Activity proposal Satoyama Initiative

DRAFT - DRAFT - DRAFT
The role of woodlands and coppices in socio-ecological production landscapes‘Embracing multifunctionality’
Cluster 1 (case study); Cluster 2-iv (policies to revitalize and innovate); andCluster 5 (on the ground activities)
Proposed by INBAR on 22 August 2010 as part of the Satoyama workshop in Fujiyoshida,
Japan

This activity would focus on the role of woodlands and coppices in socio-ecological production
landscapes, and through pilot projects and policy development protect and enhance theircontribution to the multifunctionality that ‘Satoyamas’ have to offer to biodiversity conservation,
environmental sustainability and development.

Background
Woodlands and coppices are forests, but managed forests, and an integral part of ‘Satoyamas’.
When managed properly, they provide both a source of income, and contribute significantly toecosystem services, such as biodiversity conservation, erosion control and water retention.
Although these woodlands and coppices are in fact man-made ‘forests’, balanced ‘Satoyamastyle’ woodlands and coppices play an important role in conserving biodiversity by providing
shelter and refuge to many species and maintaining integration, complexity and stability of thewhole woodland production ecosystems, and thereby acting as a bridge to natural forests
outside the farming system. They are an essential part of the multifunctional role that
‘Satoyamas’ can play in a world that is loosing its biodiversity. However, although theimportance of these woodlands is still being recognized (agroforesters, indigenous people), at
the same time many of them are under threat, either from being not used anymore and/orneglected, for example because of urbanization, or from being over-harvested and over-used,for example because of the need for construction material of fuel wood.

Activity:
It is suggested to focus the activity initially on the three categories mentioned: (1) neglected, (2)in sustainable use, and (3) disappearing. It also proposed to limit the case studies initially, e.g.
to 3-5 countries.

Suggested work:
1. Survey, collect and synthesize data on the economical and environmental viability ofmanaging woodlands and coppices as part of socio-economic production systems, looking
both for successful experiences and remaining constrains concerning biodiversity andecosystems service in managing the production landscapes. Carry out an analysis anddiagnosis of the landscapes with problems, where woodlands and coppices have become1unmanaged and are deteriorating, e.g. in developed countries, and the valuable but highly
endangered landscapes with woodlands and coppices, e.g. in Africa.
2. Analyze and provide advice for (re)formulation of international, national and local policies onrevitalizing and innovating production woodlands and coppices landscape management bystrengthening its environmental contribution through biodiversity conservation andpromoting paid environmental services.
3. Study and demonstrate sustainable woodlands and coppices management practices anddevelop technical guidelines and models for experience sharing, capacity building andupscaling outside the pilot countries.
Call for Partners:
Partners are needed that represent and/or provide:
A. Regional presence and expertise, in particular with local ‘Satoyamas’
B. Expertise of woodland and coppices in multifunctional socio-economic production systems
C. Expertise with policies for payment for ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation
Box: Bamboo as an example
Bamboo groves are typical and common in socio-economic production landscapes in Asia,Africa and Latin America. There are modern and economically viable socio-economic production
landscapes with bamboo in East Asia, landscapes where bamboo has become unmanaged andnow threatens to become a problematic invasive species (Japan) and there are valuable but
highly endangered landscapes with bamboo in e.g. the rift valleys of East Africa, where theneed for wood and deficient land tenure policies endanger the so-called ‘water towers’, thewoodlands on the mountains which encompass important bamboo groves, which traditionallyhave been used by the local community.

Potential partners are requested to contact:
Dr Lou Yiping
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)YPLOU@inbar.int

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