Since 1998 this group has worked with Nishinomiya City to implement annual Ecocard activities for all elementary school children in the city. By activating networked environmental learning involving local shops, schools and environmental groups these activities have been highly appreciated. Specific environmental community activities are to encourage the creation of ecocommunity meetings based on the unit of middle school catchment areas and to date eleven of these have been etsablished. This initiative seeks to encourage independent development of ecocommunities through support programs based on five aspects: people, funding, information, management and exchange. Five support programs have been developed targeting Nishinomiya citizens, businesses, local government employees and teachers as follows: 'Fostering community ecolearning support staff', 'Developing citizens eco activities purchasing system', 'Developing community learning information systems', 'Fostering organization management strengths', and 'Promoting eco community information sharing meetings'.