Our challenges as a center for research on Lake Biwa
and Shiga's environment
Mission
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The mission of LBERI is to provide a scientific knowledge base that can help shape
environmental policy in the following three areas: 1. establishing a sustainable society; 2.
conserving and restoring water quality and the ecosystem in Lake Biwa and its watershed;
3. effective environmental risk assessment.
To achieve this, LBERI conducts continuous environmental monitoring for problems in
the lake environment and regularly reports these results to governments and the general
public. The institute also performs comprehensive analysis based on accumulated
knowledge and information from Lake Biwa and Shiga's environment. Through these
scientific activities, LBERI proposes environmental policies to the administrative agencies
and also considers scientific validity of their measures. In addition, LBERI collaborates
with other research institutions and also carries out public relations activities for our
monitoring and research projects.
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Main goals
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1. Creating a sustainable society in Shiga
To tackle critical environmental issues such as global warming, depletion of
the earth's natural resources, and degradation of Lake Biwa's ecosystem,
LBERI works to establish a sustainable society in Shiga in which CO2
emissions are lowered, resources are recycled and people live in harmony with
nature.
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2. Conserving and restoring water quality and the ecosystem
LBERI addresses the environmental problems of the lake. Some of these
environmental issues include the increase in COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)
in the North Basin, the uncontrolled growth of waterweed, the increase in non-
native species, and hypoxic bottom waters in the North Basin. By solving these
issues, LBERI contributes towards conserving and restoring water quality and
the ecosystem in the lake and its watershed.
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3. Effective environmental risk assessment
The demand for convenience and changes in lifestyle have led to the use of
more chemicals both in type and quantity. To preserve a healthy environment,
LBERI assesses the effects of these chemicals on the aquatic, terrestrial, and
atmospheric environment.
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Major functions for resolving issues
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To determine Lake Biwa's current environmental condition and collect data for the resolution
of environmental issues, LBERI conducts integrated monitoring in four fields: the aquatic and
terrestrial environment, and the biospheric, atmospheric, and chemical environment.
Specifically, LBERI observes sources of pollutants, analyzes environmental situations, and
assesses compliance with environmental quality standards.
Furthermore, LBERI comprehensively analyzes and evaluates the results of monitoring and
research projects. These results are combined with collective knowledge of LBERI's scientists
and used to provide recommendations to policy makers, examine the effectiveness of their
measures, and raise new issues of concern.
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