Ichikawa City received the “Recycling- Co-existence- Participation-based Community Development Award” (the Award of the Minister of the Environment)!

Ichikawa City received the “Recycling- Co-existence- Participation-based Community Development Award” (the Award of the Minister of the Environment) from the Ministry of the Environment on January 22, 2007.

At the awarding ceremony: Mr. Mitsuyuki Chiba, Mayor (left) and Mr. Masatoshi Wakabayashi, Minister of Environment (right)

Ceremonial photo session for award winning organizations

The Ministry of the Environment recognizes municipalities that are making significant achievements in developing their city in an environmentally rich and sustainable manner, working collaboratively with citizens and businesses with due consideration on a variety of local issues from those related to the global environment to recycling measures, by granting the “Recycling- Co-existence- Participation-based Community Development Award” (the Award of the Minister of the Environment).
 
Eight organizations, including Ichikawa City, Minato City (Tokyo), Uozu City (Toyama Prefecture), Kyotango City (Kyoto Prefecture), Shirahama-cho ( Wakayama Prefecture), Hikawa-cho (Shimane Prefecture), Ube City (Yamaguchi Prefecture), and Konan City (Kochi Prefecture), were selected as the award recipients for Fiscal 2006.  
 
The above award was granted because Ichikawa City has worked to realize a “Town with people and nature coexisting” collaboratively with citizens, which include, among others, conservation of green spaces in corporation with landowners, etc., preservation of black pine and other trees in built-up areas, promotion of greening taking advantage of Midori-no-Kikin (funds for greening), and conservation and restoration of rivers and seashores.

Ichikawa City has been systematically turning forestry into public lands, preserving mountain forests by signing an agreement with the mountain forest owners’ association, concerning black pine and other big tree species by concluding the “Agreement for the Conservation of Big Trees, etc.,” and promoting greening activities, etc. based on citizens’ participation through Midori-no-Kikin, etc. for the conservation of greenery that has been reduced due to urbanization.
  Moreover, the City reviews jointly with citizens the planning, control, and management of waterfronts, rivers, detention ponds, etc. in order to preserve the waterfront environment and develop neo-natural waterfronts, and works to realize the development of the seafront area of the city in collaboration with the preservation and restoration of Sanbanse (tideland) with participation by a variety of entities, including local citizens, NGOs, experts, local companies, and administrative organizations.