5
1.2 Challenges and Opportunities for Contemporary SEPLS
1.2.1 Challenges
According to the IPBES Global Assessment (IPBES 2019), the rate of global change
in nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history even though the
rate of change differs between regions and countries. The direct drivers of change in
nature with the largest global impact have been changes in land and sea use, the
direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasions of alien
species. These five direct drivers are in turn underpinned by societal values and
behaviors that include production and consumption patterns, human population
dynamics and trends, trade, technological innovations, and local to global governance.
The Asia–Pacific region is home to nearly 60% (4.5 billion) of the current global
population, 52% (400 million) of the 767 million global poor, and as much as 75%
of the global population of 370 million indigenous people. Most of the latter have
distinct but increasingly threatened traditions and cultures and have been maintaining their livelihoods in harmony with nature and managing landscapes and seascapes for generations (IPBES 2018). In addition to rapid economic growth,
globalization, urbanization, infrastructure development, unsustainable use, and
invasive alien species, the IPBES Asia–Pacific Regional Assessment (2018) highlighted a decline in traditional agrobiodiversity, along with its associated indigenous
and local knowledge, due to a shift toward the intensification of agriculture with a
small number of improved crop species and varieties.
The Japan Biodiversity Outlook (Japan Biodiversity Outlook Science Committee
2010) and Japan’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (Ministry of the
Environment, Japan 2012) have recognized four biodiversity crises that have been
faced by Japan in recent years. The first crisis stems from development, overexploitation, and water contamination. This crisis has been particularly influential; however, the situation has been mitigated by the regulation of developmental activities
and the slowing of economical development. The second crisis is caused by the
reduced use and insufficient management of SEPLS. This tendency continues to
intensify due to depopulation and the aging of populations in rural areas in Japan.
Factors contributing to the third crisis include invasive alien species and chemical
substances introduced by humans. Climate change, as the fourth crisis, has reinforced the effects of the other crises, causing serious concern regarding certain particularly vulnerable ecosystems.
1.2.2 Opportunities
IPBES Global Assessment (IPBES 2019) stressed that “goals for conserving and
sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories, and goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative
1 Introduction: Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes
1.2 Challenges and Opportunities for Contemporary SEPLS
1.2.1 Challenges
According to the IPBES Global Assessment (IPBES 2019), the rate of global change
in nature during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history even though the
rate of change differs between regions and countries. The direct drivers of change in
nature with the largest global impact have been changes in land and sea use, the
direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasions of alien
species. These five direct drivers are in turn underpinned by societal values and
behaviors that include production and consumption patterns, human population
dynamics and trends, trade, technological innovations, and local to global governance.
The Asia–Pacific region is home to nearly 60% (4.5 billion) of the current global
population, 52% (400 million) of the 767 million global poor, and as much as 75%
of the global population of 370 million indigenous people. Most of the latter have
distinct but increasingly threatened traditions and cultures and have been maintaining their livelihoods in harmony with nature and managing landscapes and seascapes for generations (IPBES 2018). In addition to rapid economic growth,
globalization, urbanization, infrastructure development, unsustainable use, and
invasive alien species, the IPBES Asia–Pacific Regional Assessment (2018) highlighted a decline in traditional agrobiodiversity, along with its associated indigenous
and local knowledge, due to a shift toward the intensification of agriculture with a
small number of improved crop species and varieties.
The Japan Biodiversity Outlook (Japan Biodiversity Outlook Science Committee
2010) and Japan’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (Ministry of the
Environment, Japan 2012) have recognized four biodiversity crises that have been
faced by Japan in recent years. The first crisis stems from development, overexploitation, and water contamination. This crisis has been particularly influential; however, the situation has been mitigated by the regulation of developmental activities
and the slowing of economical development. The second crisis is caused by the
reduced use and insufficient management of SEPLS. This tendency continues to
intensify due to depopulation and the aging of populations in rural areas in Japan.
Factors contributing to the third crisis include invasive alien species and chemical
substances introduced by humans. Climate change, as the fourth crisis, has reinforced the effects of the other crises, causing serious concern regarding certain particularly vulnerable ecosystems.
1.2.2 Opportunities
IPBES Global Assessment (IPBES 2019) stressed that “goals for conserving and
sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories, and goals for 2030 and beyond may only be achieved through transformative
1 Introduction: Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes