United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability
Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa

OUIK Newsletter

Vol.3 No.3
Jan 15, 2015

Aspirations for 2015
Tsunao WatanabeDirector
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability
Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK)
I would like to express my sincere greetings for the New Year 2015. For OUIK,2014 was a year of transition towards a new stage of further progress. In January,
I was appointed as OUIK's director, and in the springtime, three new staff members joined us.
We are seeking to add new values to the successful outcomes and collaborative
efforts with Ishikawa Prefecture and Kanazawa City for biodiversity conservationand the creation of societies in harmony with nature. In October 2014, the 12th
meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in the Republic of Korea. During an official side event, we not only disseminated information
about Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi activities, but were also able to engage in discussion with local andinternational stakeholders on further preservation and practical utilization of biodiversity in Ishikawa andKanazawa.
In 2015, I expect that we will see tangible benefits arising from these efforts. On 29 January 2015, we willhold a symposium, where we can discuss the challenges faced by various internationally-recognized areasof Ishikawa to promote mutual cooperation across the region. In March, a public seminar will be organizedfocusing on Noto's Satoumi. And in May, to mark Kanazawa City’s hosting of the UNESCO Creative Cities
Network Meeting, we are going to hold an international symposium focusing on links between biologicaland cultural diversity. Kanazawa City is also going to develop a regional biodiversity strategy in 2015. This
will be an opportunity for OUIK to highlight the research outcomes from our Cities and Biodiversity Project,which was conducted in close collaboration with Kanazawa City.
This year will bring lots of changes for Ishikawa and Kanazawa as the Hokuriku Shinkansen line opens.
OUIK will continue to make further progress with its activities, and I hope that this year will bring changes
in the form of new collaboration and dialogue with everyone. Thank you for your strong support and collaboration.
OUIK’s Objectives:
1. To contribute to international research activities, in collaboration with local partners, towards asustainable society, and2. To develop communication and networks with local stakeholders through public outreach andcapacity building while sharing information on international trends.

Report from the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
The 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Convention of Biological Diversity wasorganized in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, from 6-17 October 2014. It was preceded by COP10 in Nagoya 2010, and COP11, held in Hyderabad, India. In this issue, OUIK's activities at COP12 and at a follow-up
seminar in Ishikawa Prefecture will be reported.
世界農業遺産（GIAHS）サイトのモニタリング
Public Side Event on GIAHS: Promoting Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi

On 7 October, OUIK and the Republic of Korea National Academy of Agricultural Science
Rural Development Administration (RDA) organized a public side event on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites (GIAHS)
focused on the theme "Traditional Agriculture Systems and Biological Diversity". Afterthe opening remarks by Dr. Ok-Sun Ahn, Director of Rural Environment & Resource DiviSide Event organized by Korea and Japanese memberssion of RDA, Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi,Senior Vice-Rector of UNU explained the importance of biodiversity conservation involving agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and explained the role of traditional agricultural systems. Next, Ms. Jessica Sanders
from FAO, spoke about the role of GIAHS activities for the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Dr. Sangbum Kim, research officer from the Department of Agricultural Environment, RDA, gave an overall introduction to the Republic of Korea's activities related to traditional agricultural systems and environmental
conservation. Case studies were presented on (1) Japanese GIAHS sites "Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi" byMr. Masazumi Horihata (Director General, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ishikawa Prefecture), and (2) the Republic of Korea's Jeju Batdam Agricultural System of Jeju Island by Dr. Seung-Jin
Kang (Research officer, Jeju Development Institute, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province).
During the question and answer session, moderated by Evonne Yiu, (UNU-IAS), there were questions
from the floor about whether GIAHS activities are not only for the preservation of biodiversity, but also
contribute to sustainable livelihoods and landscape maintenance in rural areas. Participants also expressedsome opinions about the influences of climate change. During the session, despite the assembly hall forthe side event in the pavilion being very cold, it was almost full with 120 participants and concluded withthe active discussion session.
Networking with CBD's Executive Secretary and other officials

Major international conferences like the CBD COP are the best opportunity to network with international colleagues from around theworld. During COP12, we met colleagues from the "Linking Biological and Cultural Diversity" programme, which is jointly conductedwith the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD)and UNESCO.
Commemorative photo: (from left) Mr. Iida (OUIK researcher),Ms. Nagai (OUIK's Project manager), Ms. Viviana (CBD Office),
Mr. John Scott (CBD Office), Mr. Watanabe (OUIK's Director)

Explaining the event plan to Mr. Diaz, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (onthe left)

During the COP, the staff of the Secretariat was extremely
busy compiling the agreement documents of the meeting.
However, during the busy time between the different meeting,
we were able to talk with Mr. Scott from the CBD Secretariat
who not only agreed to cooperate on the May 2015 symposium,
but also exchanged views about creating a mutual work platform towards COP13. We were also lucky to talk with CBD's Executive Secretary Dr. Diaz to directly share the plans of ourbiocultural approach.

