Satoumi Culture and Sustainability

Conservation activities for secondary forests where humans and nature coexist. Balancing biodiversity with regional economic revitalization through satoyama utilization. Programs by NPOs and local governments operate in hundreds of regions nationwide. Bamboo grove maintenance, vegetable cultivation, and eco-tourism generate hundreds of millions of yen annually. Gaining international attention as Japan's sustainable nature coexistence model in the SDG era.

Conservation movement extending satoyama concept to marine areas. Aims for simultaneous achievement of coastal fishing, tourism, and ecosystem preservation. Implements comprehensive approaches including seaweed bed restoration, shellfish aquaculture, and marine debris reduction. Fuses regional fisheries with environmental conservation for sustainable marine economy. Recognized internationally as coastal management best practice.

An agriculture-consumer collaboration project aimed at improving regional food self-sufficiency. Characterized by expanding Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) models connecting urban and rural areas, and promoting local sourcing in school meals. Simultaneously addresses climate adaptation and rural economic vitalization through localized food systems.

Technology development project converting plastic waste recovered from Japanese coastal waters into high-value products. Establishes efficient collection systems through fishing industry cooperation, with recovered materials used in automotive parts, sports equipment, and construction materials. Represents an integrated approach achieving both circular economy and marine conservation.

A program integrating fishery practices with ecosystem conservation in coastal areas such as Seto Inland Sea and Ariake Sea. It practices sustainable coastal resource management through seagrass restoration, shellfish aquaculture, and small-scale fishery activation. It aims to balance local fishers' economic interests with marine biodiversity protection.

A CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) network where consumers directly support local small-scale farmers and receive seasonal produce. Rapidly expanding in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, it simultaneously improves food security and stabilizes farmer livelihoods. Interest in local food sourcing surged post-COVID-19.

An ancient Japanese value meaning 'what a waste' or 'too precious to waste.' Wangari Maathai introduced it to the world, making it an internationally recognized environmental slogan. The concept encompasses Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, plus the spirit of Respect.