Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Satoyama Initiative Concept
The Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Satoyama Initiative Concept, entitled Ecosystem Services in the Asia-Pacific Region was held from 1-3 October 2009 (including a 3 Oct. field trip) at the G Hotel in Penang, Malaysia.
“Ecosystem Services in the Asia-Pacific Region”
1-3 October 2009 (field trip 3 October)
The G Hotel, Penang, Malaysia
The Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on the Satoyama Initiative Concept was organized by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MoEJ) and the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS).
Co-organizers are: the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the Ministry of Environment of Malaysia, the Center for Global Sustainability Study (CGSS) of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the International Council for Science – Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ICSU-ROAP), the Institute for Environment and Development of Universiti Kebangsann (LESTARI) of Malaysia, and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
Abstract
Satoyama landscape, a traditional Japanese socio-ecological production system, is an example of mechanisms by which residents foster their local environment through agriculture, forestry and fishing activities. Satoyama-like landscapes can be found in many parts of the world. Such multi-functional land and ecosystem use — practiced by peoples leading lives centered on agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishing — has sustained millions of people for thousands of years.
Yet, with the various forces of modernization and urbanization, such practices have been increasingly undermined or abandoned, and many ecosystems have been degraded and the corresponding communities weakened. The Satoyama Initiative is a global effort led by UNU-IAS and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan so as to evaluate and promote the satoyama-like landscape as a vehicle for re-establishing sustainable interaction between humans and nature.
About 70 officials and experts participated at the Workshop including representatives from the governments of countries in Asia and the Pacific, academic organizations, research institutes, NGOs and international organizations. The Workshop was intended mainly (1) to review the management features of satoyama-like landscapes in the Asia and Pacific region and their benefits for biodiversity conservation and human well-being, and (2) to discuss strategic elements of the Vision and Perspectives of the Satoyama Initiative concept as well as international partnership under the Initiative, in the context of post-2010 strategy and action plans of CBD and human development.