Shiga prefecture of Japan wins prize for water environment projects in Vietnam
Japan’s Shiga prefecture recently won the 23rd Japan Water Prize for its initiative to use the water cleaning model at its Biwa lake to help with the protection of water environment in Vietnam.
The Japan Water Prize Committee spoke highly of two water environment protection projects in Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province) and Cat Ba island (Hai Phong city) in Vietnam, conducted by Shiga and companies in the prefecture.
In Cat Ba island, Shiga assisted local residents in promoting green growth while protecting environment and ecological system based on expertise accumulated during the implementation of the Biwa model. The project has entered the second phase but delayed due to the COVID-19 impacts.
Meanwhile in Ha Long Bay, Shiga helped Quang Ninh cope with degradation in the water environment caused by rapid growth and increasing number of tourists via a technology partner project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. Its water quality deteriorated in the 1970s due to increasing population and the emergence of new factories, resulting in red tides.
The prefecture worked with research institutes to identify the causes of the phenomenon, and then made efforts to improve water quality. At present, Biwa has become one of the most beautiful landscapes in Japan.
Founded in 1998, the Japan Water Prize honours contributions by individuals and organisations to protect and improve water environment at home and abroad.
