Biodiversity Action Book
— From “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity” Towards 2030 —Published by: Japan Committee for UNDB
1

Forewo rd
The “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” were adopted at the Tenth Conference of theParties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. To achieve these targets, in 2012 the cabinet approved the “National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan
2012-2020”. In Chapter 2, Section 1 of this strategy you will find initiatives for“Promoting the mainstreaming of biodiversity”. These include promoting “participatory surveys of living organisms, ecotourism and green tourism, supporting environmental education and learning activities”, increasing “opportunities
for people to experience first-hand the benefits obtained from biodiversity andecosystems and local cultures which coexist with local natural environments”,“conducting economic valuations of the various types of value that biodiversity
contains” to “encourage diverse entities to take into account the value of biodiversity in their decision making”, as well as raising “public awareness aboutcertification systems for biodiversity-friendly products and services”.
CEPA (Communication, Education and Public Awareness) as described in
the Convention for Biological Diversity Article 13 Public Education and Awareness has played an integral role in accomplishing these initiatives.
“My Action Declaration – 5 Actions for Biodiversity” that the Japan Committee for United Nations Decade for Biodiversity (UNDB-J) is promoting is introduced in the National Biodiversity Strategy as the only effectively way toimplement CEPA. We also organized the Biodiversity Action Awards from 2013
to 2019 to applaud exemplary biodiversity actions.
For this award, we asked people across Japan to share with us actions
they are implementing that protect biodiversity and promote sustainability. We
then selected the winners of the Excellence Award in the five categories – Let’s
Eat, Let’s Feel, Let’s Show, Let’s Conserve, and Let’s Select - and the Grand Prize(Minister Awards) from among the Excellence Award winners.
During the seven years of the Biodiversity Action Awards, our image oforganizations that undertake actions for biodiversity has changed significantly.
In the beginning we received many applications from organizations involvedin environmental conservation, but in the latter years of the award we saw
young people working together with the regional economy, forging partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders. We also saw a rise in entries fromcompanies that not only engage in conservation activities to contribute to theregion, but have, at the same time, experienced a positive business impact andincrease in company value.
More people have begun to consider the environment, society, and economy together. This is partially due to the improved awareness for the SDGs, but
it is also an example of how CEPA has enhanced understanding of biodiversity
among various age groups and people in different positions.
The United Nations Decade on Biodiversity has come to an end and theUnited Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will begin in 2021. We havecreated the “Biodiversity Action Book” to share the transformations the world
has undergone in the past decade to protect biodiversity for future generations, and we also hope that it will contain inspiring ideas for your activities as
you enter the new decade.
March 2021
Japan Committee for UNDB

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“United Nations Decade on Biodiversity” Timeline
Green: Convention on Biological Diversity-related activities
Red: Convention on Climate Change-related activities
Blue: SDG-related activities

2010

COP10

2011

United Nations Decade on Biodiversity begins

MDG Summit

Great East Japan Earthquake
2012

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 held

2013

2015
2016
2017
2018

Biodiversity Action Awards held

United Nations Decadeon Biodiversity

2014

IPCC Fifth Assessment Report issued
SDGs adopted

Paris Agreement adopted at COP21

Kumamoto Earthquake

IPCC special report, Global Warming of 1.5°C
Heavy rain in west Japan2019

1st SDG Summit

2020

COVID-19 pandemic

2021

COP15
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration begins

United Nations Decadeon Ecosystem Restoration

2022

IPCC Sixth Assessment Report to be issued

2023

2nd SDG Summit

2024
2025

Expo 2025, Osaka

2026
2027

3rd SDG Summit

2028
2029
2030
…
2050

Final year of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
SDGs to be achieved
Paris Agreement to be achieved

3

Biodiversity Action Award Achievements 1
United Nations Decade on Biodiversity – during this time, the world changed dramatically.
Humankind made history by adopting the SDGs and signing the Paris Agreement. On theother hand, we saw an increase in climate disasters around the globe, and in the final
year of the decade, in 2020, the whole world was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To overcome these challenges, it is important to apply wisdom and undertake grassroots
activities. The Biodiversity Action Award was established to discover promising grassroots
activities in Japan.

792

entries

217
companies

427
community-basedorganizations

63
individuals

73
educational
institutions

The Biodiversity Action Award was organized annually from 2013 to 2019. ExcellenceAwards, Special Awards, and Action Awards were given each year, and after the Excellence Award recipients introduce their activities at the Awards Ceremony, the Grand
Prize (known as the Minister of the Environment Award and Minister of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries from 2017) winners were selected.
412   local governments

Every year we created leaflets and updated the website to widely promote actions that
protect biodiversity. Our website also introduced the results of the Awards and the activities of the award-winning organizations. We received 792 entries over the course of sevenyears from community-based organizations, companies, and more.

2013

2014

2015

2018

2019

Biodiversity Action Award

2016

2017

5 Actions for Biodiversity

WebsiteWebsitehttp://5actions.jp/award/

http://5actions.jp/en/

5

Award-Winning Activities
Let us introduce the award-winning organizations
in each of the 5 categories from 2013 to 2019.
*The names and activities refer to those provided at the time of submission.

2013
Cooking Traditional Foods of the Shigaand Lake Biwa Areas
Eco idea kids, Lake Biwa (Shiga)
http://5actions.jp/en/eat/i_kids/

Children who participate in this program discover Lake
Biwa’s rich bounty by learning how to cook the traditional foods of Shiga Prefecture, and also come to love andhave pride in their region. This initiative also aspires tocreate a new food culture by fostering relationships.

