Life in Harmony,
into the Future
Convention on Biological Diversity COP 10
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety MOP 5
October 2010
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Biodiversity

Convention on Biological Diversity

Benefits and Crisis

For the Present and Future Generations

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the most effective framework for global society to takeactions to conserve biodiversity.
Its objectives are: (1) conservation of biodiversity, (2) sustainable use of its components and (3)sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The CBD entered into force in1993 and today, 192 states and the European Community are Parties to the Convention.

Humankind has enjoyed a wide range of benefits through the use of Earth’s biologically diverse
ecosystems. In recent years, however, population growth and technological progress have expanded
human activity, causing the fragmentation and destruction of ecosystems. This crisis in biodiversity
threatens the basis for human well-being.

Actions Required of Parties

Human Well-being

Cultural Services• Security and safety• Basic goods• Health, etc.

People have gained spiritual and religious values from ecosystems. For
example, in indigenous societies,
cultural identities are often tied closely
to particular habitats or wildlife.

Ecosystem
Services
Provisioning Services

Regulating Services

Basic goods essential forhuman life, such as food,
fresh water, wood, fiber andmedicines, are provided bysound ecosystems.

Safe and secure conditions for human life
are maintained through the functions of
ecosystems that regulate air quality andwater flow, preventing excessive exposure, floods and other disasters.

Biodiversity in Crisis
Habitat Change

Pollution

Climate Change

Forests and grassland are shrinking
due to conversion
to agriculture, drawing of water for irrigation and leachingof nutrients, etc. Thisis causing the deterioration of natural
habitats.

Excessive flows ofnitrogen compound
fertilizers and phosphoric acid into
fresh water or thesea in coastal areas
contribute to eutrophication, resulting
in deteriorating
quality of water.

Increasing earth surface temperaturesand rising sea levels
threaten numerous
species with extinction, and the risk of
disease outbreaks
and negative impact
on agriculture are
predicted.

Reference: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005.

(1) Conservation of biological diversity- Designate and manage protected areas- Regulate or manage biological resources- Adopt measures for ex-situ conservation(2) Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity- Integrate consideration of the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources into
national decision-making- Adopt measures relating to the use of biological resources to avoid or minimize adverse
impacts on biological diversity(3) Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources- Recognize sovereign rights of states over genetic resources- Make access to these resources subject to prior informed consent (PIC) and mutually agreed
terms (MAT)- Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of these resources(4) National strategies, plans or programmes and reporting- Develop national strategies, plans or programmes- Present regular reports on measures taken and their effectiveness

EQUATOREQUATORLand degradationin drylands
Deforestation hot spots
Net loss of forest
Current forest coverNet gain of forest
Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Population Index=100 in 1970

120

100
80
60
40

Terrestrial species

Marine species
The Living Planet Index is anindicator of the state of the world’s
biodiversity: it measures trends in
populations of vertebrate species
living in terrestrial, freshwater andmarine ecosystems

1970

1975

1980

Freshwater species
All vertebrate species(Living Planet Index)
1985

1990

1995
2000
Source: WWF, UNEP-WCMC

The Need for Action
Degradation in ecosystems could most harmfully hit poor people whose lives directly depend on ecosystem services,
and irreversible damage would permanently deprive humankind of their potential benefits. To allocate the benefits ofecosystems equitably among all people in the world and pass them on to future generations, we must take actions
immediately to prevent the degradation of ecosystems.

Progress to Date
(1) Measures taken toward the CBD objectives
At the sixth Conference of the Parties (2002), the Parties committed themselves to “the 2010 Biodiver
Biodiversity Target,” to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss.
(2) Access and benefit-sharing
At the fifth Conference of the Parties (2000), the Parties established the Ad Hoc Open-ended
Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS). The sixth Conference of the Parties (2002)
adopted the voluntary Bonn Guidelines. In September 2002, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg Summit), agreement was reached on launching negotiations
on an international ABS Regime.
(3) The Cartagena Protocol
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety entered into force in 2003. This protocol defines procedures for reaching advance informed agreement on the import or export of living modified
organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology, their safe handling, transport, packagpackag
ing and identification. Today, 156 states and the EC are Parties to this protocol.

