Side Event

Conservation of Ecological, Cultural and Economic Dimensions of Traditional Rural Landscape (Satoyama)Area: the case of Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan

Organizer
Ishikawa International Cooperation Research Centre (IICRC)

Date and Time
29 March 2006 13:15 - 15:0

Meeting
Eighth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 8)

This Roundtable seminar attempts to discuss the importance of the satoyama area (traditional rural landscape), its problems and ways in which the satoyama area can be restored and conserved. The satoyama area can encompass at least 3 or 4 major ecosystems, including agro-ecosystems, forestry ecosystems, wetland ecosystems and grassland ecosystems. Satoyama plays a significant role in nature and society in terms of pooling biodiversity and providing essential services such as food, cultural services, and numerous other valuable services that contribute to human and ecological well-being. This significant area and its valuable attributes are being threatened now due to numerous factors including development and construction, the increasing aging population and abandonment, urban migration, trade, and the advancement of science and technology. These trends and their adverse impacts on satoyama requires urgent attention. While the restoration and conservation of such an area can be initiated at different levels and by different stakeholders, the role of local governments and other local stakeholders is a crucial one especially, when considering the geographical location of the satoyama area, which is mostly found in rural areas that fall within the local jurisdictions. This roundtable seminar places specific emphasis on some of the experiences and initiatives within Ishikawa Prefecture and other local stakeholders. Objectives: The objectives of the roundtable seminar during COP8 are to:  Introduce the concept of satoyama area (traditional rural landscape) and its values and problems;  Explore ways to restore and conserve the satoyama area, and  To introduce some of the efforts of the local governments and other local stakeholders in the restoration and conservation of satoyama.