Let’s E a t Awa rd
These are activities that have low environmental impact,which unearth the food culture of the region by using
seasonal foods produced in the region.
Keywords: Self-sufficiency; home vegetable gardens, community gardens or farms; traditional foods; local production
for local consumption; producing and eating in season; foodeducation; food mileage; etc.

2014

2015

Hiyori Kitchen
Hiyori Kitchen (Currently known as: Café Ren) (Miyagi)

Let’s Get Rid of Abandoned Bamboo Forests
by Eating Bamboo

http://5actions.jp/en/eat/hiyori-kitchen/Specified Non-Profit Corporation Kamome (Kyoto)

The Hiyori Kitchen’s key concept is to develop a “newfood culture for Ishinomaki” with a fresh set of eyes. It is

Kamome is a volunteer group that takes care of aban-a restaurant that was established as a center for research,doned bamboo forests. Exasperated by super resilient

discovery, and development of new foods and recipes

bamboos that keep growing back, the group began an

uniqueinitiative – “Let’s get rid of abandoned bamboo forests bytoIshinomaki

andtransformation of theseeating bamboo” – which aims to develop food products

assets into a resource

using bamboo.

for tourism.

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http://5actions.jp/en/eat/kamome/

2016

2017

Bringing Partnerships to Life Through Local
Cooperation and Raising Plants to Make Fruit Syrup

Children’s Hometown Building— “Oyster Farming Experience”

Dongri-Kurabu for Natural Life in Forest Co. (Fukui)

Ishinomaki Municipal Ohara Elementary School (Miyagi)

http://5actions.jp/en/eat/donguri/

http://5actions.jp/en/eat/ishinomaki/

The Dongri-Kurabu for Natural Life in Forest Co. makes

This initiative, which began in 1999, has thrived even af-

fruit syrup from plants native to the region. Fruit used to

ter the Great East Japan Earthquake thanks to the support

make syrup comes from plants, for example Gamazumi

and cooperation of parents, guardians, and the regional(Viburnum dilatatum), that have been cultivated from

community. The school aims to help nurture children,

seeds. The club is currently cultivating over 800 saplings.

who will one day contribute to restoration, by providing
comprehensive education that includes a class on forestry where students are given an opportunity to experience every process of oyster farming, learn about food,and the bio-richness of the sea.

2018

2019

Establishing a Regional Brand of Vegetables
Grown on Regionally Recycled Food Waste“Regional Development Project Utilizing
Traditional Foods ‘Akajaga (Red Potatoes)’and ‘Awabatadaizu (Awabata Soybeans)”

Okaeri Yasai Project (Aichi)
http://5actions.jp/en/eat/okaeri/

This project takes food waste from supermarkets, school
lunches, restaurants, homes, etc. and recycles it into com-

Gunma Prefectural Seta Norin High School,
Plant Biology Research Department (Gunma)
http://5actions.jp/en/eat/setanorin/

post. Then the vegetables and rice grown using the com-

The aging population is a serious issue for the town ofpost are returned to supermarkets, schools, hotels, etc. as

Kanna in Tano County, Gunma Prefecture, and as a re-“Okaeri Yasai” (Welcome

sult, its precious genetic resource has begun to vanish.

home vegetables).

Through efforts to utilize and revive the cultivation of“Akajaga (red potatoes)” and “Awabatadaizu (Awabata
soybeans),” the research department is contributing to
the preservation of the region’s genetic resources and its
revitalization.

7

Award-Winning Activities
2013
A Program Initiated by Residents of theRiver Basin that Integrates Biodiversity
Conservation with Education
Network for Conserving the River Basinin the Rain-Kissed Lands (Osaka)
http://5actions.jp/en/feel/oteranetto/“The integration of environmental conservation and education” – this is the key focus of the group. They help
develop educational materials for elementary schools
and also encourage the participation of children in conservation activities. These activities help children growand some even go on to become leaders in conservation
activities.

Let’s Fe e l Awa rd
These activities help people experience nature in themountains, the sea, rivers, zoos, botanical gardens andmore. They also help people realize how much fun it canbe to play in nature and learn about the characteristics ofthe region and its biodiversity.
Keywords: Nature observation groups; nature experience
programs; nature schools; interpreter training; field museums; ecotourism; etc.

2014

2015

The Alien Species Problem Studied and Told

Let’s Play in the Living Creature Playground

Ishigaki Municipal Ibaruma Junior High School (Okinawa)

Inokashira Park Zoo (Tokyo)

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/ibaruma-junior-high-school/

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/ikimono_hiroba/

Every year, the Ishigaki Municipal Ibaruma Junior HighThe Inokashira Park Zoo has set aside a part of its grounds

School organizes an environmental education program(1300m2) as a place where people can experience na-

for its first year students, which includes biological ex-

ture and have fun looking for and catching living crea-

periments, and focuses on the island’s invasive species,tures. The objective here is not to show people, rather for

Marine Toads, to improve awareness for and interest to-people to discover living creatures for themselves.

wards biodiversity conservation.

