Figure 1-3-6 Input Amounts of Natural Resources in Japan

Source: Trade Statistics, Statistics of Natural Resources and Energy

biomass inputs (such as wooden materials) (Figure 1-3-6). The most significant factor contributing to this reduction is constraints on new resource inputs due to sluggish social infrastructure investment in public works. In Japan, the material inputs to socioeconomic activities are decreasing while the consumption of energy derived from fossil fuels continues to grow.

## (2) Biodiversity and Socioeconomic Activities

## a) Species diversity as the basic unit of ecosystems

Biomass resources (forest resources, foods, fibers, pharmaceutical products, and so on) provided by ecosystem services are absolutely essential to our livelihood. Therefore, how we are able to use these biomass resources sustainably is one of the fundamental issues behind raising awareness of biodiversity loss and socioeconomic activity.

Issues related to biodiversity loss broadly include environmental, economic, and social problems, making it more difficult to obtain an overall picture of them. The problems associated with biodiversity are approached from three points of view: (1) ecosystem diversity; (2) species diversity; and (3) genetic diversity.

The second aspect, species diversity, means species of living organisms: one of the most fundamental components of an ecosystem. All living species take in nourishment from the place where they live, breed, and leave their offspring. Therefore, information on the habitats and population sizes of species is the most basic and critical point in understanding biodiversity issues. The following explains the global distribution of mammals and amphibians (Figure 1-3-7).

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are about 5,500 mammalian species and about 6,700 amphibian species on earth. Many mammals and amphibians are distributed in the tropical regions. The country with the largest number of mammals is Indonesia (about 670 species), followed by Brazil (about 650) and China (about 550); Japan is seventy-fourth in the world, with 144 species. In terms of amphibian species, Brazil has the largest number of species at about 800, followed by Colombia (about 710) and Ecuador (about 470); Japan ranks fifty-fourth, with 56 species.

For a deeper understanding of country-specific characteristics, one of the best approaches is to look at the distribution of endemic species by country. Since endemic species live exclusively in one country, there should be a strong relationship between those species and the country's ecosystem and geographic characteristics.

Madagascar has the largest proportion of endemic mammalian species in the world (81%), followed by Australia (71%) and the Philippines (55%). With 30% of its mammalian species being endemic, Japan is eighth in the world. In terms of the ratio of amphibian endemic species by country, island countries such as Jamaica and the Seychelles have a 100% endemic species ratio. Japan is ranked eleventh in the world in terms of amphibian endemic species (80%). As these figures show, Japan has a very high ratio of endemic species.

As seen above, maps can be viewed in different ways according to their focus: either the number of endemic species per country, or the ratio of endemic species per country. Focusing on the countries that have many endemic species seems to imply that the richness of a country's ecosystem diversity is due to the size of its national territory. Focusing on countries that have high ratio of endemic species seems to depend on the uniqueness of a country's

Figure 1-3-7 Global Distribution of Endemic Species of Mammals and Amphibians (No. of Endemic Species/Habitats by Countries)

Photo: Ministry of the Environment

Rank	Country Name	No. of Endemic Species/Habitats (%)
1	Madagascar	81
2	Australia	71
3	Philippines	55
4	Christmas Island	50
5	Indonesia	39
6	Cuba	32
7	Mexico	30
8	Japan	30
9	Brazil	29
10	Papua New Guinea	27
11	United States	25
12	Solomon Islands	23
13	Argentina	22
14	Sao Tome and Principe	22
15	New Caledonia	18

Source: Ministry of the Environment; IUCN, Global Mammal Assessment (GMA)

Amphibians

Ishikawa's Frog

Photo: Ministry of the Environment

Source: Ministry of the Environment; IUCN, Global Amphibian Assessment (GAA)

Rank	Country Name	No. of Endemic Species/Habitats (%)
1	Jamaica	100
2	Seychelles	100
3	Sao Tome and Principe	100
4	New Zealand	100
5	Fiji	100
6	Palau	100
7	Madagascar	100
8	Cuba	97
9	Australia	94
10	Sri Lanka	85
11	Japan	80
12	Philippines	79
13	Puerto Rico	79
14	Chili	71
15	Papua New Guinea	70