Training for Capacity Development on Biodiversity conservation and rural development

21.12.2011

SUBMITTED ORGANISATION :
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)
DATE OF SUBMISSION :
21/12/2011
REGION :
Eastern Asia
COUNTRY :
Japan (Ishikawa Prefecture)
SUMMARY :
JICA implemented training on biodiversity conservation and rural development for capacity development for developing countries and promotion of SATOYAMA Initiative in 2010. 14 persons from 13 countries participated in the training, and they understood the importance of harmonization between biodiversity conservation and rural development. Training provided opportunities to understand situation of SATOYAMA management in Japan through field observation and intensive lectures, and uniquely contributed to realizing different concepts of SATOYAMA in different countries. Recognizing that Japan’s experience and knowledge on SATOYAMA could not be directly applied to each developing country in practice, JICA needs to further analyze Japanese experience, and extract knowledge and lessons for improvement of future training and cooperation projects in the world.
KEYWORD :
Capacity Development, SATOYAMA Initiative, Training in Japan, Sustainable management of natural resources
AUTHOR：
Shuichi IKEDA Deputy Director General, Group Director for Forestry and Nature Conservation, Global Environment Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kazunobu Suzuki Advisor, Forestry and Nature Conservation Division 1, Forestry and Nature Conservation Group, Global Environment Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

1. Concept

1) Background of the Training

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is an independent administrative institution responsible for the implementation of bilateral components of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). With a view to achieving human security, JICA contributes to socioeconomic development, recovery, and economic stability of developing countries. Recognizing biodiversity conservation serves to protect the life of vulnerable people in developing countries, and ensures stable and sustainable growth of the international society, as a member of the international community, JICA assists biodiversity conservation efforts in developing countries as a priority of its cooperation.
At the Tenth Meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2010, Japanese government proposed the SATOYAMA Initiative as an international model of natural resources management in human-influenced natural environments. These human-influenced natural areas called Satoyama in Japan are located in all parts of the world. Recently sustainable use of natural resources is tending to be lost in Satoyama, which causes negative impact to biodiversity. To prevent biodiversity loss, it is important to use natural resources in sustainable way, not only to conserve primeval nature environments by setting protected area.
Environmental degradation is progressing through excessive use of natural resources by a population explosion in developing countries where many people depend on natural resources for their livelihood. A vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation disrupts the ecosystem services necessary for their livelihoods.
In Japan, Satoyama is threatened due to urbanization, industrialization and rural population decrease. And so many approaches for nature conservation and rural development are conducted in various places.
This course was conducted so as to contribute to rural development from the viewpoint of the reconciliation between nature conservation and livelihood promotion by sharing experience and knowledge gained from Japanese approaches and present state of Satoyama in developing countries.

2) For what?

Participants learned the cases of natural resource management of Satoyama in Japan and other parts of the world to make the plan for the rural development in their own countries from the viewpoint of the reconciliation between nature conservation and livelihood promotion.

3) For whom?

1) Central or local governmental officers or management staffs of public organizations who are in charge of planning and implementing the rural development and nature conservation
2) Staffs or researchers from NGO or other institutions related to rural development and nature conservation

4) How?

1) Lectures for basic understanding of Satoyama, SATOYAMA Initiative and related policies
2) Learning the cases of natural resource management through inspection and practice
3) Preparation and presentation of action plan for the rural development in their own countries from the viewpoint of the reconciliation between nature conservation and livelihood promotion

2. Description of the Training

(1) Title

Promotion of SATOYAMA Initiative: Biodiversity conservation and rural development through the sustainable management of natural resources

(2) Place

Ishikawa Prefecture

(3) Partner Organizations

Ministry of the Environment, Japan, UNU-IAS Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (UNU-IAS OUIK), Kanazawa University and Ishikawa Prefecture

(4) Period of program

November 2010 to December 2010

(5) Target Country

14 participants from 13 countries
（Indonesia, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Costa Rica, Panama, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Burkina Faso, Kyrgyzstan, Colombia)

(6) Overall Goal

The concept and case examples for the reconciliation between biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources would be shared among the people concerned in each participant’s country, and rural development plan harmonizing nature conservation and livelihood promotion would be implemented accordingly.

(7) Objective and Outcome

Learning from case examples of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources with broad participation of stakeholders in Satoyama in Japan, training participants would understand the concept of SATOYAMA Initiative, related policy and case study of sustainable use of natural resources deep-rooted indigenous traditional culture in Japan.
Participants made action plan which described what participants would do for the rural development in their own countries from the viewpoint of the reconciliation between nature conservation and livelihood promotion based on the knowledge and experience gained from the Course.