8

2016

2017

Summer Camp for Little Farmers

The Biodiversity School @ Tokushima— Katsuura River Basin Field Program

HERS (Heroines for Environment and
Rural Support) (Kumamoto)Tokushima Biodiversity Leader Team (Tokushima)

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/inakanoheroine/

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/tokushima/

The Little Farmers Learning Center aims to not only pro-This team operates in an area extending from the Kat-

vide children from urban areas opportunities to expe-

suura River source to its estuaries and organizes 15 class-rience the life and nature in satoyama, but to also givees over the course of 8 days. Experts share their scientificchildren from farming families a chance to rediscover theknowledge, and participants, who pass the program withsurrounding nature and living organisms. This program

flying colors, receive a “Biodiversity Leader” certification.

also teaches children the power to live, in other words
survival skills and the ability to adapt.

2018

2019

JTB Brighter Earth Project

Preserving the Satoyama Region

JTB Corporation (Tokyo)

Kawana Satoyama Rangers (Kanagawa)

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/jtbcorp/

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/kawanasatoyama/This project brings customers, local residents, and JTB

The Kawana green district is located within a 20-minuteGroup employees together to conduct activities that cre-walking distance from the Fujisawa station. Although it is

ate a brighter future for everyone. Through environmen-

situated near the city center, there still remains approx-

tal beautification and human interchange, JTB wishes toimately 30ha of satoyama in Kawana. And in the centerjoin hands with everyone involved in “Bringing vitality tolies Kawanashimizuyato. The rangers want to bequeath

the earth and smiles to people.”the nature in this district to future generations throughtheir activities and by working with children of the community.

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Award-Winning Activities
2013
Environmental Awareness Classes
Shimadzu Corporation E-club (Kyoto)
http://5actions.jp/en/show/shimadzu-e-club/

The company organizes environmental awareness classes at elementary schools using “bidi,” a card game it created to introduce endangered species. These classes area part of Shimadzu Corporation’s “E-club” activities thatteach children about biodiversity and its importance.

Let’s Show Awa rd
These activities keep a record of, express, and communicate the different colors, shapes, and activities of livingorganisms, the majesty of nature, and its changing seasons as photographs, artwork, and text.
Keywords: Traditional performing arts; traditional events;
publications; websites; apps; images; photographs;
events; games; art; etc.

2014

2015

The Picture Story Show about Living Creaturesin Shibukawa Town: Communicating
About the Treasures of Their Hometown

Surveying the Relationship
Between People and Nature

The Support Committee for Mmaking the Picture
Story Show of Living Creatures in Shibukawa Town,
Shiga, Japan (Shiga)

http://5actions.jp/en/show/teruhanomori/

http://5actions.jp/en/show/shibukawa-ikimonogatari/

From 2008, this group has surveyed the relationship between people and nature in 4 districts in the town of Aya,
Miyazaki Prefecture. The group worked with the local

The support committee for making the picture story

community on the surveys, learned about the region’sshow of living creatures in Shibukawa Town is an orga-values, lifestyles, and aspirations, and created maps andnization that helps provide “biodiversity education” tobrochures that helped the region rediscover and rede-students of the Shibukawa Elementary School. It has sup-fine itself.

ported children’s efforts to describe Shibukawa’s biodiversity with pictures and illustrated picture-card stories.

10

Teruha Forest Association Inc. (Miyazagi)

2016

2017

Itoshima Regional Calendar
Itoshima Calendar Group (Fukuoka)“Gyobu”: Activities to Promote
Biodiversity Together with Human Diversity

http://5actions.jp/en/show/itoshimakoyomi/

Gyobu: Kitakyushu (Fukuoka)

Itoshima calendar group creates page-a-day calendars

http://5actions.jp/en/show/gyobu/

that introduce Itoshima’s nature, culture, traditional“Gyobu” is a diverse group consisting of 320 professional

events, and living organisms. These calendars provide in-and non-professional members from thirty-one prefec-

formation about what life with nature is like and motivatetures in Japan, who are interested in nature and living or-

people to go out and experience nature.

ganisms as well as the relationship between nature andman. Gyobu has been sharing its unique viewpoint andfindings on biodiversity by organizing exhibitions thatwelcomes approximately 120,000 visitors and throughthe publication of the magazine, “GyobuRu”.

2018

2019

Let’s Try Biodiversity! (LTB) — Companies’
First Undertaking at Conserving Biodiversity

No Touch Sango (Coral)

The Biodiversity Working Group, The Four Electricaland Electronic Industry Associations (Tokyo)

http://5actions.jp/en/show/ecoguidecafe/

http://5actions.jp/en/show/jema/

Eco Guide Café (Okinawa)
In order to prevent negative impact on coral reefs due toincreased tourism as a result of direct flights to the Shi-

This working group created a guidebook, which in-mojishima Airport, the group has created and shared a

troduces in detail 11 examples of activities that would

series of “No Touch Sango (Coral)” videos. They are using

be easy to adopt for companies taking their first stepthese videos to also raise awareness at the point of de-towards biodiversity conservation. The group is also

parture e.g. Hong Kong,

helping companies by organizing

Taiwan, mainland Chi-orientations

na, and cities acrossand offering partici-

Japan, and at the desti-

pants

nation, the Shimojishi-

opportunities

to watch and expe-

ma Airport.

rience the activities
firsthand.

11

Biodiversity Action Award Map 2013 ‒ 2019
★ Excellence Awards● Reconstruction Assistance Awards●eat ●feel ●show ●conserve ●select
Shiga*The Minister of the Environment and Minister for Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries Awards were established in 2017.
*The numbers on the map indicate the total number of entries received
from each prefecture over the course of seven years.

