidelines based on the draft, and revisions made accordingly, the attached "Guidelines for the Configuration of ECO ASIA NET" were adopted by the participants.
- Main points of the discussions were:
(a) ECO ASIA NET would develop step-by-step, and be as flexible as possible according to the needs and situations of participating countries.
(b) ECO ASIA NET should be developed with full consideration of its comparative advantage and value added for users, compared to other information networks.
(c) Involvement of participating countries in ECO ASIA NET is expected to be driven first by their national needs and priorities as they develop their Internet home pages.
(d) Participants noted that efforts should be made to avoid duplication of services available already, and to make the most use of existing networks.
(e) Maintenance of quality of data needs attention, not just quantity of data.
(f) To begin with, participation in ECO ASIA NET would be open particularly to countries that have been involved in ECO ASIA to date, but participating countries could increase in the future.
(g) It was suggested that information dissemination from ECO ASIA NET not be limited to the Internet, in consideration of countries that do not yet have adequate access to the Internet.
(h) It was recognized that some countries need support for information infrastructure, such as data generation, information dissemination and access to the Internet, as well as related training.
(i) A discussion about electronic forums concluded that they would be useful within ECO ASIA NET, but that more consideration of their operation is needed.
(j) Development of ECO ASIA NET should include a review process to allow for monitoring, evaluation, and revision as appropriate.
(k) It was suggested that a pilot/demonstration project be conducted for electronic forums to illustrate their benefit.
6. The Environment Agency of Japan announced that it would report the outcome of this workshop and the progress to date in establishing ECO ASIA NET to the ECO ASIA'98 Congress to be held in September. It was suggested that the next steps for implementation of ECO ASIA NET include review and improvements, as appropriate.
7. Participants expressed their appreciation to the Environment Agency of Japan for hosting the workshop, and to Dr. Imura for his excellent chairing of the workshop.
The Second International Workshop on
Environmental Information Network
in Asia and the Pacific
(ECO ASIA NET)
AGENDA
3 and 4 February 1998, Tokyo, Japan
- 10:00-10:15 - Opening
- 10:15-10:45 - Introductory Information of the ECO ASIA NET and the Objectives of the Second Workshop
- 10:45-11:00 - Coffee Break
- 11:00-12:30 - Current Situation and Issues of the Environmental Information Network in the Asia-Pacific
Countries: Reports by the Participants
- 12:30-14:00 - Lunch
- 14:00-15:00 - Introduction of the ECO ASIA NET (prototype) and the draft Guidelines for the
Configuration of the ECO ASIA NET
- 15:00-15:15 - Coffee Break
- 15:15-17:00 - Discussion on the Guidelines
- 18:00- - Reception
Day 2 (4 Feb. 1998)
- 09:30-11:00 - Discussion on the Guidelines (conclusion)
- 11:00-11:30 - Coffee Break
- 11:30-12:00 - Consideration and Adoption of the Chair's Summary
- 12:00 - - Closing
- 15:00-16:00 - 10. Summing-up
- - 11. Closing
List of Participants
Second International Workshop on Environmental Information
Network for Asia and the Pacific (ECO ASIA NET)
3-4 February 1998
Four Seasons Hotel
Tokyo, Japan
AUSTRALIA
Mr. Peter Francis Knight
Third Secretary
Australian Embassy
2-1-14 Mita, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 108-0073
JAPAN
BANGLADESH
Mr. Anwarul Huq
Deputy Secretary
Ministry of Environment and Forest
Bangladesh Secretariat,
Dhaka 1000
BANGLADESH
CAMBODIA
Mr. Mealy Truong
Ambassador
Royal Embassy of Cambodia
8-6-9, Akasaka, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0052
JAPAN
CANADA
Mr. Jim Nickel
Second Secretary
Canadian Embassy
7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0052
JAPAN
CHINA
Prof. Yongming Xie
Deputy Division Director, Assoc. Prof.