(8) Contents

Expected Module Outputs	Program	Method
Basic understanding of Satoyama, SATOYAMA Initiative and related policy	SATOYAMA Initiative National Biodiversity Strategy Ishikawa Prefectural Biodiversity Strategy Policy of Satoyama and Satoumi conservation use in Ishikawa Pref.	Lecture
(2) Understanding of concept and information sharing related conservation and use of biodiversity in Satoyama	Sub-global Assessment of Satoyama and Satoumi Natural resources management in Satoyama and Satoumi Satoyama nature school Satoyama Satoumi project of Kanazawa university Nanao Bay Satoumi Revitalization Project	Lecture/ Inspection
(3) Understanding of rural development through the sustainable use of natural resources	Natural resource management in Satoyama and Satoumi Rural development project in Harmony with nature Satoyama Meister Model landscape of Kanakura, Wajima City Town promotion by cycle of local resources in Ikeda	Lecture/ Inspection
(4) Mastery of the method of use of natural resources in business	Business development based on resources in Satoyama Agro-forestry/Ecotourism	Lecture/ Case study
(5) Understanding of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources deep-rooted indigenous traditional culture	Wise use in Katano-Kamo-Ike (traditional hunting of duck) Conservation and use of traditional culture in Shiramine Shirayama city	Case study/ Inspection
(6) Understanding concept of policy related to the tax burden for ecosystem services from satoyama in urban area	Development of forestry activities by use of forest environment tax Forestry activity of the upper area of Tedori river	Lecture/ Inspection
(7) Presentation at the symposium, sharing of knowledge and experience in Japan and other countries, presentation of action plan *)	Presentation of country report Attendance at the symposium Preparation and presentation of action plan	Practice

*) Action Plan: The Plan which describes what participants do for the rural development in their own countries from the viewpoint of the reconciliation between nature conservation and livelihood promotion based on the knowledge and experience gained from the Course.
Action Plan should be worked out in the manner that it should be actually implemented back home as the training results. It is recommended that participants bring some relevant information in electronic form, such as figures, data, pictures and maps to prepare the action plan.

3. Analysis of Action Plan

14 action plans were prepared and presented. In terms of themes, these action plans can be categorized as follows.

No.	Theme
5	biodiversity and rural development around protected areas
3	natural resources management including land use management
3	eco-tourism promotion
2	community-based forest restoration plan
1	Others

4. Questionnaire Survey

Questionnaire survey was conducted at the end of the training, and a few results are shown below.
Q1. Did you find the design of the program appropriate for you (your organization) to achieve the Program Objective?
(※design of program: structure of modules in the program)

← ← Yes, appropriate　　　　　　　　　　　　No, inappropriate → →
□4	□3	□2	□1	n/a
10	4

Q2. Were you able to learn from the experiences of other participants in the program?

← ← Yes, very much　　　　　　　　　　　 No, not at all → →
□4	□3	□2	□1	n/a
7	7

Q3. Was the quality of lectures good enough for you to understand clearly?

← ← Yes, very good　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 No, poor → →
□4	□3	□2	□1	n/a
8	6

Q4．Were you satisfied with the textbooks and materials used in the program?

← ← Yes, very much　　　　　　　　　　　 No, not at all → →
□4	□3	□2	□1	n/a
8	5	1

Q5. Do you think the knowledge and experience you acquired through the program in Japan is useful?

□A	4	Yes, it can be directly applied to work.
□B	9	It cannot be directly applied, but it can be adaptable to work.
□C	1	It cannot be directly applied or adapted, but it can be of reference to me.
□D		No, it was not useful at all.

Q6. After you return to your country, do you think it will be easy to apply what you acquired to your organization or country?

← ← Yes, very easy　　　　　　　　　　　 No, very difficult → →
□4	□3	□2	□1	n/a
	8	6

5. Findings/Observations

According to questionnaire survey, most of participants thought knowledge and experiences obtained through the training were useful. Around half of participants felt it easy to apply what they acquired through the training to their own country because training concept and contents were consistent with policy of their organizations. However, they recognized such knowledge and experiences could not be introduced and applied to their own countries without modification and translation into the local context due to differences of nature environment and economic condition.
It is concluded that objective of the training was achieved and that the training helped not only training participants but Japanese concerned for the training to deepen understandings on concept of SATOYAMA Initiative promoted by Japanese Government and identify different concepts of SATOYAMA in different countries.

6. Lessons

As mentioned above, Japan’s experience and knowledge on SATOYAMA could not be directly applied to each developing country. Participants and Japanese who were engaged in the training understood different concept and context of Satoyama and/or Satoyama-like landscape in different countries by exchanging and sharing views and experiences in the training. Frankly speaking, at the beginning of the training, even in Japan, the commonly-recognized concept of SATOYAMA Initiative was not found. Thus, it is expected that action plan developed in the training would be modified and tailored to the local context of each country to be implemented.
Recognizing different concept of SATOYAMA in different countries, designing the training should be carefully made to respond to different needs from each different country.

7. Future Challenges and Perspective

JICA plans to continue Satoyama training for three years (2011-2013). Based on the lessons derived from the training, JICA should carefully design and implement the training for contributing to expanding Satoyama Initiative-related activities and capacity development in developing countries. It is our recognition that we need to analyze Japanese experience, and extract knowledge and lessons for improvement of the training in close cooperation with our partners.
As knowledge-based organization, JICA refines knowledge and lessons through the interaction with training participants including analysis of action plan developed in the training to apply them to the local context of developing countries, and utilize them for JICA’s relevant projects in the world, and share them with our partners.

Symposium

Field Observation