Eco idea kids, Lake Biwa★20

Konan Kigyo Ikimono Oenda

Area of Lake Biwa Support

The Support Committee for M

One of the big achievements of the Award wasof Living Creatures in Shibthat it shone a light on the many activities being undertaken across Japan.
Kyoto

Special Awards:3, Action Aw
Mie

Speciﬁed Non-Proﬁt Corporation Kamome★2015 Grand Prize

Mitsubishi Chemical AdvanceSpecial Awards:1, Action Aw

Shimadzu Corporation E-club★
Special Awards:1
Action Awards:9
Osaka

Network for Conserving the River Basin in the Rain-Kissed Lands★

NiigataSpecial Awards:1, Action Aw

ToyamaSpecial Awards:2, Action Aw

Ishikawa Team Maruyama★2014 Gran

Incorporated NPO Nippon Baratanago (Rosy Bitterling) Takayasu Research Group★

Nonproﬁt Organization Kaho

Panasonic Corporation★

Action Awards:7

Smileyearth Corporation.★
Special Awards:4

Fukui

Dongri-Kurabu for Natural Li

Action Awards:6
Hyogo

Action Awards:3

Special Awards:3
Action Awards:13

Nara
ShimaneAction Awards:3
Special Awards:1
Action Awards:1

Yamaguchi

Action Awards:1

Okayama

Action Awards:3

Hiroshima

Action Awards:2

Tokushima

Tokushima Biodiversity Leader Team★

6
1

Special Awards:1
Kochi

Action Awards:1

Ehime

Action Awards:2

Fukuoka

Itoshima Calendar Group★2016 Grand Prize

7

Gyobu: Kitakyushu★2017 The Minister of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries Award

8

28
14

6

4

1
8

4

3

Aichi

Nagasaki

Action Awards:4

Kumamoto

HERS (Heroines for Environment and Rural Support)★

Gifu

Yamanashi

Special Awards:3

16

Special Awards:1
Action Awards:1

Fujisan Outdoor Museum
Action Awards:2

Shizuoka

Eco Guide Café★2019 The Minister of the Environment Award

Special Awards:1
Action Awards:3

Kanagawa

Kawana Satoyama Range
Special Awards:2
Action Awards:16

Ishigaki Municipal Ibaruma Junior High School★

Action Awards:5

Action Awards:4
Special Awards:3

Action Awards:4

12

Action Awards:2
NaganoAgriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award

Special Awards:2

Speciﬁed Non-Proﬁt Corp
Special Awards:1

Kumamoto Farmer Hunters★2018 The Minister of

Okinawa

Okaeri Yasai Project★201

Action Awards:17

Special Awards:1

Kagoshima

44Special Awards:3

Saga

Teruha Forest Association Inc.★

1

33
12 20
7

7

Kato Construction Co., Ltd

Action Awards:5

Miyazaki

8

41 18
17

8

Special Awards:5

Action Awards:2

17
9

Chiba

Special Awards:2
Action Awards:6

Hokkaido

Special Awards:1, Action Awards:10

013 Grand Prizean (Companies in Southernt Living Creatures)★

Mmaking the Picture Story Show

19

bukawa Town, Shiga, Japan★

wards:4

ed Materials Japan Ltd.★

wards:8
Aomoriwards:4

wards:3

7

nd Prizeokugata Lake Institute★

0

ife in Forest Co.★

5
8
12

7

44

6

12

5

Iwate

Special Awards:1

11

Yamagata

Special Awards:1
Action Awards:2

MiyagiIshinomaki Municipal Ohara Elementary School★
Hiyori Kitchen (Currently known as: Café Ren)★

31

Ajisima Adventure School●
Kesennuma Municipal Ooya Junior High School●

3

Organization to Promote the Rejuvenation of Eelgrass Beds
in the Matsushima Bay Area●

10

Speciﬁed Non-Proﬁt Corporation Mori Wa Umi No Koibito(The forest is longing for the sea, the sea is longing

35 11
10 17848 29

for the forest)●
Aji-shima Island Island Heart of Heart Summer School●
Special Awards:9
Action Awards:6
Fukushima

Iwaki Oceanographic Survey Team, Umi Labo●

IbarakiAction Awards:1

Tochigi

Goshawk Protection Fund★
Action Awards:1

Gunma

Gunma Prefectural Seta Norin High School, Plant Biology
Research Department★2019 The Minister of Agriculture,d.★2017 The Minister of the Environment Award

poration Tsukushinbo★

Usuzawa Shishiodori (Deer Dance) Conservation Association●
Action Awards:3

18 The Minister of the Environment Awardm★

Special Awards:2
Action Awards:3

Forestry and Fisheries Award
Special Awards:1
Action Awards:2
SaitamaSpecial Awards:2
Action Awards:10

Tokyo

Inokashira Park Zoo★
JTB Corporation★
The Biodiversity Working Group, The Four Electrical andElectronic Industry Associations★
Fairwood Partners★
Mitsubishi Jisho Residence Co., Ltd.★
Special Awards:14
Action Awards:52

ers★

13

Award-Winning Activities
2013
Conserving Biodiversity by Using a Traditional
Water Purification Method, “Dobi Nagashi”(Draining Ponds), Widely Practiced
in Kochi’s Satochi-Satoyama
Incorporated NPO Nippon Baratanago(Rosy Bitterling) Takayasu Research Group (Osaka)
http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/n-baratanago/“Dobi Nagashi” (draining ponds) (Ikeboshi = draining
ponds dry) is a traditional farming method widely practiced in Kochi’s satochi-satoyama for improving the water
quality in ponds. Using this traditional method, the groupprevents the mass development of green algae and invasive alien species to conserve the biodiversity of endemic

Let’s Cons e r ve Awa rd

species including the Nippon Baratanago (rosy bitterling).

