International Lake Environment Committee Foundation - ILEC

20/08/2026

Just 7 days to go to “World Lake Day 2026 International Event!”

Register now and join us online to celebrate World Lake Day: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-yk0nwVmSaSUWcs6MhZ1WQ
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ILEC will host the “World Lake Day 2026 International Event – My Lake, My Story: Creating Environmental, Social, and Economic Value for Lakes,” as part of the “Minna no BIWAKO Expo,” to be held on Thursday, 27 August 2026.

This international event will feature a session that highlights the role of young people in shaping the future of lakes. Youth from Japan, Tanzania, the host country of the 21st World Lake Conference in 2027, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia, will share their initiatives and practical actions for lake conservation in their respective communities.

Through their presentations and exchanges, participants will explore how efforts to protect lakes and water environments can create environmental, social, and economic value for local communities. The event will provide an opportunity to learn from the experiences and ideas of young people from around the world and to reflect together on the future of lakes and the communities they support.

We welcome you to join us either in person or online.

Complete the questionnaire at the venue and receive a special Lake Biwa strap in Shigaraki Ware, commemorating World Lake Day (WLD)! Limited quantities.

■■■ Event Information ■■■
◆ Date and Time: Thursday, 27 August 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. JST
◆ Venue: AEON Hall, AEON Mall Kusatsu
◆ Host: Shiga Prefectural Government/ILEC
◆ Hybrid event (On-site and Online)
◆ Japanese–English simultaneous interpretation available
◆ Free admission
◆ Advance registration is required for online participation: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-yk0nwVmSaSUWcs6MhZ1WQ
◆ In-Person Attendance (Registration via Shiga Prefecture’s Application Form): https://forms.gle/rdUaV98AhsqjiYca8

□□□ Highlights □□□
◇ Lake Impact Challenge: Inspiring presentations by youth teams from around the world on their lake conservation initiatives, taking place at the event venue and via live links with Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.

Please see the attached flyer for further details:https://ilec.or.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/ewld2026flyer.pdf

28/07/2026

Call for Participants (On-site & Online)｜World Lake Day 2026 International Event

ILEC will host the “World Lake Day 2026 International Event – My Lake, My Story: Creating Environmental, Social, and Economic Value for Lakes,” as part of the “Minna no BIWAKO Expo,” to be held on Thursday, 27 August 2026.

This international event will feature a session that highlights the role of young people in shaping the future of lakes. Youth from Japan, Tanzania, the host country of the 21st World Lake Conference in 2027, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia, will share their initiatives and practical actions for lake conservation in their respective communities.

Through their presentations and exchanges, participants will explore how efforts to protect lakes and water environments can create environmental, social, and economic value for local communities. The event will provide an opportunity to learn from the experiences and ideas of young people from around the world and to reflect together on the future of lakes and the communities they support.

We welcome you to join us either in person or online.

■■■ Event Information ■■■
◆ Date and Time: Thursday, 27 August 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. JST
◆ Venue: AEON Hall, AEON Mall Kusatsu
◆ Host: Shiga Prefectural Government/ILEC
◆ Hybrid event (On-site and Online)
◆ Japanese–English simultaneous interpretation available
◆ Free admission
◆ Advance registration is required for online participation: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-yk0nwVmSaSUWcs6MhZ1WQ

◎ Highlights ◎
● Lake Impact Challenge: Inspiring presentations by youth teams from around the world on their lake conservation initiatives, taking place at the event venue and via live links with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Tanzania.

Please see the attached flyer for further details:https://ilec.or.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/ewld2026flyer.pdf

17/07/2026

Generous Donation from Kansai Mirai Bank, Limited

On July 15, 2026, ILEC received a generous donation of 250,000 yen from Kansai Mirai Bank, Limited. We sincerely appreciate their understanding of ILEC’s mission and their kind contribution.

This donation will be meaningfully used to support the operation of an event to be jointly organized by ILEC and Shiga Prefecture on World Lake Day, a United Nations commemorative day now in its second year, on August 27 at AEON Mall Kusatsu in Shiga Prefecture.

The event will feature a session aimed at inspiring the next generation of youth leaders to shape the future of lakes. Youth from Japan, Tanzania, which will host the 21st World Lake Conference in 2027, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia, will be connected online to share their initiatives and practical actions for the future of lakes. Through these exchanges, the session will promote international dialogue, inspire new ideas and actions, and encourage collaboration among youth across regions

10/07/2026

On Thursday, July 9, 2026, ILEC welcomed a delegation from Armenia visiting Shiga Prefecture to learn about water resources management.

During the visit, Mr. Akashi, ILEC Secretary General, introduced the organization's mission and activities. Dr. Nakamura, ILEC Science Advisor, gave a presentation on the history of integrated management of Lake Biwa and shared practical examples of its implementation.

