THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE IN ASIA (ICSS-ASIA) HANOI, VIETNAM 2 March 2011

Rebuilding the Relationship between People and Nature; The SATOYAMA Initiative
Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Deputy 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

Vision for Creating Sustainable Society

Creating sustainable society that integrates low carbon 2 society, resource-circulating society, and natureharmonious 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 Earths ecosystems and realize an economic society that enjoy a sustainable growth and development

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) 3

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

Gray-faced Buzzard Erythronium japonicum

Jan. 1974 Oyamada, Machida City, Tokyo 4

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.
5

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
6

Satoumi landscape

Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes, and Satoyama and Satoumi Landscapes

Landscape formed as a blend of natural processes and human culture, which mutually affect each other.

Biocultural Landscapes

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

Modern & commercial rice production system
V.A.C.Circulated system that is composed of
gardens, Orchards, Aquaculture ponds and barns
Vuon (gardens, orchards)
Chuong (barns)

Compos t

Fruit s House

Ao (aquaculture ponds)

Manure

Fish Eggs Meat Garbage

Modern system features

High production growth Single breeding Abundant chemical fertilizers Water pollution, soil discharge

V.A.C. provides

Diverse breeding Diverse biomass Diverse income

8

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Definition 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)

GIAHS in Minneriya Tank, Sri Lanka

10

The Satoyama Initiative

Focus on human-influenced natural environments:

Socio-ecological Production Landscape

Aims to

- promote and support Socio-ecological Production Landscapes around the world - maintain and/or enhance their contributions to human wellbeing and the three objectives of the CBD

11

Launching International Partnership for Satoyama Initiative

12

Vision: Societies in harmony with nature

Resource use within the carrying capacity and resilience of the environment

1. Consolidate wisdom on securing diverse ecosystem services and values 2. Integrate traditional ecological knowledge and modern science 3. Explore new forms of co-management systems Contributions

Three-Fold Approach:

to socio-economies

Cyclic use of natural resources

Recognition of the value and importance of local traditions and cultures

Multi-stakeholder participation and collaboration

Five Key Perspectives in the approach

13

Rebuilding Satoyama Landscapes

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

14

Creation of a New Commons

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

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

(Sagamihara City museum, 2004)
15

Reintroduction of Storks into the wild in Toyooka City

Richness of Biodiversity and Life

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

Photo by Okuro

Papaya

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

Pigeon peas
Coffee trees
16
Ricci, M. S. F. and Neves, M. C. P. (eds.) Cultivo do Caf 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

Thank you very much!

18