These activities that survey, preserve, and regenerate nature and living organisms in forests, villages, rivers, andthe sea, and preserve the local culture ultimately aim tobequeath a rich natural environment to future generations.
Keywords: Conservation of local performing arts and traditional events; restoration of mountain villages, satoyama,and river basins; nature conservation activities; national
trusts; etc.

2014

2015

Aenokoto

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
Join Hands to Conserve Biodiversity

Team Maruyama (Ishikawa)
http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/aenokoto/“Maruyama,” a satoyama located in Noto Peninsula,
is rich in biodiversity and traditional wisdom. Team

Konan Kigyo Ikimono Oendan (Companies in Southern
Area of Lake Biwa Support Living Creatures) (Shiga)
http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/konan/

Maruyama brings together findings from monthly biodi-

Twelve companies from the region are working together

versity surveys and the timeless agricultural ritual, “Ae-with the local administration and research institutions to

nokoto.” The group undertakes these activities with theconduct four surveys each year on the water quality andbelief that everyone, who consumes rice, has the rightliving organisms in six areas along the Okamigawa Riv-to express his/her appreciation for the living organisms

er. The survey results are compiled into a report and arethat inhabit the rice paddy fields.

being shared with participating companies, administrations, institutions, and researchers.

14

2016

2017

Investigation of Roadkill around Mount Fuji
Fujisan Outdoor Museum (Yamanashi)

Eco Meeting – Environmental Activities
in the Construction Sector

http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/fuji/Kato Construction Co., Ltd. (Aichi)

The group gathers wildlife roadkill data near the base of

http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/katokensetu/

Mt. Fuji and makes that data visible. These activities aim

These eco meetings are being held to help realize a so-to uncover clues that will help reduce roadkill.

ciety that can live in harmony with nature. The meetings
discuss and propose what measures can be taken to help
conserve and restore nature through the various construction projects the company undertakes.

2018

2019

“Protecting Our Region and Our Farms
Ourselves” — Kumamoto Farmer Hunters’Measures Against Wild Birds and Animals

Creating a Home for Grey-faced Buzzards

Kumamoto Farmer Hunters (Kumamoto)
http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/kumamotonokahunter/

Goshawk Protection Fund (Tochigi)
http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/ootaka/

The town of Ichikai, Tochigi Prefecture, is blessed withsatoyama. And it has chosen grey-faced buzzards that

Kumamoto Farmer Hunters is a community of young

live in the satoyama as the sentinel species for biomon-

farmers, who have pledged to “protect their region anditoring. The fund is working with the government, re-farms themselves.” Over 100 farmers in Kumamoto pre-gional community, and conservation groups to utilize

fecture along with residents, local governments, highlocal resources and create a region rich in biodiversity

schools, universities in the region as well as companies

where people and nature can coexist.

in Kumamoto and other prefectures that concur with theorganization’s vision are working together to fight off
wild birds and animals.

15

Award-Winning Activities
2013
Fairwood Partners
Fairwood Partners (Tokyo)
http://5actions.jp/en/select/fairwood/

Fairwood refers to wood and wood products that take
into consideration the forest environment and local
communities where logging is taking place. Fairwood
Partners believe that providing information that enables
users to make sustainable choices will help change logging behavior and protect the world’s forests.

Let’s Sel e ct Awa rd
These activities help consumers make informed choices
by sharing information about and promoting biodiversity-friendly products and services.
Keywords: Fair trade; traceability; green purchasing; green
economy; eco labels; etc.

2014

2015

A Tool for Biodiversity Conservation in
Paddy Fields, “Ikimono-genki-mai”

BIO NET INITIATIVE— Initiatives to Protect Biodiversity

Nonprofit Organization Kahokugata Lake Institute(Ishikawa)

Mitsubishi Jisho Residence Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)

http://5actions.jp/en/select/kahokugata-lake-institute/

http://5actions.jp/en/select/bionetinitiative/

To create ecological networks that spread from individ-“Ikimonogenkimai” is rice cultivated without aerial-

ual points to lines and planes and to cultivate under-

ly-spraying pesticides and herbicides on the levees. This

standing among residents, Mitsubishi Jisho Residence

NPO researches the biodiversity of each paddy field, andplans trees and plants for eachthen lists the living organisms found there on the pack-property in a manner thataging. You can see by whom and where the rice wasprotects biodiversity re-made and what the area is like.

gardless of the property’s size and land area.

16

2016

2017

Substitution for Imported Plywood thatContributes to Biodiversity

YUMEITA Project

Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Japan Ltd.
(Mie)

http://5actions.jp/en/select/tukuc/

http://5actions.jp/en/select/quadrant/

Specified Non-Profit Corporation Tsukushinbo (Gifu)
To help preserve the satoyama landscape, children create protective covering for their school desks with tim-

Concrete casting molds made from plywood used at con-ber from forest thinning, which they will use for the

struction sites in Japan rely heavily on wood imported

next six years. From early years of primary education,from Southeast Asia. By making “XSHEET” resin formwork

children learn about trees and forest conservation. And

panel for concrete widely available, the company is con-because every first grader will need a protective cover-tributing to the conservation of rainforests and biodiver-ing for desks, this project has found a continuous use forsity.

thinned trees.