Japan’s Implementation of the CBD(a) As its national strategic plans, required of all Parties as set forth in the CBD, Japan has
issued and revised national strategies four times to date, in 1995, 2002, 2007 and 2010.
(b) In 2008, Japan enacted the Basic Act on Biodiversity, which overarches a wide range ofdomestic laws related to biodiversity, including wildlife management and nature
conservation. Within the framework of the Basic Act, Japan is advancing measures on theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in a coherent, systematic manner.

Japan Hosts CBD COP 10& Cartagena Protocol MOP 5

Toward Progress on the Key Issues
at COP 10 & MOP 5

In October 2010, Japan will host the tenth Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 10) and the fifth
Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol (MOP 5) in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Government
representatives of the Parties will gather to decide on the measures necessary to further promote
implementation of the CBD.

As the host country of COP 10/MOP 5, Japan will make substantive contributions to the discussion on thefollowing issues.

1
CBD COP 9 in Bonn, Germany (2008)(Top photos Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Life in Harmony, into the Future:

International Year of Biodiversity 2010
(Bottom photos Nagoya TV Tower
Corporation)

The United Nations General Assembly
declared 2010 to be the International Yearof Biodiversity. Many conferences andevents are planned for educational andawareness-raising purposes throughout
the year. The high-level meeting of the UN
General Assembly in September will be agood occasion for leaders of the UN
member states to discuss the conservationand sustainable use of biodiversity.

Short-term Targets (2020)

Mid/Long-term Target (2050)

To have the following actions taken by 2020, so as to halt biodiversity loss:(1) To conduct full observations and analyses on the state of biodiversity(2) To expand activities for biodiversity conservation(3) To mainstream biodiversity across government and society

Enhancing the harmony between
human beings and nature all aroundthe world, to improve the state of biodiversity from the current level as well as
to sustainably increase the benefits ofecosystem services.

(for more details, please visit http://www.cbd.int/sp/sp2010+/inputs.shtml)

Message from Japan as the Host Country of COP 10/MOP 5

The logo for COP 10/MOP 5 features animals arranged around thehumans in the center, representing the concept of “living in harmony
with nature.” The figures of parent and child symbolize the will to pass thevalue of biodiversity to future generations. Origami (paper craft), Japan’s
traditional culture, represents the wisdom of humanity.

A wide range of efforts have been made to achieve the 2010 target, but it is unlikely that this target will be met. At COP
10, the Parties will revise the strategic plan and develop post-2010 targets in the plan.
Japan has submitted proposals for post-2010 targets to the CBD Secretariat. The main point of our proposal is topresent a menu of concrete means to achieve the targets, for the purpose of assisting each Party and other stakeholders
in taking measures in their own situations.

Japan’s Proposals for Post-2010 Targets(Aichi-Nagoya COP 10 CBD Promotion Committee)

Given the accelerated speed of biodiversity loss, for the purposeof conserving biodiversity, it is increasingly important andimperative to ensure harmonized approaches between humanactivities and nature, and this theme should be taken as acommon approach of all Parties and stakeholders into the future.

Progress toward 2010 Biodiversity Target and Revised
Strategic Plan, Biodiversity Target and Indicators

2

International Regime on Accessand Benefit-Sharing (ABS)

3International Regime
for Liability and Redress

4

OthersIn accordance with the decision adopted at the eighth Conference of Parties (2006),
negotiation is underway at the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on ABS toward thecompletion of the work on an international regime on ABS at COP 10.

Based on the Cartagena Protocol, preparatory work is underway to consider an international regime for liability andredress in cases of damage resulting from the release of imported living modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment, with the aim of completing the work by MOP 5.

