On 31 August 2024, UNU-IAS hosted an event at the Yokohama Biodiversity Festival in collaboration with a Japanese science education TV programme “Tokoro-san no Megaten!”. The festival was part of the International Youth Conference on Biodiversity 2024 (IYCB), which brought together young people from around the world to create an action plan for biodiversity conservation aligned with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

Rina Miyake (Programme Coordinator, UNU-IAS) introduced UNU-IAS and the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI), a global effort that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in socio-ecological production landscapes (SEPLS).

The event showcased Kagaku no Sato, an innovative project led by “Tokoro-san no Megaten!” and IPSI member Nippon Television Network. The project aims to restore degraded land into vibrant satoyama (Japanese woodland villages). Comedians Kenichi Abe and Maiko Goto performed a skit depicting a future visit to Kagaku no Sato, where various organisms thrive in the restored landscape, highlighting the unique characteristics of different insects and their ecological roles. Insect photographers Tokyo Bug Boys shared images and videos illustrating the beauty and complexity of local insects.

UNU-IAS and “Tokoro-san no Megaten!” also hosted a booth featuring live insect exhibits and photographs, providing hands-on learning on the importance of satoyama restoration and the sustainable management of landscapes.