Department of International Cooperation
National Environmental Protection Agency
No. 115, Xizhimennei Nanxiaojie,
Beijing 100035
P.R.CHINA
FIJI
Mr. Akapusi Qeranatabua
Counsellor
Fiji Embassy
14F, Noa Bldg., 2-3-5 Azabu-dai, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 106-0041
JAPAN
INDIA
Mr. D Bandyopadhyay
Additional Director
Ministry of Environment and Forests
C.G.O. Complex, Paryavaran Bhavan, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi 110003
INDIA
INDONESIA
Drs. Agus Sugiaman Sukanda
Assistant Minister
Ministry of Environment
The Office of the Ministry of State for Environment
Jl. D.I. Panjaitan, Kebon Nanas,
Jakarta Timur
INDONESIA
MALAYSIA
Mr. Heng Keng Lee
Director of Assessment
Department of Environment
13th Floor, Wisma Sime Darby
Jalan Raja Laut,
Kuala Lumpur 50662
MALAYSIA
MONGOLIA
Mr. Damdindori Khurts D
Commercial & Economic Attache
Embassy of Mongolia
21-4, Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo 150-0047
JAPAN
MYANMAR
Mr. Goone L. Zau
Minister-Counsellor
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
4-8-26, Kita-shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku,
Tokyo 140-0001
JAPAN
NEPAL
Mr. Rudra Kumar Nepal
First Secretary / Deputy Cheif of Mission
Royal Nepalese Embassy
7-14-9 Todoroki, Setagaya-ku,
Tokyo 158-0082
JAPAN
PHILIPPINES
Mr. Jose Marie A. Bonto
Information Technology Officer III
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City,
Manila 1100
PHILIPPINES
SINGAPORE
Mr. Cheg Hoon HO
Senior Engineer (Strategic Planning)
Strategic Planning and Research Department
Ministry of the Environment
Environment Building 40 Scotts Road #11-00
Singapore 228231
SINGAPORE
THAILAND
Ms. Rachanee Emaruchi
Environmental Advisor
Environmental Information Division
Department of Environmental Quality Promotion
60/1 Phiboon Watana 7, Rama Vl Road,
Bangkok 10400
THAILAND
U.S.A
Mr. Alan YU
Second Secretary
Embassy of the United State of America
1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0052
JAPAN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ITTO
Mr. Lachlan Hunter
Assistant Director, Management Services
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
International Organizations Centre 5F, Pacifico Yokohama
1-1-1 Minato mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-City,
Kanagawa 220-0012
SPREP
Mr. Herve Dropsy
Computer/Information Technology Officer
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
P.O. Box 240, Apia
SAMOA
UNEP-EAP/AP
Mr. Surendra Shrestha
Regional Coordinator (UNEP-EAP/AP)
Asian Institute of Technology
Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and Pacific
P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang,
Pathumthani 12120
THAILAND
UNCRD
Mr. Mohammed Matouq
UN Researcher
United Nations Centre for Regional Development
1-47-1 Nagono, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-city,
Aichi 450-0001
JAPAN
UNU
Mr. Ryutaro Yatsu
Visiting Fellow
United Nations University / Institute of Advanced Studies
53-67 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku,
Tokyo 150-0001
JAPAN
UNEP/IETC
Ms. Mami Hoshino
United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)
International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC)
2-110 Ryokuchi Koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka-City,
Osaka 538-0036
JAPAN
GEC
Ms. Keiko Masumoto
Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC)
2-110 Ryokuchi Koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka -City,
Osaka 538-0036
JAPAN
JAPAN
Mr. Hironori Hamanaka
Director General,
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Dr. Hidefumi Imura
Professor
Institute of Environmental Systems, Faculty of Engineering
Kyusyu University
6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-City,
Fukuoka 812-0053
JAPAN
Dr. Takashi Hayase
Professor
Faculty of Environmental Science,
Nagasaki University
1-14 Bunkyo-ku, Nagasaki-City,
Nagasaki 852-8131
JAPAN
Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto
Senior Advisor to Director General
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Mr. Katsunori Suzuki
Director, Office of International Strategy on Climate Change
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
SECRETARIAT
Mr. Kazumi Kishibe
Deputy Director
Planning Division
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Mr. Kiyoshi Masumoto
Deputy Director
Planning Division
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Ms. Kuniko Sato
Deputy Director
Planning Division
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Mr. Motonari Tsujiwaki
Planning Division
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Mr. Martin Dieu
Control and Cooperation Division,
Global Environment Department
Environment Agency
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0013
JAPAN
Ms. Kazuko Watanabe
Deputy Director
Association of International Research
Initiatives for Environmental Studies
3-1-13 Shibakoen, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 105-0011
JAPAN
Mr. Randal Helten
International Department
Association of International Research
Initiatives for Environmental Studies
3-1-13 Shibakoen, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 105-0011
JAPAN
Ms. Yoshimi Shigeta
General Affairs Department
Association of International Research
Initiatives for Environmental Studies
3-1-13 Shibakoen, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 105-0011
JAPAN
Mr. Hiroyuki Inami
Manager
Environment & Energy Systems
Research Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Shin Otemachi Bldg.
2-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0004
JAPAN
Mr. Yuji Mizuno
Consultant
Environment & Energy Systems
Research Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Shin Otemachi Bldg.
2-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 100-0004
JAPAN