Figure 3-1-8 Conceptual Structure of the Satoyama Initiative

Source: Ministry of the Environment

Photo: Launching ceremony of IPSI

Initiative, the “International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative” (IPSI) was launched on October 19 during COP10 as a platform for sharing information and promoting collaborative activities among partner organizations. The launching ceremony of IPSI was held as a side-event during COP10 with 51 founding partner organizations, including the government ministries of 9 countries, 18 NGOs, and 9 international organizations (Photograph: Launching ceremony of IPSI). The IPSI is open to all of the organizations who will make efforts to promote the Satoyama Initiative. At the first IPSI Regular meeting held in March 2011, 23 organizations newly joined IPSI, and it is estimated that the number of the IPSI members will increase. It is expected that the expansion of the IPSI members and the development of their activities will contribute to the further promotion of the Satoyama Initiative.

### G. Encouragement of Implementation of the Rice Paddy Resolution

It is recognized that, in agricultural biodiversity, conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of rice paddy ecosystems are particularly important. The Ramsar Convention’s “Rice Paddy Resolution,” which internationally recognized the fact that rice paddies acting as human-created wetlands support a wide range of biodiversity as artificial wetland, is welcomed, and it was decided that parties to the convention would be asked to implement it.

## (6) Overview of the Outcome of COP-MOP5

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mr. Kano served as chairman of COP-MOP5, which was held prior to COP10. The main discussion at COP-MOP5 was about stipulation of measures that should be taken by parties to the convention in relation to “responsibility and redress” when damages to conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use are caused due to trans-boundary movements of living modified organisms.

Negotiations about “liability and redress” began in 2004 and, after six years of discussions, the Nagoya - Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which stipulates measures that parties to the convention should take, was adopted at this conference. This stipulated that in case of damage to biodiversity, parties to the convention will identify the responsible party and order response measures to return biodiversity to its original state.

From now on it will be necessary for the parties to the convention, including many developing countries, to work to smoothly implement this supplementary protocol.

## (7) Japan’s Contributions

At the High-level Segment of COP10 (Ministerial meeting), Prime Minister Kan announced the “Life in Harmony Initiative” (USD 2 billion) as support for developing countries in relation to biodiversity, with priority areas such as to pursue a balance between the livelihood of the locals and the conservation of natural environment, to manage protected areas adequately, to halt biodiversity loss caused by the excessive use of natural resources, and to explore the value and share benefits of micro-organism. Japan’s Minister of the Environment Matsumoto also announced the “Japan Biodiversity Fund” (JPY 1 billion) aimed at supporting development of a National Biodiversity and Action Plans as well as another contribution to the assistance (JPY 1 billion) for capacity building on ABS in developing countries under the said initiative. Moreover, the Vice Foreign Minister Banno announced specific assistance in relation to use of genetic resources and conservation of forests. As the Presidency, Japan also actively participated in and contributed to discussions on each of the topics and was highly praised by various countries for its positive stance in leading the conference through smooth and fair business operations and for the “President’s proposal” related to the Nagoya Protocol.

Many participants also expressed their appreciation for the heart-warming hospitality elaborated by the host areas Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, and for the active endeavors of Japan’s NGOs, such as Japan Civil Network for CBD. It is believed that the combination of each of these individual efforts was a major factor that led to the conference’s success.