2018

2019

Contributing to Marine Biodiversity byBecoming the First Company in Japan to Adopt
Sustainable Seafood in Employee Cafeterias

Establishing an Environmentally-friendly
Production Process for Towels

Panasonic Corporation (Osaka)

http://5actions.jp/en/select/smileyearth/

http://5actions.jp/en/select/panasonic/

Smileyearth Corporation. (Osaka)Senshu in Osaka Prefecture is the “birthplace of towel

Panasonic aspires to help preserve marine biodiversity by

production in Japan.” But its reliance on chemicals has

adopting sustainable seafood in its employee cafeterias,

resulted in polluted rivers. Smileyearth Corporation has

thereby increasing awareness for the certification systemdeveloped a technology that helps alleviate the prob-

for protecting the rich marine life and transforming con-lem, and thus is contributing to the preservation of bio-

sumption behavior by encouraging people to choose sus-

diversity and sustainability of the local industry.

tainable food. Panasonic is the first company in Japan toserve certified seafood with applicable labels.

17

Reconstruction AssistanceAward-Winning Activities
The Reconstruction Assistance Award was set up to help promote Great East Japan Earthquake 2011 restoration efforts.
*The names and activities refer to those provided at the time ofsubmission.

2013
Rejuvenation of Eelgrass Beds Lostin the Great East Japan Earthquake
Organization to Promote the Rejuvenation of
Eelgrass Beds in the Matsushima Bay Area (Miyagi)
http://5actions.jp/en/feel/matsushima-amamo/

The Organization to Promote the Rejuvenation of Eelgrass Beds in the Matsushima Bay Area hopes to bringback eelgrass beds, many of which were lost due to theGreat East Japan Earthquake. The group organizes nature observation workshops for families so that they canlearn about the Matsushima Bay area’s nature, conduct
research on remaining eelgrass beds, collect eelgrassshoots, and also study the causal relationship between
eelgrass beds and fishing activities.

Reconstruction Assistance Award
These activities are undertaken in regions hard hit by theGreat East Japan Earthquake to survey the recovery andregeneration of the environment and to help pass on
and preserve local cultures and traditions.
Keywords: Monitoring marine life and ecosystems; activities to restore nature; preserving local performing arts andtraditional events; etc.

2014

2015

“Forest Fit for the Gods” — Doronoki (JapanesePoplar) Tree Planting Project in Iwate Prefecture

Ichiefu Shore Oceanographic Survey

Usuzawa Shishiodori (Deer Dance) Conservation
Association (Iwate)
http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/usuzawasisiodori/

http://5actions.jp/en/show/umilabo/

The Iwaki Oceanographic Survey Team, Umi Labo, un-

Shishiodori (deer dance), which dates back 400 years, isdertakes surveys off the shores of the Fukushima No.1

a traditional art form of Otsushi Town, Iwate Prefecture,

Nuclear Power Plant to share information about what is

an area afflicted by the Great East Japan Earthquake. This

going on in the ocean near Fukushima. They also regu-

project aims to protect this local heritage and the natural

larly update their blog with the latest information.

environment by planting Doronoki (Japanese poplars),
which are used to create the “Kannagara” or the whitemane of the headdresses.

18

Iwaki Oceanographic Survey Team,Umi Labo (Fukushima)

2016

2017

From Children of the Past to Adults of the Future

Ooya Hummingbird Project

Ajisima Adventure School (Miyagi)

Kesennuma Municipal Ooya
Junior High School (Miyagi)

http://5actions.jp/en/show/ajisima/

Ajisima is a marginal village with a population of around

http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/kesennuma/

400 people. If nothing is done, the island will become

Ooya is blessed with the rich nature of the Sanriku re-deserted in a few decades. That is why the Ajisima Adven-gion. But the natural environment is undergoing de-ture School is trying to pass on the island’s favorite pas-

structive changes, and the agriculture, forestry and fish-times such as its unique way of fishing for eel to children

ery industries that once supported lives in the region arefrom other parts of the country.

declining. Amid such damaging changes, children of theregion are undertaking a wide range of activities to help
regenerate and preserve the nature of Ooya and theirlivelihoods depend on it.

2018

2019

Utilizing the Moune Marshes to Connect
Forests, Rivers, Villages, and the Ocean

Aji-shima Island Island Heart ofHeart Summer School

Specified Non-Profit Corporation Mori Wa Umi No
Koibito (The forest is longing for the sea, the sea islonging for the forest) (Miyagi)

Aji-shima Island Island Heart ofHeart Summer School (Miyagi)

http://5actions.jp/en/conserve/moriumikoi/

http://5actions.jp/en/feel/ajishima2019/

Every summer, the Aji-shima Island Furusato Fun School

The Specified Non-Profit Corporation Mori Wa Umi No

welcomes orphans who have experienced abuse or

Koibito has been monitoring the impact the Great East Ja-

lost their parents in natural disasters to the island free of

pan Earthquake has had on the ecosystem in the Moune

charge. By spending time on the island surrounded by its

Bay, Kensennuma City, and based on its findings, it has

nature, talking to elderly men about the fishes they caught,

undertaken activities to educate and raise awareness forcooking with the elderly women, and eating together, thethe environment. Having successfully gained the region-

islanders hope that the children will learn that they are

al community’s understanding for the significance of its

cared for and loved, that they are a cherished presence.

activities, they have been able to preserve the salt marshes that formed as a result of the earthquake.

