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Focus on Global Biodiversity
Gorillas are well known symbols of the world's wonderful biodiversity -- and the challenges of preserving it
By any measure the world's biodiversity, its flora and fauna, is in crisis.
Many thousands of species are endangered and at a special ministerial meeting in the Japanese city of Nagoya, experts and politicians will be planning a new way forward to try to halt the destruction.
The Japan International Development Agency (JICA) is charged with helping developing countries and their populations and in recent years has been paying attention to the inter relationship between the globe's natural heritage and the health of local communities.
It has invested some 2.4 billion dollars since the start of the new millennium in a variety of biodiversity-development projects ranging from protecting coral reefs and mangrove forests to promoting community projects and safe water programs.
The World's Flora and Fauna are disappearing at an Alarming Rate
It is a race against time to save the globe's fast disappearing flora and fauna. A special meeting is being held in Nagoya to plot the future and JICA is increasingly involved in inter-related development-biodiversity projects.
The Amazon – Helping the World Breathe
The world's most important eco system—the Amazon River basin is under threat. A four-year program has been launched to discover just how this system works and can be preserved.
Preserving a Hidden Eden
The West African nation of Gabon is a "Hidden Eden." Japanese volunteers are helping to preserve its amazing forests and biodiversity.
Coffee Comes Home
Coffee probably originated in the East African state of Ethiopia. The bean is now playing an important part in helping preserve the country's disappearing forests and the livelihoods of local people.
Mangrove Forests – Living Life on the Edge
Mangrove forests play an important role in the world's eco-system, but have been systematically destroyed. From Mexico to Myanmar, JICA is helping to protect and rejuvenate the long-misunderstood coastal belts of trees.
Drilling for Water Kazusabori Style
Wildlife and local communities come increasingly into conflict. A small Japanese non-governmental organization is helping to find new sources of water which will help both of them.
