To achieve a sustainable society, we need to find ways to continue human activities while protecting ecosystems. The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are international guidelines for this purpose.
Basic Knowledge
Ecosystem services: Benefits that ecosystems provide to humans.
① Provisioning services(food, timber, water)
② Regulating services(climate regulation, water purification, flood mitigation)
③ Cultural services(recreation, tourism, spiritual value)
④ Supporting services(photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, soil formation)
Conservation efforts:
・Protected areas: National parks, nature conservation areas, wetlands registered under the Ramsar Convention, and World Natural Heritage sites(Yakushima, Shiretoko, the Ogasawara Islands, Amami, and others).
・Protection of endangered species: Breeding the Japanese crested ibis, releasing oriental storks into the wild, and protecting the Iriomote cat.
・Control of invasive species: Eradication of mongooses, largemouth bass, and others.
・Conservation of satoyama: Secondary nature maintained through human management. It has high biodiversity.
Major environment-related goals among the SDGs (adopted by the United Nations in 2015, with targets for 2030):
・Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
・Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
・Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
・Goal 13: Climate action
・Goal 14: Life below water
・Goal 15: Life on land
Ecosystem services(Benefits that ecosystems provide to humans)
Satoyama(Secondary nature maintained through human management. It has high diversity)
Ramsar Convention(An international treaty for wetland conservation, adopted in 1971)
Washington Convention(CITES)(Regulation of international trade in endangered species)
World Natural Heritage sites(Natural heritage designated by UNESCO. In Japan, these include Yakushima, Shiretoko, the Ogasawara Islands, and Amami)
SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals. Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, with targets for 2030 and 17 goals)
Environmental assessment(A system for evaluating environmental impacts in advance before development)
In Depth
Among the 17 SDGs, those directly related to the environment and ecosystems are 13(climate change), 14(seas), and 15(land). These are called the “biosphere” and are positioned as the foundation of all the goals. This is because if Earth's ecosystems collapse, neither the economy nor society can function. Goal 12(responsible consumption and production) promotes sustainable production and consumption. Specific examples include reducing food loss and waste, the 3Rs(reduce, reuse, recycle), and fair trade.
In Japan, secondary nature traditionally maintained as satoyama is being abandoned because of depopulation and population aging in recent years. In unmanaged mixed forests, bamboo invades, and plants unique to satoyama, such as dogtooth violets and Anemone flaccida, and insects, such as great purple emperors and fireflies, are decreasing in the dark forest floors. The SATOYAMA Initiative, a conservation model originating in Japan, has been promoted internationally, and ways for people and nature to coexist are being discussed around the world.
- Ecosystem services are classified into four types: provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting
- Satoyama is secondary nature with high diversity
- Ramsar Convention 1971(wetlands); Washington Convention(trade in endangered species)
- World Natural Heritage sites include Yakushima, Shiretoko, the Ogasawara Islands, and Amami
- Environment-related SDGs: Goal 13(climate), 14(seas), and 15(land)
- Goal 12: responsible consumption and production(3Rs and food loss)
- SATOYAMA Initiative: a conservation model originating in Japan
Points to Note
① Distinguish the Ramsar Convention(wetlands), the Washington Convention(international trade in endangered species), and the Convention on Biological Diversity(general biodiversity). ② SDG Goal 13 concerns climate change, Goal 14 concerns the seas, and Goal 15 concerns terrestrial ecosystems. Match each number with its content. ③ Satoyama is not completely natural; it is secondary nature(formed through human management). If it is abandoned, diversity decreases. ④ Do not confuse World Natural Heritage with World Cultural Heritage(natural heritage concerns only nature).
Practice
- What are the benefits that ecosystems provide to humans collectively called?
- Which SDG deals with the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems?
- What is the international treaty adopted in 1971 to conserve wetlands?