19

Biodiversity Action Award Achievements 2
Survey Period

What impact has winning the Biodiversity Action Award had on activities?

Respondents		

Thirty award-winning organizations re-Jun 18 - 28, 2018

SecondMar 18 – 25, 2020

Biodiversity Action Award-winning entities*

sponded to our survey.

Q1

First

*Winners of the Minister of the Environment Award, Ministerof Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award, Grand Prize, Excellence Award (in the 5 categories), and Special Award.

Method		Internet survey

Respondents		

30 organizations

Has your region become more well-known
and has it become easier to conduct activities?

Canʼt say either way
6％

We gained national recognition
and was able to sharethat with the community.

No change
19％

Q2

Yes
75％

Have you gained more advocates,
collaborators, or participants?
Our activities have become
more widely recognized andmany people havereached out to us.

Canʼt say either way
10％
We realized anew what madeour region amazing
and began undertaking
even more activities.

No change
22％

It increased the credibilityof our activities.

Yes
68％

Awareness for “biodiversity”
is low in our area of activity.

Q3

Have you achieved something evenWeʼre working evencloser with the city.

bigger or new since receiving the award?

Canʼt say either way
6％

No change
27％

We have been asked to take partin more events by companies committed
to CSR and organizations run
by municipal governments.

Farmers, timbermen, high school anduniversity students, government agencies,and even families have become
more engaged in SDG activities.

Yes
67％
Our passion for manufacturing
has intensiﬁed and we are
getting ready to launch a new initiative.

20

Q4

Please share any other impact you have experienced or your thoughts since winning.

Our activities were quite small in scale, and weweren’t on anyone’s radar, so we couldn’t believe it
when we won. It made us all very happy.

We were interviewed and they wrote an article about

Fujisan Outdoor Museum

us. And we are getting more traffic to our website2016 Let’s Conserve Award/ Excellence Awardthrough the Biodiversity Action Award site.
Winning a national-level award gave us
great confidence and motivated us to do more.
Specified Non-Profit Corporation Tsukushinbo2017 Let’s Select Award/Excellence Award

Citizen groups
People may see our efforts to fend off wild animals as
self-serving, but after winning the award they began tosee that our activities are helping to protect biodiversity. We are more committed than ever to our activities.

The fact that we were selected from among

Kumamoto Farmer Hunters

so many other organizations gave us confidence.

2019 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award

Making the presentation was an amazing
experience for the university students.
Kawana Satoyama Rangers
2019 Let’s Feel Award/ Excellence Award

Awareness for our activities has increased, and we havebeen asked to take part in environmental eventsand to organize nature observation workshops.
Other like-minded organizations have also
contacted us to learn more about what we do.
Kato Construction Co., Ltd.
The Fukui Prefecture forestry division asked us
to introduce our activities. We also attended asyrup tradeshow organized by the prefecture.

2017 Minister of the Environment Award

Companies

Dongri-Kurabu for Natural Life in Forest Co.
2016 Let’s Eat Award/ Excellence Award

The reception after the awards ceremony provided an
excellent opportunity to not only exchange information
but also to push our activity to the next level.
Hyogo Prefecture Mikage High School
Environmental Studies Living Organisms TeamThe award gave everyone in the region,2017 Seven Eleven Foundation Award

including children, a boost of confidence.
Ishinomaki Municipal Ohara Elementary School2017 Let’s Eat Award/ Excellence Award

Schools

21

From the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
to the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
And on to the SDG “Decade of Action”.
Tsunao Watanabe(Biodiversity Action Award Jury President/Japan Committee for IUCN Chair)

The Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10)

lished by the UNDB-J back in 2013 to encour-to the Convention on Biological Diversity wasage a diverse range of activities that would

held in October 2010 in Nagoya City, Aichi

help humankind coexist with nature. And toPrefecture. On the final day of the two-weekraise awareness for “My Action Declaration –conference, in the dead of night, the “Aichi

5 Actions for Biodiversity”, we asked people

Biodiversity Targets” were adopted. Living inacross Japan to tell us about their grassroots

harmony with nature means to protect in-

activities in the five categories – “Let’s Eat”,

tact ecosystems, while also striking a balance“Let’s Feel”, “Let’s Show”, “Let’s Conserve”, andbetween humankind and nature across the“Let’s Select” – so that we may share their ac-

country – in cities, rural areas, and in the sea. It

complishments with the rest of the world.

is also imperative that different stakeholders,

In the seven years, from 2013 to 2019, we

be it government, community-based organi-

received 792 entries, far more than we hadzations, businesses, schools, researchers, pro-hoped for.

ducers, or consumers, rise to action.

I joined the jury in 2016. Each year we re-

As Japanese community-based organi-ceived more than 100 entries on activities un-zations put together their recommendations

dertaken in forests, satoyama, rivers, and seasahead of COP 10, it became clear that the de-by community-based organizations, compa-

cade leading up to 2020 will be a crucial pe-nies, schools, individuals, and others active in

riod for biodiversity, so it was suggested thatvarious sectors. Jury members deliberated on

we designate this decade as the “United Na-

the activities, sometimes heatedly and welltions Decade on Biodiversity”. This proposal

into the night, to select the winners. And inwas then adopted by the United Nations Gen-late autumn, we welcomed all award recipi-

eral Assembly. Moreover, the Japan Commit-

ents to the Awards Ceremony to present theirtee for United Nations Decade on Biodiversity

activities. Not long after the presentations, we(UNDB-J) was established to actively engage

had to pick the Grand Prize (Minister Awards)

in activities to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity

winners. The difficulty of that decision still

Targets during this decade.

remains fresh in my mind. And each time we

The Biodiversity Action Award was estab-announced the winner, I remember thinking
just how amazing each and every activity submitted was.

