In Japan, where 70 percent of the country is covered by mountainous areas, an increasing number of people are visiting mountains, owing to the latest boom in mountain walking especially among people in their middle-age and senior years. Yama no ECHO, a non-profit organization (NPO), tackles environmental issues in mountains such as human waste and littering that have become serious as the number of visitors has increased (ECHO, evokes the sound of mountain echoes, but also stands for environment, culture, human and orchestra). The NPO aims to learn about the natural and cultural aspects of mountains through activities including studies, making proposals and hands-on activities related to mountains, and promotes collaboration between government and citizens.

The Yama no Echo, founded in 2003, participates in the projects for Verification Tests for Treatment Technologies for Human Waste in Mountain District because it thinks that human waste is a serious problem in the mountains of Japan. The tests are included in the Environmental Technology Verification project, a pilot project organized by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. Serving as a secretariat in 2006 for organizations participating in verification tests, it organized a committee of experts from various institutions that study sanitary engineering and septic tanks, for instance, to conduct verification tests of the technical performance presented by manufacturers. It also monitors the number of mountain visitors and water quality, in addition to holding meetings and lectures on environmental conservation and ideal ways to enjoy nature in the mountains.

In the future, the NPO hopes to enter discussions with organizations overseas for the establishment of international standards for basic rules in mountaineering, such as carrying trash out, treating human waste and improving facilities.

http://www.env.go.jp/policy/etv/en/pdf/proto_humanwaste_s.pdf
http://www.env.go.jp/policy/etv/en/index.html

Posted: 2007/03/03 10:05:04 AM
Japanese version

TAG Ecosystem , Material reduction , NGO/Citizen