The Environment Ministry will get 58 extra staff for fiscal 2002, but it will still be understaffed, Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told a news conference on Tuesday.
"Compared to other countries, Japan has fewer people working on the environment," Kawaguchi said.
While the new staff would push the total number of ministry employees to 1005, she said more staff were needed. The Environment Ministry is one of only four government bodies receiving more staff.
The government has committed itself to cutting employee numbers by 10 percent in as many years starting this fiscal year.
Of the new employees, 30 will be dispatched to regional offices and a new position overseeing measures to reduce greenhouse gases will also be created.