22

Let’s create a society where
everyone can feel connected to natureand live happily.

And looking back at the award winners

The “United Nations Decade on Biodiver-

over the last couple of years, a clear trend ap-sity” will be followed by “United Nations De-

peared. We began to see many more activities

cade on Ecosystem Restoration”. This decade,that are iconic of the SDG era, that is, they are

which began in 2021 will not focus on stop-

comprehensive, integrating the environment,

ping degradation, rather, it will focus on re-society, and economy. These include activities

versing the harm done. We have experienced

that reexamine the region’s resources and wis-frequent natural disasters after the Great East

dom and find ways to effectively utilize thoseJapan Earthquake, and the COVID-19 pandem-

assets for the future, that aim to transform

ic has upended our lives. As we try to help

the social system to protect the environment,

ecosystems across the country recover, it isresolve issues by using the economic system

important to create a resilient, sustainable so-

effectively, and create partnerships spanningciety that is resistant to natural disasters andmultiple generations - from youths to seniors.

pandemics. This is a very important theme for

I am certain that sharing these activities withthe “Decade of Actions” during which time wepeople across Japan will help dramaticallywill accelerate our sweeping efforts to achievechange society.

the SDGs by 2030.

I would like to share a particularly memo-

We hope that all activities submitted torable occasion as a jury member. At the Awards

the Biodiversity Action Awards will pave theCeremony in 2016, Santaro Ohtsu (who wasway and help others become more aware

eight-years old at the time) who had partici-

and take positive action towards biodiversity.

pated in the Summer Camp for Little Farm-This will surely become a power to be reck-

ers, which aims to nurture farmers who will

oned with in the coming decade. Ms. Ayako

become guardians of sustainable farming,

Sakurada, who emceed the Awards Ceremonypresented the activities he had undertaken

every year, cheered the participants on with

together with all the other participating chil-the words, “Happy Action!” Let’s all join forc-

dren who had gathered from all corners of thees, step up, and act, so that we may together

country to Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture. His

create a society where everyone can feel con-five-minute presentation talked about how

nected to nature and live happily.

they thought about what they should, decided to open a farmers’ market, and concluded
by saying that one day he wanted to becomea farmer. Although they did not win the Grand
Prize, every member of the jury wanted toacknowledge little Santaro’s passion, so wequickly created a special prize and awarded
him the Future Award. Two years later, when I
went to Aso City, Santaro came to see me carefully cradling the wooden trophy in his arms.
Santaro had remained steadfast in his pathand meeting him again, I strongly felt that I
would like to continue to support him in any
way I can.

23

Acknowledgements
As organizers of the Biodiversity Action Award, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to
the companies, organizations, and individuals who have supported us along the way.
(Honorifics and titles omitted, names in no particular order.)Co-organizer		Seven-Eleven Foundation

Sponsors		

MAEDA CORPORATION			SEKISUIHEIM			JTB Corp.

			Mori Building Co., Ltd.

			

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Special Cooperation

National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization			Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation

Cooperation		

FUJIFILM Corporation

Support

Ministry of the Environment / Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries / Network of Local Authorities for Biodiversity /		The Asahi Shimbun Company. / Kyodo News. / Nikkei Inc. /		

The Mainichi Newspapers Co.,Ltd / Eco goo

PR Support

Environment Partnership Office(EPO Hokkaido / EPO Tohoku / Kanto
EPO / EPO Chubu / KINKI KANKYOKAN / EPO Chugoku / Shikoku EPO /EPO Kyushu)

		alterna / Green TV japan / Kochi City Council of Social Welfare /		Think the Earth / JFS Japan For Sustainability /		Global Environment Outreach Centre (GEOC) /		

TRC Library Service Inc. / Japan NPO Center

Jury President		Masahito Yoshida (2013–2015)/Tsunao Watanabe (2016–2019)

Jury		

Naoki Adachi/Hiroto Ono/Syuji Oki/Tatsuya Kajiya/Masahiro Kawatei/

		

Masako Sakata/Teppei Douke/Tomoko Hoshino/Takashi Miwa		The person in charge of Ministry of the Environment/		The person in charge of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Biodiversity Action Award Ambassador

24

			

Sakana-kun

Executive Office

CEPA Japan			

Board Members

			Yoshio Inoue/Soichi Ueda/Noriko Kawakami/Masahiro Kawatei/

			

Masako Sakata/Masahiro Sato/Tetsu Hattori/Masahiro Mizuno/			

Ryo Mori/Yasuaki Miyamoto

Biodiversity Action Book
Publishing

Japan Committee for UNDB (UNDB-J)

Publisher

March 31, 2021

Planning

Masahiro Kawatei (CEPA Japan)

Editing

Soichi Ueda (CEPA Japan), Asami Matsumoto

DesignToru Shimizu

Illustrations

Shizuka Ishizaka

Production

Naoko Soga

English Translation

Yuri Morikawa

Cooperation

Yoshio Inoue/Yasuaki Miyamoto/Masako Sakata/
Tomoko Hoshino*We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the following companies
and organizations for sponsoring this publication.
Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation
National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization
MAEDA CORPORATION© Japan Committee for UNDB (UNDB-J)

Japan Committee
for UNDB

4