OUIK
Research ActivitiesOUIK Research Column
One of the focal themes for research at OUIK is “Cities and Biodiversity”. Dr. Asami Shikida, aSatoyama and Satoumi (SAS)
Sustainable Primary
Industries (SPI)

visiting professor of the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)
and Professor at Hokkaido University, leads the research activities under this theme.

Cities and Biodiversity (CAB)

Cities and Biodiversity: Suggestions for urban design using the concept of
biocultural diversity in Kanazawa CityOUIK NewsletterVol. 1

No. 2

Sept. 18, 2012

Asami Shikida
Professor, Hokkaido University/
Visiting Professor, UNU-IAS
Have you ever thought about biodiversity in cities? In fact, developed cities do not seem to be rich in biodiversity whencompared to satoyama and satoumi ecosystems. Some types of ecosystems, however, are dependent on the urban
environment. For instance, urban parks, even though they may seem artificial at first glance, are home to flora and fauna,
including a number of insects, birds, and animals. Kanazawa Castle Park is located in the centre of Kanazawa City and isneighboured by Kenroku Garden, one of the most famous gardens in Japan. These areas are important habitats and rich
ecosystems filled with grass, trees, ponds and canals, which constitute key elements of the urban environment that people
enjoy in their city lives. Some outdoor events held at such parks and gardens are unique to the culture of Kanazawa City, andthe historical architecture gains greater beauty in the shade of the trees.
Ecosystems in rural and suburban areas may be larger and richer in biodiversity when compared with city ecosystems. Largecities are often home to a wide range of unique cultural facilities. We tend to have the impression that rural areas are rich inbiodiversity while cities are cultural and creative, and consequently pay little attention to the relationship between rural andurban areas.
However, cities play a significant role in biodiversity conservation. Cities may undertake ecosystem conservation efforts,
but as high consumption areas, they may also have a major impact on communities surrounded by satoyama and satoumi.
Urban consumption of products is critically important for local primary industries, and environmentally-friendly agricultural
practices cannot be achieved without consumers. Therefore, cities play an important role for biodiversity.
On the other hand, biodiversity contributes to the creation of urban culture. In Kanazawa, “Kaga vegetables”, which are
specific to the area and have been cultivated since before the 1940s, are a key element of the local food culture, and original
recipes matching local tastes have been passed down from generation to generation. In addition, arts and crafts, as well as
literature, are sometimes inspired by the local cuisine. Thus, urban culture is certainly also influenced by biodiversity.
OUIK has started to work on “biocultural diversity” as a concept that interweaves biodiversity with cultural diversity in order
to elucidate the interaction between rural areas and cities. Kanazawa City will be an important model for rebuilding therelationship between cities and rural areas based on this new concept of “biocultural diversity”.

Relationship between Ecosystems and Culture

Ecosystems

UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES OPERATING UNIT ISHIKAWA/KANAZAWA

What OUIK can achieve: Our expectations
Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Vice-Rector
United Nations University
The United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK) has focused on “Satoyama/Satoumi”, “Sustainable Primary
Industries”, and “Cities and Biodiversity” as its focal themes since April 2012, and has
developed research activities in these fields. First of all, the outcomes of the JSSA (Japan
Satoyama Satoumi Assessment) implemented under OUIK's leadership have significantly
contributed to forming the concept of the Satoyama Initiative, which was launched at theTenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD/COP 10) held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in 2010. As a co-chair of the JSSA together
with Prof. Koji Nakamura, Kanazawa University, I hope to continue contributing to this field.
Secondly, in June 2011, the Noto area, including four cities and four towns in Ishikawa
Prefecture, was designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) site along with Sado City in Niigata Prefecture. These are the first GIAHS sites
in a developed country, and have attracted attention from both inside and outside ofJapan. OUIK is expected to contribute to the global network of GIAHS through its research
activities on traditional agricultural practices and adaptive management in satoyama areas
on Noto Peninsula.
Furthermore, OUIK’s research outcomes regarding “Cities and Biodiversity” are expected tocontribute to the “Cities and Biodiversity Outlook” project that has been promoted by the
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other stakeholders with cuttingedge research groups around the world.

Use and Management

The United Nations University also anticipates OUIK’s further progress in these researchareas while pursuing its objective of contributing to international efforts through local
activities.

