Activities by NGOs and CBOs : Japan

Activities by NGOs and CBOs : Japan | Case 6

NGOs & CBOs > Cases of activities by NGOs and CBOs : Japan > Case 6 The Seabed Clean-Up Operation in the Yamashita Park

Activities by NGOs and CBOs

Japan

Case 6: The Seabed Clean-Up Operation in the Yamashita Park

Name of Activity	The Seabed Clean-Up Operation in the Yamashita Park
Organisation	(A) The Sea Beautification Society
Target Area	(D) Coast (Yamashita Park, Yokohama city, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Activity Period	Every Year Since 1981. The Executive Established in June. The Seabed Cleaned in October.
Structure and Budget of Lead Organisation	Membership: (300- 400 People Join the Clean-up) Annual Membership Fees: Regular Member 1,000 yen, Group Member 10,000 yen
Target Fields	(A) Water Quality Conservation

Project Background and Objectives

Yamashita Park, one of the popular tourist attractions in Yokohama, has been facing a problem that visitors leave rubbish and cans in the park. The amount makes 2 tons annually.

The Sea Beautification Society aims to resolve the problem, hoping to keep the familiar sea clean.

Project Abstract and Effects of Project

An executive is established in June every year. Afterwards, it starts recruiting participants and asking for monetary support. General Participants are recruited through the press, newspaper, magazines and regionals.

In every October, 300- 400 people including executive members, watchers on ships and volunteers clean the bottom and surface of the Yokohama Port and the Yamashita Park. The bottom is cleaned by scuba divers and the surface, by skin divers. In addition, The Sea Beautification Society urges visitors not to throw rubbish away there by showing the seabed on monitors and exhibiting rubbish collected.

Thanks to the activities, white sand has re-appeared at the bottom of the sea along the Yamashita Park and marbled soles and sea basses, which had not ever been seen, have started living there. On top of that, 2.5 tons of rubbish in average has generated in recent years although 5.6 tons of rubbish was collected on the first clean-up day; a favourable outcome of the clean-up activities has been seen.

Distinctive Features of Project (Factors and Keys to Success)

General participants are widely recruited and a large number of people take part in the activity every year.

Thoroughgoing security management has done; a physical check-up, confirmation of the number of people participated in the clean-up and arrangement of watch ships are never neglected.

The Sea Beautification Society has been actively working on fixed point life observations, children’s nature observation and clean-up activities in other areas as the next steps.

Relevant Websites

The Sea Beautification Society Website (Japanese Only): http://www.angel.ne.jp/~umi/

References

Introduction of the Citizens Activity Prize of The 3rd Japan Water Prize
The Sea Beautification Society Website

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