Table 2-3-1 Main conclusions of Japan Biodiversity Outlook (JBO)

Ecosystems that show a considerable loss of biodiversity	The degree of loss of biodiversity has been especially large in inland water systems, marine and systems, and island systems. The trend towards biodiversity loss continues up to now
Drivers of loss of biodiversity	① As for the “crisis caused by human activities, especially development (First Crisis),” although the speed at which loss of biodiversity attributable to this crisis has eased somewhat, effects from past development will still continue from now on. ② As for the “crisis caused by reduction of human activities (Second Crisis),” that crisis is now intensifying. ③ As part of the “crisis caused by species brought in by humans (Third Crisis),” the effects of invasive alien species are particularly prominent. ④ As for the “crisis caused by climate change,” there are concerns about some fragile ecosystems, particularly alpine flora and coral reefs.
State of responses	Although various response have been taken to address loss of biodiversity and these responses have been effective to a certain degree. But given the major socioeconomic changes that indirectly drive biodiversity loss. These responses have not been sufficiently effective.
Direction of future responses	Because regional uniqueness in biodiversity is important, it will be important for various measures that include the constituents to be taken amid social and economic activities (make biodiversity mainstream).

Source: Ministry of the Environment

Table 2-3-2 Scientific and Quantitative Assessment of Biodiversity, and Examples of Economic Means of Preservation Measures and Policies

Field of measures and policies	Main examples	Overview
Quantitative assessment of biodiversity	Millennium biodiversity assessment	Large-scale comprehensive assessment of biodiversity that was carried out from 2001 to 2005 with participation of 1,360 specialists from 95 countries, based on a call by the United Nations
Ecological footprint	Quantitative assessment of environmental impact, based on the values found by comparing the Earth environment's intrinsic production abilities and the amount of human consumption, and calculating an ideal land area referred to as a “global hectare.”
TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity	Analysis conducted mainly by United Nations Environment Planning (UNEP) concerning the economic value of biodiversity, and costs due to loss and preservation of biodiversity
Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use using market mechanisms	Economical incentives	Payment for ecosystem services (PES)	Parties receiving the benefits of ecosystem services pay compensation costs to parties managing resources.
Taxation	Taxes are applied to actions that affect biodiversity.
Subsidies	Subsidiaries are paid for actions that contribute to preservation of biodiversity, or subsidiaries that have a negative affect on preservation of biodiversity are eliminated.
Trading of rights	Rights for using the environment are assigned as certificates, and environmental problems are solved by negotiations among parties making transactions in the market.
Certification system	Certification is given to raw materials from living organisms are appropriately considered in terms of the ecosystem of the source, biodiversity, regional society, and the people who live there, and a unified certification mark is displayed so that consumers will know of the certification.
Mitigation	In order to reduce negative effects on biodiversity that are caused by development projects, efforts are made to avoid portions or all of such projects, minimize project scale, and consider correction or reduction of the natural environment that incurs such effects. Rather than compensation measures, priority consideration is given to avoidance and reduction of the effects themselves.
Biodiversity offset	For negative effects caused by development projects, appropriate reduction measures are implemented. By taking compensation actions to target negative effects that remain even after such measures are taken, the quality and quantity of biodiversity as a whole is maintained in the same state. Bankers that are expert organizations on restoration and creation for conservation (compensatory mitigation banks) receive fixed amounts of credit and accurately restore and create on behalf of parties conducting development projects. This mechanism by which it is deemed that parties conducting development projects have taken compensation measures is referred to as mitigation banking.

Source: Created by the Ministry of the Environment, using information from "Fundamental Knowledge about Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and the Economy," "Research on Measures and Policies for the FY2010 Environment Economy (Research on Measure and Policy Options that Aim for Sustainable Use of Ecosystem Services by Internalizing Economic Value)," etc.

## (3) Measures for Conserving Biodiversity that Have Been Included in Society and the Economy

In recent years, policy option tools for decision making have been proposed in order to reduce deterioration of biodiversity and loss of ecosystem services, and to mainstream biodiversity into all kinds of decision-making. Some specific examples are methods of internalizing the economic value of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the market mechanism.

Article 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity states that, “Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate, adopt economically and socially sound measures that act as incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of components of biological diversity.” Countries around the world and international organizations are taking efforts for preserving biodiversity and achieving sustainable use by using market mechanisms. Quantitative assessment of biodiversity is to be important for promoting preservation of biodiversity and sustainable use with these market mechanisms.

As examples of quantitative assessment of biodiversity, the ecological footprint assesses the human impacts on