The agenda of COP 10/MOP 5 includes:(1) The establishment of a new mechanism to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services, IPBES)(2) Study on the economic evaluation of ecosystem services and cost of their loss (The The toki (Japanese
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, TEEB), etc.
crested ibis), an endangered bird

Japan in Action

International
Cooperation

Sharing Japan’s contributions toward global efforts

Examples of Assistance by JapanTo achieve the goal of improving the state of biodiversity from the current level, many individuals andgroups in Japan are actively engaged in various efforts using their resources in rural and industrial areas.
Japan intends to provide assistance to other countries, bringing our experience and knowledge, which canbe applicable to diverse social and economic conditions around the world.

Managing national parks in cooperation withlocal stakeholders• In Japan, to preserve the natural environment, national parks havebeen managed without nationalizing the land, but instead by cooperating with local residents and businesses, on whom regulations
are imposed. The advantage of this system is to designate wider areas

Cleanup activities in anational park (Nature
Conservation Bureau,
Ministry of the Environment)

as national parks with low costs of conservation and management.
• This approach would also be eﬀective in developing countries,
where poverty alleviation and development are priority issues.
Japan is ready to assist these other countries.

Ecosystem deterioration and biodiversity loss make it all the harder for
many people around the world to resolve such problems as poor sanitaryconditions and unstable economic foundations. Japan has assisteddeveloping countries in protecting the environment and managing
natural resources while taking account of the need to reduce poverty.
We will continue to support efforts for the conservation and sustainable
use of biodiversity in regions vulnerable to changes in the ecosystem.

Kenya Sustainable Use of Natural Resources by Local People

Sustainable management of natural resources:
the Satoyama Initiative• For the conservation of biodiversity, we need not only to preserve
and leave natural wilderness untouched, but also to conserve theecosystems that have gradually been formed and maintained
through human activities such as farming, forestry and ﬁshing.
• In many parts of the world, these ecosystems are in crisis due tourbanization and industrialization; however, many eﬀorts arebeing made to overcome these crises.
• Japan proposes the “Satoyama Initiative” to collect experiences
and information on the use of the ecosystems and measures taken
around the world, and to share them to promote such eﬀorts.

A satoyama landscape in the Philippines (Japan Wildlife
Research Center)

Local people participating in a project in Kenya(JICA)

Malaysia

Managing rivers to preserve and create
wildlife habitats• Japan has developed methodologies and techniques that
positively aﬀect biodiversity by restoring and creating goodconditions for wildlife habitats.
• Methodologies suited to being shared around the world include(1) the restoration and creation of good conditions for wildlife in

the construction of river infrastructure, instead of
fortifying river banks with concrete materials, and(2) the building of ﬁsh-ways around dams and otherstructures in rivers to ensure continuity between
upstream and downstream ﬁsh habitats.

Left: Before improvement (location about 300m
from right photo); Above: After removal of
concrete banks and adjustment of river width
to match natural terrain (Shinichi Yoshimura)Research and development of genetic resources• While the international regime on ABS would address common
issues such as the prevention of misappropriation of genetic
resources, it is also important for each Party to take its own
initiatives.
• Japan has been collaborating with other Asian countries in

conducting research and development of genetic resources,
especially of microorganisms, through which technology transfer
and human resource development can be promoted for theutilization of microorganisms.
• Such collaboration will be enhanced further beyond COP 10.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation

To develop mechanisms for theconservation of Borneo’s precious
biodiversity and ecosystems, Japanhas provided support including
technical advice on nature reserves,
such as the Ramsar wetland andwildlife corridors; development ofconservation management systems
that involve local people; and environmental education activities. (2002–
2007, 2007–2012)

and conservation plans; wide use of criteria and indicators forsustainable forest management; measures to combat illegal
logging.
• Fisheries: Promotion of sustainable ﬁshery management throughcombinations of resource management measures, such as
limiting catch amounts and time/area closures.