18/06/2026

Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, Science Advisor, Receives Minister of the Environment Award

Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, Science Advisor to ILEC (and former Vice President), has been awarded the Ministry of the Environment’s Regional Environmental Conservation Meritorious Service Award in recognition of his longstanding contributions to environmental conservation.

The award acknowledges his distinguished achievements in promoting environmental protection, including disseminating the Lake Biwa Model internationally and advancing sustainable lake basin management not only in Lake Biwa but also in lake and watershed regions around the world.

17/06/2026

Generous Donation from Kinki Rokin (Kinki Labour Bank)

ILEC received a generous donation of 1,227,498 yen through the “Smile Plus” social contribution deposit from Kinki Rokin (Kinki Labour Bank) on June 12, 2026. The “Smile Plus” social contribution deposit supports the activities of non-profit organizations and community groups in the Kinki region working in such fields as child support, disaster relief and disaster preparedness, international cooperation, support for people with disabilities, support for women and minorities, and environmental conservation. ILEC has been selected as a recipient organization in the fields of “international cooperation” and “environmental conservation.” We sincerely appreciate their understanding of ILEC’s mission and their generous contribution.

This donation will be meaningfully used to support the operation of an event to be jointly organized by ILEC and Shiga Prefecture on World Lake Day, a United Nations commemorative day, on August 27, 2026, at AEON Mall Kusatsu in Shiga Prefecture.

The event will feature a session aimed at fostering the next generation of leaders in the field of sustainable lake management. Young people from Japan, Africa, which will host the 21st World Lake Conference in 2027, and Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia will be connected online to share their activities related to lake conservation and to engage in active exchange and discussion.

11/06/2026

Call for Youth Presenters: Lake Conservation Initiatives!

As part of the World Lake Day 2026 International Event (tentative title), which is scheduled to be co-hosted by Shiga Prefecture on August 27, 2026, a special session entitled “Lake Impact Challenge” will be held to showcase practical initiatives led by youth for lake conservation and sustainable water environments.

This session will provide an opportunity for youth engaged in activities related to lakes and water environments to share their initiatives with an international audience and engage in dialogue with policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.

We are now inviting presenters for this session as outlined below. We warmly encourage interested individuals and teams to apply.

For more information, please visit the ILEC website: https://ilec.or.jp/en/news/18144

As part of the World Lake Day 2026 International Event …

13/04/2026

Welcoming Newly Recruited Shiga Prefectural Employees for FY2026 Training Program

At the request of Shiga Prefectural Institute for Personnel Development, on April 13, 2026, ILEC delivered a lecture for newly appointed Shiga Prefecture employees on the theme:
“The Value of Lake Biwa and Shiga Prefecture from a Global Lake Perspective”

By comparing Lake Biwa with lakes around the world, the session highlighted the unique strengths and significance of both Lake Biwa and Shiga Prefecture. We hope that the participants will deepen their appreciation of these values and apply this knowledge in their future work within the prefectural government.

02/04/2026

A New Perspective for Understanding Water Connectivity from Lakes (ILLBM)―Announcement of Video Release and Revised Concept Paper

Lakes do not exist in isolation. They are part of a continuous water system that connects rivers, wetlands, groundwater, and human livelihoods. However, these connections are often not readily visible and have not always been fully captured within existing frameworks.

At ILEC, we are advancing the concept of Integrated Lentic-Lotic Basin Management (ILLBM) as a new perspective that builds upon Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM). ILLBM does not introduce a new system or framework. Rather, it is a new way of understanding water as a continuous system, helping to make existing efforts more effective.

The newly released video visualizes this concept based on the ILBM training modules. It illustrates how the ILLBM perspective can be superimposed onto key governance pillars such as “Policy,” “Institution,” and “Information,” while also highlighting the importance of “Heartware” (values, awareness, and culture).

In parallel, the revised concept paper provides a structured explanation of how this perspective complements existing water management frameworks and supports practical implementation.

https://ilec.or.jp/en/activities/sustainablelake/

31/03/2026

Cooperation in the FY2025 Regional Understanding Program by JICA Kansai

From March 10 to 11, 2026, ILEC cooperated in delivering lectures and organizing a field trip for the FY2025 Regional Understanding Program on lessons from development and conservation around Lake Biwa, hosted by JICA Kansai. This marked the seventh time ILEC has cooperated with this program. A total of 15 participants from 15 countries, all long-term international students studying at Japanese universities, took part in the program.

More info and photos are now available on the ILEC website: https://ilec.or.jp/en/news/18055

From March 10 to 11, 2026, ILEC cooperated in deliverin…