Roles of Protected Areas for Recovery from Natural Disaster

Roles of Protected Areas for Recovery from Natural Disaster

Topics Outline of Natural Park System in Japan Key Concept of Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park

Outline of Natural Park System in Japan

National Parks in Japan The beginning & the Purpose 1911 Initial movement for establishing National Park started 1931 National Park Law was enacted 1934 The first 12 National Parks were designated Purpose Protection of natural landscape & Promotion of utilization

CONSERVATION OF OUTSTANDING LANDSCAPE & BIODIVERSITY

PROMOTION OF APPROPRIATE UTILIZATION 3.5 billion Visitors / Year Eco-tourism Facilities for visitors

Type of Natural Parks National Park The places with outstanding natural scenic beauty and ecosystem, worthy to represent landscape of Japan Quasi-National Park The places with great natural scenic beauty next to the National Parks Prefectural Natural Park The places with local importance and designated by the prefectural government

Natural Parks System National Park Quasi- National Park Prefectural Natural Park Designation Minister of the Environment Minister of the Environment Prefectural Governor Park Plan Minister of the Environment Minister of the Environment Prefectural Governor Management Minister of the Environment Prefectural Governor Prefectural Governor

Natural Parks Area (as of April 1, 2011) National Park Quasi-national Park 29 parks 2.1 million ha 56 parks 1.4 million ha Prefectural Natural Park 309 areas 2.0 million ha =5.4 million ha (14% of total land area)

National Park Area

11 Land ownerships National Parks Quasi-National Parks National 62 % 46% Public (Prefectural or Municipal) 13% 15% Private 26% 40% As of April 1, 2011 Total does not accord due to rounding Most of National land belongs to the Forestry Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

12 Management of National Parks Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has local branch offices The number of park ranger - around 260 Organization Park Rangers Central Office 7 Regional Environment Office 8 Nature Conservation Office 76 Ranger Office

National Park System: Zoning System Park designation regardless of land ownership Control /regulate activities at an appropriate level for conservation of natural park

Coordination/Collaboration/Cooperation with various stakeholders on National Park Management Coordination is inevitable in National Park management in Japan Type/Organization/Member depend on situation of each National Park National Parks are managed in cooperation with various local bodies, including local authorities, communities, and NGOs.

Case 1: Shiretoko National Park Management as a World Natural Heritage site Management body of Heritage Site 15 Ministry of the Environment Forestry Agency Agency for Cultural Affairs Prefectural Government Scientific Council Advice on Integrated Management of Ecosystem from a Scientific Point of View Regional Liaison Committee Consensus-Building among Government offices and Local Communities Management Plan

Case 2: Oze National Park Management based on Common Understanding Oze Vision: Common Understanding among stakeholders Basic policy of conservation / Present issues Oze National Park Committee Supported by MOE Sub-Committees Consideration and Making Action Plan Implementing Countermeasures against new issues Advice / Support Conventional groups/bodies Implementing Countermeasures against usual issues

Case 3: Aso-Kuju National Park Cooperation with NGO to keep Grassland Aso Green Stock: NGO for nature conservation Designated as Park Management Organization Scenic Landscape Preservation Agreement with the Landowners Authorized by Ministry of the Environment Noyaki: Open burning to keep grassland

18 Zoning System: As a Guide to Participatory Approach or Public Involvement/Initiative MOE does not retain land ownership (excluding some exceptions) It is impossible to decide/control by MOE itself Coordination/Collaboration/Cooperation with various bodies is of crucial importance Is it Disadvantage? These features of Japanese National Park System are Advantages from another view point

Learning from the Management under Zoning System Mutual understanding between national government and local government Discussion with local people/community Coordination among various stakeholders Acting as mediator and/or catalyzer Useful tool to solve the problems of natural park management under high density of population, and integrated land use Participation of local people and community is highly promoted

Tackling the present issues with participatory approach Ministry of the Environment Well trained Personnel Open minded Organization Large and Long Experience of Cooperation Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake Rehabilitation of Ecosystem Revival of Local industry Reconstruction of Local community National Park can be utilized as a platform for cooperation toward the Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Key Concepts of Sanriku Fukko (reconstruction) National Park

Several Natural Parks located in the Tsunami affected areas Tanesashikaiganhashikamidake Prefectural Natural Park Rikutchu-kaigan National Park Kesennuma Prefectural Natural Park Minamisanriku-kinkasan Quasi National Park Jyodogahama(Rikutchukaigan NP) Kenjyosan-mangokuura Prefectural Natural Park By Google Earth Matsushima Prefectural Natural Park Anatooshi-iso (Rikutchukaigan NP)

Coastal Area damaged by Tsunami Miyako-city Miyako-city Kesennuma-city Kesennuma-city

Disappeared historical Fishermen's Huts as bases for Ecotourism 24 Before 3.11 After 3.11

Tidal flat destroyed by Tsunami (Shizugawa Bay) 2010/5/17 2010/5/17 2011/7/1 2011/7/1 Photo by Dr. Takao Suzuki: Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences

Uno-o Tidal Flat (Matukawa bay) 2008/4/22 2011/6/5 Photo by Dr. Takao Suzuki Tohoku University Graduate School of Life Sciences

Contribute to the Recovery of disaster-affected areas by establishing a new type of National Park, which will be closely connected with disaster prevention/mitigation and revival of fisheries industry

Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park Initiative Concrete Measures toward Reconstruction Re-formation into the New Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park in satochi-satoumi style in cooperation with fishery Long-distance nature trail The name of the Park is provisional Afforestation as a symbol of reconstruction Place to record and inherit the experience of disaster as well as to monitor the transition of nature Satochi-satoumi is a human-influenced nature, which is often a coastal sea area

The Basic Points of building a New Park Biodiversity Linkage among forest, sato, and sea Cooperation with agriculture, forestry and fishery Collaboration with various local bodies Coordination with disaster-prevention/mitigation and inheritance of tsunami disaster experience Global Geoparks Network Promotion of sightseeing and ecotourism Contribution for Job creation

Restart of Ecotourism 30 A small fishing boat (Sappa- Sen) starts eco-tour guided by an actual fisherman.

31 Guided tour in the affected area by a local resident Observation of the destruction by the Tsunami

Toward establishing the new National Park, Ministry of the Environment is carrying out Consideration in the Central Environment Council Public hearings Discussion with Local Governance bodies On March 2012, The Basic Vision of Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park will be drawn up.

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