Environmental education training for teachers in a
wildlife sanctuary (JICA)

Palau Coral Reef Conservation and Environmental Education
Sampling in Indonesia (National Institute of Technology and
Evaluation)

Sustainable management in agriculture, forestry
and fisheries• Technologies have been developed and are widely used in Japanto ensure both conservation of biodiversity and productive activities.
• Agriculture: Ecosystem-friendly agricultural production methods, such as organic farming; maintenance of wildlife habitats in
paddies and water channels.
• Forestry: Establishment and enforcement of forest management

By providing aﬀorestation techniques,Japan has supported local people inmanaging their own forests by planting and growing samplings on theirfarmland. This is expected to ease theproblems of decreasing land productivity and deterioration of the naturalenvironment while increasing theincomes of local residents. (2004–2009)

Fish pass between paddies by an oriental stork successfully restored to the wild (Hyogo Prefectural Homeland for
the Original White Stork)

A marine survey for coral reef preservation (JICA)

Japan established the Palau International Coral Reef Research Center(PICRC) as a research hub for the
Paciﬁc region to conserve coral reef
ecosystems. Technical support has
been provided to PICRC for its
conducting of surveys, research andmonitoring. Japan also supports
environmental awareness activities forthe local community by providing
educational materials and tours of theaquarium. (2002–2006, 2009–2012)COP 10/MOP 5 Schedule
Oct. 11OCTOBER 2010

Cartagena Protocol
MOP 5(Oct. 11–15)

Oct. 29

CBD COP 10(Oct. 18–29)
CBD COP 10 Ministerial Meeting(Oct. 27–29)

Related events(during COP 10/MOP 5)
The COP 10 venue (Nagoya Congress Center)

Related events during COP 10/MOP 5

COP 9 exhibition booth (Aichi-Nagoya
COP 10 CBD Promotion Committee)

City Biodiversity Summit (October 24–26, 2010)
Leaders of local authorities around the world will gather, review and adopt the action
plan and declaration on cities and biodiversity, and share experiences on issues related
to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use at local city levels.
Messe Nagoya (scheduled for October 27–30, 2010)
International trade fair at which companies and organizations will present informationon their environmental technologies and research results and interact with those inother industries.
Conference of International Youth on Biodiversity in Aichi 2010 (August 23–27, 2010)
Interactive Fair for Biodiversity adjacent to COP 10/MOP 5 venue (October 11–29, 2010)

Aichi, Nagoya, and COP 10/MOP 5
Logo for Aichi-Nagoya COP 10 CBD Promotion Committee

As w el l a s c oop e r a t i n g
toward the success of themeetings, Aichi Prefecture
and Nagoya City are taking
the opportunity of COP
10/MOP 5 to hold educational and commemorative
events to facilitate thedevelopment of local communities in harmony withnature.

Fujimae Tidal Flats(Nagoya City)

The Fujimae tidal flats, located in the southwestern part of Nagoya
City, are an important stopover for migratory birds and a registeredwetland under the Ramsar Convention. In the 1990s there was aplan to reclaim this land for use as a waste disposal site, but theplan was terminated to conserve the natural environment. Huge
reductions in waste have since been achieved thanks to the effortsof city residents who recognized the importance of the flats. Today,
environmental activities are being carried out through partnerships
between residents and local government as symbols of Nagoya
residents’ awareness of the importance of the environment.

(Nagoya City; photos by Toyohisa Morii)

Links
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan http://www.mofa.go.jp/
Ministry of the Environment of Japan http://www.env.go.jp/en/
Aichi-Nagoya COP 10 CBD Promotion Committee http://www.cop10.jp/aichi-nagoya/english/
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity http://www.cbd.int/

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 100-8919, JAPANTEL: +81(0)3-3580-3311
URL: http://www.mofa.go.jp/

March 2010