November 3, 2010

International Stone Tidal Weir Summit in Shiraho

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 14:45:38 +0900
6. Finally, I joined another meeting just after COP10 in Ishigaki Island (a very close to Taiwan); "International Stone Tidal Weir Summit In Shiraho, Japan for creating SATOUMI", organized by WWF Japan and local conservation society "Sa-bu". I attach the program and Joint Declaration for SATOUMI.
Stone tidal weir is a gentle way to catch fish through the flood and ebb of tides. It
was once part of the fishing traditions of the world. In this Summit, people from France, Spain, Korea, Taiwan, Micronesia, Phillippine and sevaral sites of Japan joined.
This is also a good exercise for education and UNESCO activities.

MAB activities in COP10

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 14:45:38 +0900
1. Thank you for supporting and encouraging COP10.
Our side event held on Oct. 26 afternoon at Shirotori Hall (Venue for COP10 Working Group II). 194 persons participated our event. I thank Ana Persic for a nice talk on biodiversity and cultural diversity in MAB BR. I also thank Sun-Kee Hong Salvatore Arico and Gretchen Kalonji for joining as speakers. I also thank UNESCO Jakarta for accepting us to distribute DVD for Asian MAB to all audience.
2. COP10 is a good chance to discuss the balance between nature conservation and sustainable use. According to L15 in http://www.cbd.int/cop10/insession/, Satoyama Initiative referred to UNESCO's MAB programme.
3. After the side event, Ana and Prof. Hong visited Aya where a town in preparation of a new BR.
4. Recently, Japanese Coordinating Committe for MAB organized "Japan Biosphere Reserves Network" (J-BRnet). It will support mutual communication and support among BRs and its candicates. At least I distribute a "monthly" newsletter by email to members of J-BRnet. J-BRnet includes 4 BRs in Japan and other sites in preparation of new BRs. Members consist of local scientists, staff of municipality, and citizen stakeholders of each site.
5. We remade a web site of Japanese Coordinating Committe for MAB (see http://risk.kan.ynu.ac.jp/gcoe/MAB-en.html). J-BRnet is shown in http://risk.kan.ynu.ac.jp/gcoe/Organization.html#J-BRNet (sorry in Japanese) or http://risk.kan.ynu.ac.jp/gcoe/BR-map.jpg.

November 2, 2010

Why was Aichi Target and Nagoya Protocol agreed?

Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2010 06:29:07 +0900
I hope that all felt more or less happy at the end of COP10. Aichi target and Nagoya Protocol were agreed! I greatly acknowledge all of your efforts for COP10.
I gave four comments to a Japanese newspaper, (1) Japanese hospitality was well acknowledged, and it might help consensus building among parties. (2) Japanese prime minsiter used "gift of nature" instead of "ecosystem services". I think the former word may include ethical mind, while the latter word is based on utilitarianism. (3) COP10 was a very good chance for Japanese to remind the value of nature conservation. Older Japanese people still know many traditional knowledge of how to use natural resources and acknowledge the gift of nature. If the generation of grandchildren learn these knowledge, I expect Japanese ecosystem services will be well conserved. (4) COP10 is a good chance to discuss the balance between nature conservation and sustainable use.
[According to L15 in http://www.cbd.int/cop10/insession/, Satoyama Initiative referred to UNESCO's MAB program.]