(Environment Department) has developed one of the most extensive environmental agreement systems seen below: We will preserve the waterfront, rivers and streamside forests, the habitats of fireflies and dragonflies. We will not pollute water resources and will preserve riverside scenery. We will ensure that districts save clean water As a rule, unless an agreement is made by Kagumeishi District, we prohibit quarrying in forests due to the risk of rock-falls, the outflow of soil and landslides. Quarrying from valleys is also prohibited to prevent the landscape from being spoiled and the outflow of soil caused by freshets. We will reduce the amount of household garbage and try to recycle it. We will reduce over-packaging and try to take as little waste home as possible. Under the slogan “mottainai” we will try to use things for as long as possible by repairing them. When we dispose of recyclable garbage, we will make sure to separate it based on city guidelines. We will make compost from garbage. We will take care not to cause disasters when we construct roads or cut down trees in the mountains. We will guard the districts against illegal dumping. Creating an Environmentally Symbiotic Region: Part of the goal of Minamata becoming an eco town is to maximize, protect, and integrate the town with the environment. Programs to foster and maintain ecosystems began in 1998. One specific goal is to have forests cover 75% of the city area. Other generalized goals serve to maintain and improve absorption levels of carbon dioxide, and revitalize the sea with abundant marine plant life. Several districts have implemented projects to help create an environmentally symbiotic region: Creating eco-tourism. Building terraced fields with flowers and fruit. Management of "Citizens Forest" and expansion of forest lands. Cultivation of seaweed (kelp) and the reconstruction of kelp farms. Utilizing New and Natural Energy: Minamata is striving to implement new and natural energy measures. Sources of natural energy: wind and solar. Wind and solar energy is mostly used for providing energy for buildings and infrastructure. Sources of new energy: bioethanol from bamboo, citrus fruit extract, thinned wood, and other plants. Bioethanol is mostly used for transportation and shipping. JNC Corp is one such bioethanol plant that was established in early 2012 that will produce 100,000 kiloliters/ year of bioethanol from bamboo. Development of The City for Environmental Learning In this target area, Minamata eco-town committed itself to