Rebuilding the Relationship between People and Nature: The SATOYAMA Initiative

Rebuilding the Relationship between

People and Nature; The SATOYAMA Initiative

Kazuhiko TakeuchiDeputy Executive Director

Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S)

The University of Tokyo

Vice-Rector and Director

Institute for Sustainability and Peace

United Nations University

1

THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE IN ASIA (ICSS-ASIA)

HANOI, VIETNAM2 March 2011

2

2

Creating sustainable society that integrates low carbon society, resource-circulating society, and nature-harmonious society

Japan has taken a lead in creating resource-circulating society (3R initiatives)

Now, Japan should take a lead in creating low carbon society and nature-harmonious society

Fusion of the 3 societies that are in harmony with energy, resources and ecosystem is important

Proposing SATOYAMA Initiative as a new approach for establishing a society in harmony with nature

Coexist in harmony with

Earth’s ecosystems

and realize an economic society that enjoy a

sustainable growth and development

Vision for Creating Sustainable Society

3

CBD and the Satoyama Landscape

The 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in October 2010 in Aichi/Nagoya, Japan

Significant increase of interest in biodiversity and ecosystem conservation both in Japan and internationally

Nagoya Protocol on ABS and Post 2010 Aichi Target

Focus on the traditional people-nature relationship in Satoyama landscapes as a nature-harmonious society model

(From MOE)

4

Characteristics of Satoyama Landscape

Mosaic pattern of woodlands, grasslands, crop lands, paddy fields, settlements, irrigated ponds, etc

Nature maintained by human activities such as periodically tree cutting in coppice woodland and agricultural activities

Human disturbance such as periodically tree cutting, and existence of various habitats maintained unique biodiversity

Jan. 1974

Oyamada, Machida City, Tokyo

Erythronium japonicum

Gray-faced Buzzard

5

Rebuilding of Relationship between People and Nature

Rebuilding of sustainable society in harmony with nature needs:Learning from wisdom of traditional satoyama landscape and

revitalizing it into modern society by designing a society with reuse

and recycling of natural resources and harmonious co-existence

between nature and human based on assessment of natural

resources.

What are Satoyama and Satoumi?

Japan Sub-global Assessment of Satoyama and Satoumi defines

satoyama and satoumi landscapes as dynamic mosaics of managed

socio-ecological systems producing a bundle of ecosystem

services for human well-being

Satoyama landscape Satoumi landscape

6

Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes, and Satoyama and Satoumi Landscapes

Biocultural Landscapes“Landscape formed as a blend of natural processes and human culture, which

mutually affect each other.”

Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes

Propose to integrate elements of biodiversity, for example,

“Dynamic mosaics of managed socio-ecological systems that maintain biodiversity and produce a bundle of ecosystem services for human well-being.“

“Satoyama and Satoumi Landscapes” is defined as

“Dynamic mosaics of managed socio-ecological systems that produce a bundle of ecosystem services for

human well-being." (Japan SGA, 2010)

7

Biological Production System in Vietnam

8

Modern & commercial rice production system

V.A.C.（Circulated system that is composed of

gardens, Orchards, Aquaculture ponds and barns）

• High production growth

• Single breeding

• Abundant chemical fertilizers

• Water pollution, soil discharge

• Diverse breeding• Diverse biomass• Diverse income

House

Vuon (gardens,

orchards)

Ao (aquaculture ponds)

Chuong (barns)

Fruit

s

Fish

Meat

Manure

Compos

t

Eggs

Garbage

V.A.C. provides

Modern system features

9

Globally Important AgriculturalHeritage Systems (GIAHS)

“Remarkable Land Use Systems and landscapes which are rich

in biological diversity evolving from the ingenious and dynamic

adaptation of a community/population to its environment and

the needs and aspirations for sustainable development (FAO) “

Definition

GIAHS in Minneriya Tank, Sri Lanka

10

Focus on human-influenced natural environments:

Aims to

- promote and support Socio-ecological Production Landscapes around the world

- maintain and/or enhance their contributions to human well-being and the three objectives of the CBD

11

Socio-ecological Production Landscape

The Satoyama Initiative

Launching International Partnership for Satoyama Initiative

12

Vision: Societies in harmony with nature

Cyclic use of natural resources

Three-Fold Approach:1. Consolidate wisdom on securing diverse

ecosystem services and values2. Integrate traditional ecological knowledge

and modern science3. Explore new forms of co-managementsystems Contributions

to socio-economies

Resource use within the carrying

capacity and resilience of the environment

Five Key Perspectives in the approach

Multi-stakeholder participation and

collaborationRecognition of the value and

importance of local traditions and cultures

13

Creeping depletion of global resources, energy and environmental crisis

Global environmental crisis will contribute to the promotion of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Japan

Promote community-based “Produce Locally, Consume Locally” in resources and energy utilization

Eco-longevity society will add values to satoyama landscapes

Satoyama landscape as a new international exchanges and global community network base

Rebuilding Satoyama Landscapes

14

15

Commons: the natural resources that are utilized and managed on a “shared” basis as well as the systems for such purposes

Not only human-nature relationships but also human relations and social mechanisms are important for sustainable use and management of natural resources

New regional comprehensive management bodies are needed

(Sagamihara City museum, 2004)

Reintroduction of Storks into the wild in Toyooka City

Map of commons from 17th century (grassland and surrounding villages)

Creation of a “New Commons”

Richness of Biodiversity and Life

•http://www.mecsumai.com/topics/index/addr1/13/addr2/116/page/3

In the midst of globalization, a local identity with nature and culture

Diversity develops values

We need regions with diverse ecosystems

Necessary to pursue both the universal and the unique

In pursuit of another kind of richness

16

•Photo by Okuro

Papaya

Coffee trees

Pigeon peas

Ricci, M. S. F. and Neves, M. C. P. (eds.) Cultivo do Café Organico. Embraba Agrobiologia-RJ. 2006

Conclusion

Benefits of socio-ecological production landscapes for biodiversity conservation and human well-being should be shared globally

Challenges facing socio-ecological production landscapes are common issues around the world

In overcoming these challenges, it is important that;

-we understand the best ways of nurturing a stable supply of ecosystem services,

-we make them more applicable to the society by integrating traditional knowledge with modern science,

-and since these are not only technical problems, we need to involve wider collaboration among multi-stakeholders

Based on this concept, the SATOYAMA Initiative can bring to realization the vision of societies in harmony with nature

In order to advance the Initiative, experience sharing and active cooperation with relevant bodies are essential

17

18

Thank you very much!