Organizers of the 2005 World Exposition to be held in Aichi, Japan, are planning an exhibition of Green Maps created by local residents, as one of the citizens' participatory projects at the Aichi Prefectural Pavilion. The project is called "Aichi Green Map 2005."

To make a Green Map, local residents investigate places and sites that are examples of well-kept and poorly-kept environments as well as environmentally friendly infrastructure, and then place them on maps using universal Green Map icons. The idea was originally advocated by Ms. Wendy E. Brawer, an eco designer in New York, for the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Today Green Map projects are in progress in about 40 nations, including Japanese projects started several years ago.

Established in 2002, the Green Map Aichi office has invited local environmental groups and communities to join the project and create their own Green Maps, while the office provides the know-how. Currently, 13 Green Maps, including 11 area-based and two theme-based ones (the ocean and bicycles), are under way. Various sorts of information gathered by the local residents will be compiled into the Green Maps, such as environmentally friendly shops, and people-friendly places and nature spots that need to be protected. The maps, created both in print and as Web-site content, will be exhibited at the Expo.

The aims of this project are to introduce the area's green resources, and to promote public awareness on the environment and community development. It is hoped that the coming expo will give further momentum to the Green Map movement.




Posted: 2004/06/15 03:49:01 PM
Japanese version

TAG Ecosystem , Local government , NGO/Citizen , Other , Transportation