Protecting & Harnessing the Lifestyles,
Culture and Nature of Snow Country

Tadami Biosphere Reserve
Philosophy & Overview

Tadami, Fukushima Prefecture
Area Development Section, General Policy Division, Tadami Town Hall
Inquiries 1039, Aza Amatsutsumi, Oaza Tadami, Tadami-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima 968-0498
TEL 0241-82-5220 FAX 0241-82-2117 E-mail: kikaku@town.tadami.lg.jp

Tadami, Japan's natural heartland

Capital of Mother Nature Tadami
Published: December 15, 2014

What is a biosphere reserve?

A biosphere reserve under the UNESCO MAB program toachieve co-existence between humanity and nature
A biosphere reserve is a central part of UNESCO's Man
and the Biosphere (MAB) program. The MAB program
was initiated in 1970 as an international cooperation
project to conduct scientific studies and research as wellas to exchange information in order to build harmonious
relationships between humanity and the naturalenvironment under our present circumstances, in which
global human activity continues to destroy theenvironment and the very basis of humanity's existence isunder threat. Thereafter, the biosphere reserve system
was set up within the MAB program for the purpose ofworking for the socio-economic development ofcommunities by utilizing their natural environments andresources in a sustainable manner while working toprotect and conserve those natural environments. A
biosphere reserve is an internationally recognized "model
community that puts into practice co-existence between
human society and the natural environment." (In contrast,
the purpose of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage is torigorously conserve the world's unique and valuable
natural environments.) In order to raise biospherereserves' recognition in Japan, they are called "UNESCO
Eco Parks." There are currently 631 of these communitiesin 119 countries around the world, of which seven havebeen registered in Japan (as of June 2014).

Environmental problems caused by human activity

International cooperative project to build
harmonious relationships between
humanity and the natural environment:

UNESCO MAB program
Model community that puts into practiceco-existence between human society andthe natural environment: Biosphere Reserve
Nuclear accidents

Deforestation©DigitalGlobe-Imagery

Goals of biosphere reserves:

Protection & conservation, community development,
academic studies & research, personnel training
Biosphere reserves cite the following three goals in orderto achieve "co-existence between human society and thenatural environment." These three goals are notindependent of each other: they complement andstrengthen each other.

Preservation & conservationof the natural environmentand biodiversity

Biosphere Reserves
Sustainable use of environments& natural resources andlocal socio-economic development

Academic studies & research,education & instruction,
personnel trainingBiosphere Reserve Composition

Land use categories and soft law system❖Three biosphere reserve land use categories
A characteristic of biosphere reserves is their adoption of
three land use categories (core areas, buffer zones andtransition areas) in order to effectively implement thethree goals and achieve "co-existence between humansociety and the natural environment."Core Area
A core area is defined for the purpose of conserving and maintaining biodiversity and its naturalenvironment. It covers a valuable
natural environment in need ofprotection. A core area must beentirely surrounded by a bufferzone. Entry is generally prohibited, but use is possible for observation, surveys and basicresearch.

Buffer Zone
A buffer zone is defined for the purpose of protecting a core area from human activity in a transition area. It possesses roughly the same naturalenvironment as the core area. Traditional
harvesting/gathering and hunting is possible, as
well as use for education/instruction, recreationand experimental research.

❖Biosphere reserves are a soft law system
Legal status is required for the framework to define coreareas and buffer zones and to restrict and limit usage, but
biosphere reserves employ a soft law system that uses
the land's existing legal status, rather than establishing anew legal status when registering a reserve. (In otherwords, registering a biosphere reserve does not prohibit
anything that was allowed beforehand.)

Existing legal statusused in the Tadami area
include the Oku-Aizu
Forest Ecosystem
Reserve and the
Echigosanzan-Tadami
Quasi-national Park.

Transition Area
An area whose goal is the sustainablesocio-economic development of thecommunity through environmentallyconscious industrial activity. It covers
areas where humans live.

❖Examples of existing legal status used atbiosphere reserves• Natural Park Act (National Parks, Quasi-national Parks,
Prefectural Natural Parks)• Nature Conservation Law (Wilderness Areas, NatureConservation Areas)• Forest ecosystem reserves based on the Law on theAdministration and Management of National Forests• Protected Forests based on the Law on the Administration and Management of National Forests ("HometownForests" and "Green Corridors")

Why does the town of Tadami push the creation ofa biosphere reserve?