Holding open COP 12 reporting seminar
The main agenda item for COP12 was a midterm

evaluation of the Aichi Targets agreed at COP10 by
the Parties. On 11 December 2014, OUIK organized apublic seminar to report on the overall discussions atCOP12 and how we can evaluate Ishikawa Prefecture’s achievements within this context. Mr. Nakayama, the deputy head of the Ministry of Environment, Biodiversity Earth Strategy Planning office, responsible for the Japanese government negotiation
department, introduced the Aichi Target assessment, Speakers answering questions from the audience: (fromwhich requires further efforts by the international left) Ms. Hagino (Maruyama-gumu), Mr. Iida (OUIK recommunity. From Ishikawa Prefecture, Mr. Shimizu, searcher), Mr. Nagata (UNU-IAS), Mr. Shimizu (IshikawaPrefecture), Mr. Nakayama (Ministry of Environment)
deputy-head of the Satoyama Promotion Office, reported on the presentations during the side event. Mr.
Nagata, senior programme coordinator of UNU-IAS, spoke about the side event and Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites of the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Iida, a researcher from OUIK reported on discussions during the Urban Biodiversity and Design (URBIO) International Meeting, which was held back-toback with COP12. We also invited Ms. Hagino to introduce her case efforts; she was awarded the 10th Japan's Committee for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity Action Award1. She demonstrated how her
team “MARUYAMA” conducts “living creatures investigations” together with local people from Mii village
and researchers from Kanazawa University. She also organizes the traditional agricultural ritual "Aenokoto"in modernized way. During closing remarks, Professor Nakamura from Kanazawa University mentionedthat OUIK should continue to play a key role in connecting the international community with grassroots
activities in Ishikawa.

1

Biodiversity Action Plan Award 2014

http://5actions.jp/award/result.html

OUIK's News topics
Researcher Evonne Yiu delivers lecture during Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites Seminar in（CBD•COP12 ）報告特集号
Anamizu City (2014.10.18)
During a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites Seminar organized by the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites Executive Committee, Evonne Yiu delivered a talk about the concept and the meaning ofGIAHS. During the panel discussion on "Effective utilization of the Satoumi
and Satoyama resources of Anamizu", there was discussion with local participants from Anamizu and Hakui City. Panellists frequently expressed thatthe resources of Anamizu City are: 1) The kindness of people in Anamizu; 2) Question and Answer Session
The proximity to the mountains and seas, and the visibility of Satoyama and Satoumi linkages. OUIK willcontinue to participate in the meetings to interact with local residents .
Lecture for the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites Trainee from Bhutan (2014.10.29-11.1)
As part of Ishikawa Prefecture’s international cooperation, a government official from the Kingdom ofBhutan, Mr. Dorji Rinzin, was invited for training on the environmental preservation and community revitalization of GIAHS Sites in Noto. OUIK gave alecture and held a discussion about the concept of GIAHS and explained theapplication process to receive designation. After the lecture in Kanazawa, Mr.
Dorji visited Noto to experience the activities being conducted in the region,
visit to the Governor: (fromincluding the primary industries of agriculture, Noto's Smart Drive project, Courtesyleft) Ms. Yui (OUIK's researcher), Mr.
farm-ins in the community, etc.

Dorji, Mr. Tanimoto (Prefectural Governor), Ms. Nagai (OUIK's Project manager)"Saka-amiryo" Traditional hunting in Katano-kamoike (2014.12.27)
We visited the Katano-Kamoike Ramsar Site (Kaga City), and experienced Mr. Iida listening to the talk of Mr.
head of the association (ona 300-year-old traditional duck hunting method, Saka-amiryo, which is Ikeda,left)）practiced only during a 93 day period starting on November 15th. In theevening, when the ducks are flying towards the bait field, hunters throw anet (Sakaami) into the sky, thereby catching the duck. Prior to the visit, Mr.
Toyotaka Ikeda, the Head of the Cooperation Society for Duck Hunting of Mr. Iida listening to the talk of Mr.
Daijoji introduced interesting stories, including that the hunters are not Ikeda, head of the association (on left)
only hunting, but also do mowing during the summer period to manage the environment for the birds, andthat they discovered the habitat ecology of rare birds, such as Baikal teal "Tomoekamo” through collaboration with researchers.
Event Announcement
March 24th, 2015 (Tue) Public Seminar "Noto's Satoumi" A seminar to discover Noto's Satoumi from various perspectives.
May 28th, 2015 (Thurs) International Symposium on Biocultural Region “Ishikawa Kanazawa model”
Issued byUnited Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability
Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK)
Shiinoki Cultural Complex Ishikawa Prefecture 3F, 2-1-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, JAPAN 920-0962
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