CultureI believe that OUIK will play an important role in disseminating the outcomes of local
efforts to the international community, and the CBD/COP 11 in Hyderabad, India is an
excellent opportunity for sharing these outcomes.

PeopleProf. Kazuhiko Takeuchi is ViceRe c tor of UNU, Dire c tor of
UNU-ISP, and Director of theIntegrated Research System for
Sustainability Science (IR3S)
at the University of Tokyo. He
has served as Advisor to theJapanese Institute of LandscapeA r c h i te c t u r e, Ch a i r m a n o f
the Central Environment
Council Committee on Nature
Conservation, and a memberof the Food, Agriculture andRural Area Policies Council,
G ove r n m e n t o f J a p a n . H is
specialties are landscapee co l o g y an d p lannin g an dsustainability science. While
engaged in revitalizationof satochi and satoyama inJapan, he is deeply involved
with the Satoyama Initiative,
which promotes international
collaboration suppor tingvarious ef for ts to restore
traditional land use.

Ecosystem Services

Issued byUnited Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK)Siinoki Cultural Complex, Ishikawa Prefecture 3F 2-1-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, JAPAN 920-0962
Tel: 076-224-2266
Fax: 076-224-2271
E-mail: unu-iasouik@ias.unu.edu
http://www.ias.unu.edu

OUIK's Objectives:
1. To contribute to international research activities, in collaboration with local partners, towards
a sustainable society, and2. To develop communication and networks with local stakeholders through public outreach andcapacity building, while sharing information on international trends.

First CBD/COP 11 Seminar Series “Satoyama and Satoumi in Ishikawa/Kanazawa”
Seminar Report
In October 2012, the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of
the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/
COP 11) will be held in Hyderabad, India. The United Nations
University Institute of Advanced Studies Operating Unit
Ishikawa/Kanazawa (OUIK) organized a CBD/COP 11 Seminar
Series as an opportunity to increase public understandingof global trends and local efforts towards biodiversity
conservation, as well as CBD/COP 11. The first seminar,“Satoyama and Satoumi in Ishikawa/Kanazawa”, was held on
the second of July with 75 participants.

Prof. Nakamura also pointed out that the changes inbiodiversity and ecosystem services in satoyama and satoumi
caused by globalization, depopulation and population aging
had become common issues in Japan as well as other partsof the world. According to Prof. Nakamura, other serious
challenges facing the Noto region include a lack of humanresources, funds, and a biodiversity information database. He
emphasized the importance of additional studies in Ishikawa/Kanazawa and international dissemination of information
about local activities relevant to satoyama and satoumi.

Keynote Lectures
Mr. Wataru Suzuki, Deputy Director of the International
Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), introduced IPSI
activities and the background of the partnership's launch.
He referred to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which include
sustainable use and management of fishery resources,and he introduced a satoumi-oriented activity that IPSI
is supporting in the Urato Islands in Shiogama, Miyagi
Prefecture. He also reported on a side event titled “TheSatoyama Initiative and the Green Economy”, which washeld during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20). At the side event, it was confirmedthat IPSI can function as an information platform to promote
cooperation during the transition to a green economy andtowards society in harmony with nature, by making full useof underutilized resources.
Prof. Koji Nakamura, Kanazawa University, presented thecontribution of Ishikawa/Kanazawa to efforts relevant tosatoyama and satoumi. He introduced the following key
activities: the Japan Satoyama Satoumi Assessment (JSSA),
which was conducted from 2006 to 2010, designation of
the Noto area as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage
Systems (GIAHS) site, and the “Noto Satoyama Meister
Training Program” of Kanazawa University, and described
their backgrounds, features, outcomes and challenges.

Mr. Takemoto, Director of UNU-IAS OUIK

Panel Discussion
Presentations
Mr. Taisuke Watanabe, Director of the Satoyama Creation
O f f ice, Environment Division, Ishikawa Prefec ture,
mentioned the process for designating “Noto’s Satoyama
and Satoumi” as a GIAHS site and related measures by
Ishikawa Prefecture. He also referred specifically to theestablishment of the tentatively named Satoyama Initiative
Network in Japan and an international GIAHS forum as
future activities of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Dr. Ryo Kohsaka, Associate Professor at Kanazawa University,presented global biodiversity trends, including different
situations of developed and developing countries on
the Convention on Biological Diversity and reasons why
the world has failed to meet its target, set at CBD/COP 6
in 2002, to achieve a significant reduction in the rate ofbiodiversity loss by 2010. He pointed out that the lack of
biodiversity data in the Noto region should be addressedby assessing the current situation and analysing trends. He
also appreciated the possibility that the Aichi Biodiversity
Targets with their specific target values could be a tool for
addressing this issue. Dr. Kohsaka mentioned green tourism
in the Noto region and developing communication among
the elderly as examples of efforts related to Aichi Target 7,
and highlighted the analysis of local issues and value adding
activities as future challenges.