The 6th Tadami-town Development Plan and Turning the"Capital of Mother Nature Tadami" Declaration into Reality
15,00050

12,00040

Total population
9,000

30

6,000

20

Population aging rate2010(Year)

2000

1990

Changes in population composition of Tadami-town(1965-2010)1965

Total 9,661, male 4,780, female 4,881

100

100 95-99
90 -9485 -8980 -8475 -7970 -7465 -6960 -6455 -5950 -5445 -4940 -4435 -3930 -3425 -2920 -2415 -1910 -145 -9
0 -4
0 (Age) 010010095-99
90 -9485 -8980 -8475 -7970 -7465 -6960 -6455 -5950 -5445 -4940 -4435 -3930 -3425 -2920 -2415 -1910 -145 -9
0 -4
0 (Age) 0

Male

200

2010

"The Capital of Mother Nature
Tadami" declaration
Formulation of the 6th Tadami-town
Development Promotion Plan

600 500 400 300(Number of people)

Female100200300

400 500 600(Number of people)

Total 4,932, male 2,361, female 2,571

MaleStudy committee to establish "TheCapital of Mother Nature Tadami" brand

1980* "National census," Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

600 500 400 300(Number of people)

Effectively utilize a biospherereserve and turn the Development Promotion Plan and"The Capital of Mother Nature
Tadami" declaration intoreality!

1970

01960

01940

1019203,000Population aging rate (%)

Transition of total population and population
aging rate of Tadami-town

Total population (number of people)

The town of Tadami's population is declining and growing
older. This is accompanied by an accelerating decline inlocal industry. How to sustain and develop the area's society in the future poses a major challenge.
The town of Tadami elected not to join in the wave ofmergers between Japanese municipalities that peaked in
2005. In 2006 the town formulated the 6th Tadami-town
Development Promotion Plan and began down the path
toward independent town development. The Development
Promotion Plan is the town's top-priority program. Its philosophy is "A town living life with beech, a town living withsnow; challenge of Oku-Aizu Tadami – creation of real localvalue."
In other words, this means breaking away from conventional local development promotion that follows the lead ofcities, proceeding with town development that utilizes thetraditional lifestyles, culture and industry that has become
the foundation of the rich natural environment of heavy
snow in the Tadami area unlike what the cities have, andcreating genuine human values recognizing that humanity ispart of the ecosystem. Furthermore, the town made "TheCapital of Mother Nature Tadami" declaration in 2007 stating that Tadami is the natural heartland of Japan andannouncing that we are obligated to protect and conserve
the natural environment of Tadami represented by its beech
forests and to pass them on to future generations. Then, inorder to make the Development Promotion Plan and "TheCapital of Mother Nature Tadami" declaration a more powerful reality, the town embarked on a strategic initiative toestablish a biosphere reserve that aspires toward local
socio-economic development through the sustainable utilization of the natural environment and resources while preserving and conserving them.

200Female

100200300

400 500 600(Number of people)* "National census," Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The unforgiving yet rich natural environment producedby heavy snows and the people who live there
A distinctive natural environment
The Tadami area, situated on the border with Niigata Prefecture on the western end of Fukushima Prefecture, is a
mountainous area surrounded by Aizu-Asahidake, Asakusadake and other peaks with an elevation of around 1,000
meters. In winter the area faces seasonal winds filled withmasses of humid air from the Sea of Japan, bringing heavy
snow that makes this area one of Japan's snowiest places,with snowfall reaching 2 to 3 meters deep even on flat land.
While the area is a mountainous zone with forests ofbeech and other broad-leaved deciduous trees grow,slopes are shaved off by avalanches, bedrocks are
exposed, and a steep and complicated "nivation landform"is created, due to the geological characteristics and heavy
winter snowfall. Due to these locations and environments, avegetation mosaic is formed with evergreen conifer forestsof Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora var. pentaphylla)that stand like a horse's mane on the ridges, shrubs like

