March 2012: The Secretariat of the the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has released a report titled “Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities: Exploring the Potential of Satoumi for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach in the Japanese Archipelago,” authored by the UN University (UNU) Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) Operating Unit Ishikawa/Kanazawa and circulated as CBD Technical Series No. 61.

The study argues that satoumi, both as a concept and a management strategy, provides a culturally-appropriate method for implementing provisions of the CBD related to coastal areas. It explores experiences with satoumi, which is defined as “high productivity and biodiversity in the coastal sea with human interaction,” and rooted in traditional ecological knowledge.

In the particular case of Japan, reviving satoumi can assist in integrating conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the coastal areas. Satoumi has enabled the effective involvement of stakeholders from different sectors in coastal conservation, and has facilitated the mainstreaming of biodiversity concerns in various sectors. The publication includes introductory and overview articles examining the relevance of satoumi to the CBD mandate, its mainstreaming in Japanese national policy, and its role in coastal biodiversity management. It also features a series of case studies examining the application of satoumi in Japan as a culturally-appropriate concept for biodiversity management in human-influenced coastal seas. [Publication: Biological and Cultural Diversity in Coastal Communities: Exploring the Potential of Satoumi for Implementing the Ecosystem Approach in the Japanese Archipelago]