Absolutely, here's the explanation of "World Lake Day" in English.
World Lake Day: Promoting Global Lake Conservation
World Lake Day, officially designated on August 27th at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024, is a new international day aimed at globally recognizing, maintaining, conserving, and restoring lakes and their associated ecosystems in a sustainable manner. This date specifically commemorates the opening day of the First World Lake Conference held in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, on August 27, 1984. It truly marks a significant achievement for Japan, particularly Shiga Prefecture, which has long advocated for this initiative.
Specific Activities Being Promoted
To promote World Lake Day, the following activities are envisioned:
Awareness Raising and Educational Initiatives:
Publicity Campaigns: Increasing awareness of World Lake Day and the importance of lakes through posters, banners, and active information dissemination via websites and social media.
Event Organization: Planning panel discussions, lectures, community-participatory clean-up activities, and educational events focused on lake environment conservation. For instance, Shiga Prefecture plans events linked to "Lake Biwa Day" (July 1st) and stage events aboard "Uminoko," Lake Biwa's learning vessel.
Campaigns: Initiatives like the Instagram hashtag campaign hosted by the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) encourage public engagement by sharing photos and stories related to lakes.
Strengthening International Collaboration and Cooperation:
Discussions at International Conferences/Summits: Advocating for the importance of lake conservation and promoting discussions for concrete initiatives at international forums such as the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), UN Water Conference, and World Water Forum.
Joint Proposals and Resolutions: The Indonesian government, with Japan and many other countries, jointly proposed the establishment of World Lake Day to the UN General Assembly, leading to its adoption. Moving forward, governments, international organizations, and NGOs are expected to collaborate to strengthen international frameworks for lake conservation.
Collaboration with Research Institutions and Museums: Like the Lake Biwa Museum, establishing cooperation agreements with overseas museums and research institutions to share knowledge on lake conservation and sustainable use through academic research and information exchange.
Promoting Concrete Conservation and Restoration Actions:
Community Participation: Creating opportunities for local residents to actively participate in lake conservation activities, fostering affection for their local lakes and a sense of stewardship.
Utilization of Scientific Knowledge: Disseminating lake management methods based on the latest scientific knowledge to promote more effective conservation and restoration measures.
Public-Private Partnerships: The costs required for lake conservation activities are expected to be covered by voluntary contributions from public and private sectors in each country. This encourages deepening collaboration with companies and organizations to build financial support and cooperation systems.
Promotion System
The promotion system for World Lake Day is primarily structured around the following organizations and frameworks:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Designated as the secretariat for World Lake Day, UNEP is expected to play a central role in international publicity and coordinating activities among nations.
It will collaborate with national governments, international organizations, and civil society organizations to facilitate information sharing and technical support for lake conservation.
International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC):
This Japanese NGO has long worked for the establishment of World Lake Day and will continue to play a crucial role.
ILEC organizes the World Lake Conference, providing a platform for diverse participants from academia, government, civil society, NGOs, and businesses to exchange views on sustainable management of lakes and their basins.
It conducts campaigns (e.g., Instagram hashtag campaigns) to raise awareness for World Lake Day.
National Governments and Local Authorities:
Based on the UN resolution, national governments will promote the observance of World Lake Day within their countries and advance policies and activities related to lake conservation.
Local authorities, particularly those like Shiga Prefecture (home to Lake Biwa) which have established their own "Lake Biwa Day," will leverage their accumulated experience and expertise to lead domestic and international lake conservation efforts.
Civil Society Organizations (NGOs), Research Institutions, and Corporations:
NPOs and NGOs engaged in specific lake conservation activities, along with research institutions, will provide expertise and encourage participation from local residents and the general public.
Corporations are also expected to contribute to lake conservation as part of their CSR activities, potentially offering financial and technical support.
Through the collaboration of these diverse stakeholders, each fulfilling their respective roles, World Lake Day is anticipated to function not just as a commemorative day but as an international platform that translates into concrete actions to protect the Earth's invaluable lake resources.
