[Symposium Report] International Symposium “Local Communities and Nature Conservation”
The international symposium “Local Communities and Nature Conservation” was held at the University of Tsukuba, Tokyo Campus on November 23rd, 2017. The symposium was organized by students, participating in the Certification Programme on Nature Conservation (CPNC). There were six key-note speakers from both Japan and abroad, sharing their knowledge through the case studies in each area. 120 participants gathered, despite the rain, showing a strong interest to this theme.
Moderators included Associate Professor/ Dr. Ikuyo Saeki (Session 1), Tsukuba University students- Tomoya Tamura (Session 2), and Shoma Jungu (Session 3). Participants included those, from research institutes, private companies, NPOs and governmental organizations, resulting in very fruitful discussion.
Twenty students introduced their research in a flash talk (thirty seconds per person). During the poster session time, both students and participants discussed deeply. At the same time, the students’ poster presentation was evaluated for the Poster Award.
At the end of the symposium, nine students voiced their acknowledgement and the symposium ended with applause.
The planning and operation was implemented under the ‘Nature Conservation Special Field PracticalsⅡ’.
Capacity Building Workshop on Nature-Culture Linkages in Heritage Conservation in Asia and the Pacific (CBWNCL)
Dates: 18 – 30 September 2016
Place: University of Tsukuba, Japan
Organized by the World Heritage Studies and the Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation (CPNC) at the University of Tsukuba, in cooperation with UNESCO World Heritage Centre, IUCN, ICCROM and ICOMOS.
The purpose of the Capacity Building Workshops on Nature-Culture Linkages in Asia and the Pacific (CBWNCL) is to contribute to the World Heritage Capacity Building Programme led by ICCROM and IUCN, in consultation with ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in developing new approaches towards integrated conservation of cultural and natural heritage. These workshops will explore nature-culture linkages with focus on theory and practice in Asia and the Pacific Region.
Each year, from 2016 to 2019, the series of workshops aims to deal with the general topic of Nature-Culture Linkages in Heritage Conservation. Heritage Conservation is an evolving practice, and one of the current debates focuses on identifying and recovering the connections between nature and culture sectors. This exchange has become instrumental for the interpretation, conservation and sustainable management of both natural and cultural heritage sites.
Visiting Japanese heritage sites will form a core component of the programme where participants will conduct practical work. Participants will be able to understand issues and explore approaches being adopted in the field.
Theme of CBWNCL 2016: Agricultural Landscapes
Agricultural landscapes have been defined in the context of the World Heritage List as testimonies of humanity’s interaction with the land, and as unique examples of coexistence and interaction between people and nature. These heritage landscapes are seen as representative of a rich cultural diversity, and in some cases of sustainable land-use systems and the evidence of human communities struggle for survival in extreme climatic and environmental conditions. However, agricultural landscapes, from the present and the past, only started to be recognized as holding Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) when the categories of organically evolved Cultural Landscapes were introduced in the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Convention in 1992.
Agricultural landscapes are areas where cultural and natural values are present and interrelated. Industrialization of agriculture has progressively transformed traditional agricultural systems replacing them with monoculture and large scale production. Nevertheless, according to research, traditional systems that have been continued show higher biological and cultural diversity. Agricultural landscapes are expressions of the interrelations between cultural and natural heritage.
Currently, there are several national and international initiatives for protecting or promoting the sustainable development of agricultural landscapes. Besides the World Heritage Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has favoured the initiation of a diversity of programs for the conservation of biodiversity that relate to agricultural landscapes. For instance, the Satoyama Initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment of Japan and the United Nations University in 2010, focuses on these as socio-ecological systems which importance for the sustainable development of communities is in close relation to natural resources management. The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), a global initiative started by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2002, is concerned with the dynamic conservation of biodiversity through the preservation of traditional rural systems around the world. Furthermore, the European Landscape Convention adopted by the Council of Europe in 2000 promotes landscape management and planning at all scales, giving value to everyday landscapes due to their importance for local communities. Each of these initiatives approaches agricultural landscapes from diverse perspectives and values systems. Added to these diverse value systems, there is also the value system held by the human communities inhabiting these places, maintaining these landscapes.
In this first workshop, the interest lies in exploring the nature-culture linkages in agricultural landscapes and their implication in conservation approaches, specifically in the context of Asia and the Pacific region, where we intend adequate regional management systems that integrate culture, nature and indigenous and local knowledge.
Objectives
• To strengthen theoretical knowledge on agricultural landscapes and their relevance in connecting conservation practices between natural and cultural heritage professionals. • To visit and exchange experiences with local managers and residents in areas/sites where agricultural landscapes are protected and conserved with different approaches, initiatives and governance systems. • To reflect on nature-culture linkages, natural values and cultural values in agricultural landscapes in general, and in their own sites/case studies in particular. • To establish networks among heritage practitioners in the region.
Methodology The workshop is an intensive programme combining theory and practice, through lectures, presentations and roundtables in Tsukuba at the University Campus, and a field trip to the World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama in Gifu and Toyama prefectures, and to GIAHS and Satoyama Initiative projects in the Noto Peninsula, where participants will get in contact with local managers and local communities.
Participants The workshop is open to 15 young professionals from Asia and the Pacific region involved in the management of cultural or natural heritage sites, specifically, agricultural landscapes. Mid-career Heritage Practitioners with minimum of 5 years of experience from both natural and cultural heritage sectors currently engaged in managing/working with agricultural landscapes in particular and natural heritage sites with cultural values and vice versa are eligible to apply. Lecturers International and Japanese professionals and academics in the field of heritage conservation (nature and culture sectors).
Working language: English
Course Fee: Free
Travel, accommodation and living expenses Organizers will cover the cost of accommodation and living expenses for the selected participants and a limited number of scholarships will be available to cover the travel costs.
Certificate A certificate of attendance given by the University will be awarded to participants who satisfactorily complete the workshop.
University of Tsukuba launches the “Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation (CPNC)” in April 2014 thanks to some endowment from a charitable individual. CPNC is a certificate programme for graduate students enrolled in World Heritage Studies, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences or Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, at the University of Tsukuba. CPNC provides a unique opportunity of interdisciplinary study on the conservation of natural and cultural heritage as well as the on-the-job training experience at protected areas and/or conservation organizations. We aim at educating students who will be able to work actively at international organizations and international cooperation agencies in the future.
News
Launching symposium of Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation will be held on 19th April, 2014
World Heritage Studies, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences and Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences are pleased to announce the launching of Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation. This symposium aims to learn about global conservation issues including climate change and loss of biodiversity to invite distinguished guests from relevant agencies and discuss the way to combat with these issues.
Date
19th April, 2014
Time
13:00 – 16:00
Venue
Media Hall, Kasuga Campus at the University of Tsukuba
Language
Japanese
Participation Fee
Free
Programme
Opening Address
Dr. Kyosuke Nagata, Rector of University of Tsukuba
Keynote Speech1
“Trends on Global Environmental Issues”
Ambassador Masahiko Horie Ambassador for Global Environmental Affairs, Regional Councilor of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Professor of Meiji University, Visiting Professor of University of Tsukuba
Keynote Speech2
“Trends on Biodiversity Conservation Issues”
Mr. Tsunao Watanabe Senior Programme Coordinator, Institute of Peace and Sustainability, United Nations University, Senior Researcher, Japan Wildlife Research Center, Former
Director-General, Nature Conservation Bureau, Ministry of the Environment
Discussion with teaching staffs who are in charge of Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation Conservation and Restoration of Threatened Ecosystems Impact of Climate Change on Marine Environment
* After the symposium, we explain how students can apply for Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation and answer the questions from students.
