Fumito Sano(participant)
*Group name
Sanctuary Japan, Junior Ranger
*Country/Region
Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
*Type of Group
Community
*Number of total members of your group/project
20 persons
*Number of regular participants in activities
4 persons
*Characteristic of members
Our group was established in order to protect Enshunada Coast, the world famous nesting site of green sea turtles. Junior rangers, consisting of elementary to high school students, take part in nesting research and the releasing of turtles with the help of full-fledged adult members.
*Theme(s) of your group/project
*Biodiversity, *Nature conservation, *Wastes and Recycling, *Water issues, *Climate change/Global warming effect
*Missions and activities of your group/project
With the goal of protecting green sea turtles, we help with the maintenance of the hatchery, early morning nesting research at the beach, and the releasing of baby turtles. Cleaning the coast is one of our activities as well.
*Characteristics of the group/project activities
While taking part in the efforts of nature conservation group Sanctuary Japan, we are also involved in other various activities. Wildlife and wild bird watch of the vicinity, water quality survey of lakes and rivers, everyday-life experience at farmhouses, and cooking rice cakes to name a few.
*Most importnat way of thinking of your group/project for environment
The goal of Sanctuary Japan is to conserve immediate nature through activities of protecting wildlife. We've learned environmental education of children is pivotal when advocating the protection of nature. Children are indispensable when protecting and preserving immediate nature. Junior rangers, who grew up surrounded by nature, will carry on the torch. These children who feel the value of nature are the future bearers of nature preservation activities. I sincerely hope junior rangers experience for themselves the beauty of nature and nurture the heart to protect its magnificence.
*Major publications and articles
The Beach Visited by Green Sea Turtles Sato, Hiroshi Author/Illustrator (Kosei Publishing Co.)
*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?
Oversea groups or projects involved in conservation work of sea turtles and the coast, wildlife, and the nature.
*Short message for exchange with other group/project
We are striving to protect quiet and beautiful beaches ideal for sea turtle nesting for the future. We wish to receive messages from those who can share thoughts on how to make this happen.
*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi
It was fun to make sea turtle origami with children from many foreign countries.
*Others
After learning about green sea turtles at a seminar for parents and children on sea turtles, and on contact with a new born baby turtle while releasing them to sea, I was very moved and became involved in these activities. Meeting a wild mother turtle on the beach at an early morning nesting research has been the greatest joy for me. I felt a sense of power seeing it covered in sand. I also recall making a sand turtle at the fall Sea Turtle Festival with the fondest of memory. It made me sad to see the littered beaches during nesting researches and to come across angry people accusing us of not picking up their trash. I am planning to do my best in future activities.
*Contact person
Takeshi Mazuka
*Contact Address
2-17-9 Saiwai,Hamamatsu-sity,Sizuoka 433-8123 Japan
sanc-jp@tcp-ip.or.jp
*URL of Web site of your group/project
http://www.tcp-ip.or.jp/~sanc-jp/index.html
