Participatory conservation activities involving local stakeholders and international network in Mt. Hakusan Biosphere Reserve, Japan

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John Day
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1 Workshop Mountain, 15:00 16:30, Tuesday, 15 March 2016 Huallamarca Room, Gran Centro de Convenciones de Lima Session leader: Mr. Martin Price (UK) Participatory conservation activities involving local stakeholders and international network in Mt. Hakusan Biosphere Reserve, Japan Yoshihiko Iida Ph.D. Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa (OUIK) United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU IAS)

& Mount Omine BR Aya BR 2,702 m 3,193 m 1,719 m 1,210 m OUIK

2 Biosphere Reserves in Japan Maximum peak Tadami BR 1,820 m Shiga Highland BR 2,307 m Mount Hakusan BR Minami-alps BR Mount Odaigahara & Mount Omine BR Aya BR 2,702 m 3,193 m 1,719 m 1,210 m OUIK Yakushima Island BR 1,936 m All of BR in Japan are located in mountainous regions

Overview Mt. Hakusan BR The Mount Hakusan BR was designated with only the core area and buffer zone in 1980 At the heart of the BR is the 2,702-meter-high Mt.

villages spreading out around these set as the transition areas.

3 Overview Mt. Hakusan BR The Mount Hakusan BR was designated with only the core area and buffer zone in 1980 At the heart of the BR is the 2,702-meter-high Mt. Hakusan, with the mountain s alpine and subalpine zones in the core area, the vast Japanese beech forests surrounding the core area in the buffer zone, and the mountain villages spreading out around these set as the transition areas. With a total area of 199,329 hectares and a population of 17,023 (as of April 1, 2015), the BR extends over seven municipalities in four prefectures of Nanto City in Toyama, Hakusan City in Ishikawa, Ono City and Katsuyama City in Fukui, and Takayama City, Gujo City, and Shirakawa Village in Gifu.

Overview Mt. Hakusan BR The local communities began getting involved around 2012.

the BR, they resolved to apply to UNESCO for an extension to create transition areas in the BR.

that will take up the future management and operation of the Mount Hakusan BR.

4 Overview Mt. Hakusan BR The local communities began getting involved around As a result of continued dialogues within the sevenmunicipality and four-prefecture governments in the BR, they resolved to apply to UNESCO for an extension to create transition areas in the BR. Then, in January 2014, the Mount Hakusan Biosphere Reserve Council was established as an organization that will take up the future management and operation of the Mount Hakusan BR. Workshop of the Relevant Municipalities WG (October 2014) Hakusan city as secretariat of the council Mount Hakusan BR Symposium Series (November 2014)

5 Overview Mt. Hakusan BR Source of water for the four water systems Tedori river Sho river A high mountain (2,702 m) Kuzuryu river Nagara river One of the heaviest snowfall areas in the world Nagoya city

6 Overview Mt. Hakusan BR chocolate lilies Treasury of alpine plants wedgeleaf primrose (Primula cuneifolia L. var. hakusanensis (Franch.) Makino) ermine (Mustela erminea Linnaeus) Extensive Siebold's beech (Fagus crenata)forests Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) High moor in Hirugano Highland Mt. Hakusan s Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta (Montin))

7 Overview Mt. Hakusan BR lifestyles and culture, which are adapted to mountain villages A mountain that has been the object of worship

8 Overview Mt. Hakusan BR There are people who have leveraged and protected the blessings of Mt. Hakusan.

9 Threatens and challenges Mt. Hakusan BR Social cultural issues Depopulation Deer foraging on Asian skunk-cabbage Credit: Ando M. Aging society Declining cultural diversity Ecological issues Climate change influenced snow fall Shika deer creeping Invasive species management Electric fences installed to preserve Asian skunk cabbage community in Yamanaka Pass

areas above 2,000 meters elevation in Mt. Hakusan.

10 Threatens and challenges Mt. Hakusan BR Invasive species measures 16 invasive alien species have been currently confirmed at areas above 2,000 meters elevation in Mt. Hakusan. There are growing concerns regarding cross breeding with native species, and deterioration of the native habitat and landscape. Volunteer-led removal operations began in 2004, and is implemented in collaboration with the Association for Conservation of Circum-Hakusan Area from 2007 and as an ecosystem maintenance and recovery work based on the plan by the Ministry of the Environment from 2011.

11 Threatens and challenges Mt. Hakusan BR Hakusan shoko kai (Commerce and chambers) Hakusan Kilimanjaro Coffee: Conserving the environment with every cup Hakusan Kilimanjaro, project to partner with other white mountain communities, is coffee brewed from 100% Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, coffee beans using water from the Hakusan range. Invasive species measures reforestation

12 Threatens and challenges Mt. Hakusan BR Hakusan shoko kai (Commerce and chambers) Customers help conserve the environment simply by drinking it: for every cup sold since its release in 2014, five yen has been donated to invasive special removal activities in the Mt. Hakusan area, and another five yen to tree-planting activities around Mt. Kilimanjaro.

13 Threatens and challenges Mt. Hakusan BR Hakusan shoko kai (Commerce and chambers) As of September 30, 2015, 117,828 cups have been sold, helping to remove an estimated 629 kilograms of invasive plants and plant 7,856 trees.

14 UNU-IAS OUIK s collaboration with Mt. Hakusan BR OUIK Biocultural Diversity Booklet Series No.2 To be published in May, 2016 Available online Contents Natural features Cultural diversity Conservation activities Rural development Contributors from various sectors and site managers from 7 municipalities

COUNTRY REPORT-2016/2017 THE INDONESIAN MAB PROGRAMME NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Management and Development of Biosphere Reserves in Indonesia

COUNTRY REPORT-2016/2017 THE INDONESIAN MAB PROGRAMME NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Management and Development of Biosphere Reserves in Indonesia Indonesia is recognized as a country of mega-diversity with ecosystems