Japan is closely connected to other Asian countries both geographically and economically, and rapid future development is expected in the Asian region. It is crucial to find ways to preserve the environment and create a sustainable society in this region taking into consideration Japan's environmental security and international contribution. The Asian Environment Research Group conducts research on air quality, long-range transboundary air pollution, sustainable management of water environments in terrestrial, coastal, and oceanic areas in Asia, and ecosystem management and conservation in watersheds of large rivers and other water systems. The following projects promote Asian environmental management and establish scientific knowledge as the foundation for policy recommendations to create a sustainable society through international cooperation.

• Development of an energy-saving system to process water and carbon cycles
  
  
• Research on the conservation of biodiversity and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in wetland ecosystems
  
  

• Studies on the Processes of Transport and Transformation of Aerosols and their Precursors from the Asian Continent (2005-2007)
  　The target areas for this study are China, which is a large emission source of air pollutants in East Asia, Fukue, which is on the ground course of transported air masses, and Okinawa, the downstream receptor of the pollutants. We investigate the long range transport of air pollutants and their chemical transformation.
  　Aerial and ground-based observations of air pollutants in China, and ground-based observations in Fukue and Okinawa were carried out in April 2006. Clarification of the processes of aerosol formation, transport, and removal is now under way. The data obtained during air-mass-transport will be input into a simulation model and large scale air pollution in East Asia will be studied as a whole in order to make it possible to propose measures for handling air pollution in this area.
  
  
• Observation of Dust and Sandstorms (DSS) in Northeast Asia and Application of the Data to Real-Time Forecasting, Analysis of Movement, and Evaluation of the Effect on the Environment
  　Dust and sandstorm problems (including Kosa, Asian dust) have been recognized as a common environmental issue in northeast Asia. The long-range transport of DSS links the biogeochemical cycles of the land, atmosphere and ocean, and it has a serious impact on human activities. In order to develop a useful forecasting system and early warning models, as well as to solve various environmental problems caused by DSS in northeast Asia, a regional cooperative monitoring network including lidars and PM10 instruments must be established in this region.

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