Development of on-site study program for eco-tourism: learn from the river ecosystem by using water environment soundness index

中山是生态旅游领域的宝贵区域资源之一，也是日本农村生物多样性保护的重要生态系统。河流生态系统适合研究人与自然的共生关系。为了了解被破坏环境的现状及其原因，我们制定了一个关于河流生态系统的现场研究计划。本研究旨在为游客（如初等或中等教育的学生）提供教育机会，并激励市民为保护河流生态系统而行动。生态旅游将在振兴当地社区方面发挥作用。

SATOYAMA is one of the valuable regional resources for the field of eco-tourism as well as an important ecosystem in terms of the conservation of biodiversity in rural areas of Japan. River ecosystem is suitable for studying a symbiosis between human and nature. To understand the current status of devastated environment and its causes, we developed an on-site study program that deals with river ecosystem. This study was intended to offer tourists (e.g. students from elementary or secondary education) an educational opportunity and to motivate citizens to act for the conservation of river ecosystem. Eco-tourism will play a part in the revitalization of local communities.