Discussion(1) Noto Satoyama Meister Training Program
According to Prof. Nakamura, many of the trainees whocompleted the Noto Satoyama Training Program have since
been involved in agricultural industries, including collective
farms, associated corporations and internships, although
only a few of them have started their own businesses.
He therefore emphasized the importance of a subsidy
from local governments to support those who try to start
farming. He also introduced the Post Meister Program,which has successfully increased financial support from thelocal governments and activity sites, and suggested that it iscritical to show these results when fundraising.
Mr. Watanabe mentioned specific efforts by Ishikawa
Prefecture, including subsidies for the Post Meister
Program and support to new farmers through the Ishikawa
Agriculture Human Resource Organization.
(2) Levels of biodiversity in the Noto region
Regarding biodiversity in the Noto region, Prof. Nakamura
pointed to a lack of comprehensive and quantitative data.
For instance, some endangered species have been foundonly in the Noto region, while habitats of amphibians andsmall animals that constitute prey for the Japanese crested
ibis (Nipponia nippon) and oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana)
have not been identified. He emphasized the necessityof conducting field surveys like the ones Sado City andToyooka City have done for the Japanese crested ibis andoriental stork. To collect data, he suggested that Ishikawa
Prefecture and local governments should cooperate to build
an information database.
(3) Gaps between developed and developing countries at
CBD/COP 10
Mr. Suzuki explained that negotiation regarding Accessto Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) was oneof the major issues at CBD/COP 10. In this case, there wasdisagreement between developing countries, which
demanded funding and technologies, and developed
countries, which were reluctant to respond to the request.
He also mentioned that mainstreaming of biodiversity inthe society and economy was recognized as an important
challenge by both developed and developing countries. In
addition, he referred to the role of local communities andcompanies, which became part of the agenda at CBD/COP
10.
Dr. Kohsaka compared the current global situation, which
could be interpreted based on the ABS negotiation at
CBD/COP 10, with the situation in the Noto region, inorder to highlight the need for equity when addressing
environmental issues. He introduced case studies in China
about organic farming and capacity building in terms of thegreen economy as discussed at Rio+20, and emphasized theimportance of value adding activities in Japan.

(4) Satoyama Initiative Network (tentative name)
Mr. Watanabe introduced the tentatively named Satoyama
Initiative Network. This network would encourage NPOs orcompanies located in urban areas that share an interest in
biodiversity conservation to connect with local governmentswith conservation needs. In addition, the network will
stimulate local communities that are confronted withdepopulation and population aging.
(5) International dissemination of information onsatoyama and satoumi in Ishikawa/Kanazawa
Prof. Nakamura emphasized the significance of recognizing
and being proud of satoyama and satoumi in the surrounding
environment. He also mentioned the importance ofquantitative research and dissemination of the respective
outcomes in order to properly raise appreciation forsatoyama and satoumi.
Mr. Suzuki commented that the local food and culture in
Ishikawa/Kanazawa, nurtured by satoyama and satoumi,
contributed to the success of CBD/COP 10 and the
Closing Event for the International Year of Biodiversity. Heemphasized the significance of appreciating and sharing
these cultural and environmental values.
M r. W a t a n a b e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e c o n c e p t o fbiodiversity might vary among communities based on
different livelihoods, and emphasized the importance ofunderstanding the relationship between society, economy
and biodiversity as well as the need to pass the uniquecharacteristics of the local communities on to the next
generation.
Dr. Kohsaka suggested holding international conferences as
an opportunity for capacity building for young professionals
and highlighted the significance of community development
strategies by taking into consideration both domestic andinternational trends.
The seminar ended with a closing address by Mr. Kazuhiko
Takemoto, who emphasize d the p otential of lo cal
communities, and expressed his expectation that next time
there would be active discussion about other research topics
such as Cities and Biodiversity, and GIAHS.

From left: Dr. Kohsaka, Mr. Watanabe, Mr. Suzuki and Dr. Nakamura