Japanese dwarf oak (Quercus mongolica var. undulatifolia)
on the avalanche slopes, Japanese beech (Fagus crenata)on the stable lower slopes, and riparian forests like Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata) and Japanesewing nut (Pterocarya rhoifolia) along the streams. This kindof landscape is very rare in mountainous zones below anelevation of 1,000 meters. It is also in a pristine state, largely
untouched by human hands, and covers an expansive areaof more than 50,000 hectares.
This composition of fauna with such rich variety allows adiversity of animal species to live here. In fact, a large concentration of species at the top of the ecological pyramid
inhabit the area: the mountain hawk-eagle (Spizaetus
nipalensis orientalis) and the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos
japonica), both birds of prey that require the presence of arich biota of animals for their habitat, as well as the Asiaticblack bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicas), a large mammal. In
other words, we can say that their presence symbolizes therich natural environment of the Tadami area.

Presence ofwildlife symbolizes richbiodiversity"Nivation landform" and "mosaic vegetation"
formed by heavy snow

Mountain hawk-eagle(Spizaetus nipalensis orientalis)

Asiatic black bear
(Ursus thibetanus japonicas)

Golden eagle(Aquila chrysaetos japonica)❖Treasure trove of rare species There are many rare plants and animals in need of protection in the Tadami area.

Endangered lilly(Lilium rubellum)

Endangered willow(Salix hukaoana)

Japanese serow(Capricornis crispus)

Tadami clawed salamander(Onychodactylus fuscus)

Japanese char
(Savelinus leucomaenis pluvius)

Lifestyle and culture based on the natural environment and local resources❖Agriculture as the basic industry
Fields of crops spread out on the river terraces anddiluvial plains along the Tadami River and Ina River,where farmers cultivate rice, buckwheat and tomatoes. There are also planted forests of cedar andlarch skirting the mountains. Promotion of organic
farming and the development of a sustainable forestry are anticipated for the future.
❖Picking wild edible plants and mushrooms
The people of the Tadami area pick wild plants like
fiddlehead ferns and brackens when they appear
after the snow melts in spring and gather mushrooms in the fall to use as a valuable source of food.
These are carried out in a sustainable manner under
the traditional system of forests where local people
are habitually allowed to get in.
❖Use of firewood as fuelLumber (firewood) is used as a continuous source offuel for stoves, and this holds potential for keeping
down fossil fuel consumption in the area and serving
as a model for a low-carbon society. Today thepeople climb the lingering snow in spring to trim
trees and convey that wood out.
❖Handiwork using plants (vine weaving)
The people of the Tadami area have come to makebaskets and other everyday necessities from traditional plants such as silver vine, three leaf akebia
and grass of Carex dolichostachya as indoor work
during the snowy season that lasts roughly half theyear. The techniques are still passed on today inworkshops.
❖Traditional arts and year-round events
The traditional performance offering prayers for good
harvests in the year, "Saotome dance and Daidai
Kagura of Kobayashi and Yanatori," started in theearly Edo Period, has been passed down by thelocal preservation society. In addition, during theLunar New Year a fire festival known as "Onbe(Sainokami; New Year's bonfire)" is held in settlements here and there.

Tadami Biosphere Reserve Overview:
Covered Land Area & Restrictions
Tadami Biosphere Reserve comprises the entire town of Tadami and part of
the adjacent village of Hinoemata, with a total area of 78,032 hectares.
139°10´0˝ E

139°15´0˝ E

139°20´0˝ E

139°25´0˝ E

139°30´0˝ E

139°35´0˝ E

Aga Town

NSanjo Cityr

ive

iRmda

Ta

Uonuma City
Mt. Asakusadake

37°20´0˝ N

37°25´0˝ N

BShowa Village

BA

37°20´0˝ N

37°25´0˝ N

Kaneyama Town

B
Ina RiverBA

37°15´0˝ N

37°15´0˝ N

B

A B

A

Mt. Aizu-Asahidake

37°10´0˝ N

37°10´0˝ NBBMinamiaizu Town

139°10´0˝ E0139°15´0˝ ELand Use Category(Area)

Core Area(3,557 ha)

139°20´0˝ E

139°25´0˝ E

Covered Area

510139°30´0˝ E

15km
km

37°5´0˝ N

37°5´0˝ N

Hinoemata Village

LegendBorder

Tadami Biosphere
Reserve Border

Tadami Town Hall

Core Area

River

Buffer Zone (A), (B)

SummitTransition Area

139°35´0˝ ELand Use Restrictions• Forest ecosystem reserve "protected zone" (includes part of theoverlapping Echigosanzan-Tadami • Entry generally restricted
Quasi-national Park "special protection zone" and "special zone")

Existing Legal Status as Basis ofRestrictions• Law on the Administration and Management of National Forests (protectedforest)• Natural Park Act (quasi-national park)• Echigosanzan-Tadami Quasi-nationalBuffer Zone A Park "special protection zone" • Generally restricted to studies & research, • Law on the Administration and Man(includes part of the overlapping and monitoring only
agement of National Forests (protected(8,380 ha)"conservation and utilization zone" of • Natural Park Act (quasi-national park)
forest)a forest ecosystem reserve)• National forest outside Core Area

• Encourage activities that maintain ecosystem • Law on the Administration and Man-value
agement of National Forests (protectedBuffer Zone B and Buffer Zone A• Studies & research and monitoring allowed
forest, green corridor)(42,953 ha) • Town forests and community forests • Traditional picking of wild edible plants and • Natural Park Act (quasi-national park,adjacent to the Core Area

mushrooms by local residents allowed

prefectural natural park)• Natural Park Act (prefectural natural park)

Transition • Mountains, forests and wilderness • Conservation of the natural environment • Mountain Villages Development Act• Act on Special Measures for Promotion foroutside the Core Area and Buffer is a non-binding goal and not enforceable
Area
Independence for Underpopulated AreasZones, cropland, residential land
by law(23,142 ha)• Regulation for the protection and encouragement of natural scenery of Tadami-town, etc.

What exactly does the town of Tadami do at the biosphere reserve?
Protection & conservation, community development, academic studies &research, personnel training
Tadami Biosphere Reserve projects(local revitalization projects)
The three goals of the biosphere reserve, where people
utilize the Tadami area's natural environment andresources passed down to us to create lifestyles and culture for local residents based thereon, are: the protection
and conservation of the natural environment; community
development; and academic studies & research and personnel training. Projects are carried out to achieve thesegoals.

❋ ❋ ❋ ❋
Preservation & conservation of the natural environment
I.e., Sharing the wealth of the precious natural environment and biodiversity• Conservation of the town's wetlands• Maintenance of Tadami Nature Observation Forest• Protection of big trees and giant trees (countermeasures
to prevent the death of Japanese Oaks), etc.

Tadami Nature Observation Forest
maintenance (Shimofukui zone beechforest)

Pest control of pollarded Konara oaks
(Makidaira Kurosawa)

Local economic stimulation and promotion of industrial
development using local resources
I.e. Local economic stimulation and passing on traditional culture• Support and assistance project for traditional productbrand "Capital of Mother Nature Tadami"• Fish (Japanese char) reproduction project• Training of official Tadami nature guides• Tadami model forest cultivation project• Landscape restoration project on Ina River right bank,etc.

Support and assistance project for traditional product brand "Capital of Mother
Nature Tadami" (development of andencouragement for products using
locally-made goods)

Training of official Tadami nature
guides (Hijiori Salix hukaoanaforest)

Academic studies & research and personnel training
I.e. Create a center of academic study, research andeducation• "The Capital of Mother
Nature": An academic
investigation researchsubsidy project• Registration and supportfor UNESCO schools• Basic research on then a t u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t Basic research on the natural( s t u d i e s o f T a d a m i ' s environment (Entomological research)
unknown nature), etc.

Establishment of the Tadami Biosphere
Reserve Governance Board and Tadami
Biosphere Reserve Contributing Board
We established a governance board composed of groups
involved in the management and administration of Tadami
Biosphere Reserves as well as a contributing board toinvestigate and advise on individual issues. (July 2014)

Tadami's future as portrayed by the biosphere reserve
Tadami town's value &appeal
The rich natural environment
passed down to us upon which
our lifestyles and culture are
based

Maintain & develop thebiosphere reserve framework• Plan and implement relevant projects• Contact and coordinate through thegovernance board• Support and cooperation from thecontributing board

Socio-economic maintenance anddevelopment of the Tadami area
• Show Tadami to the world as a model
area for achieving co-existence
between humanity and nature• Show the effectiveness of a biospherereserve for solving problems facing
mountainous areas