6
changes across economic, social, political, and technological factors.” It is necessary
for us to conserve, restore, and use nature sustainably while simultaneously meeting
other global societal goals via extensive efforts to foster transformative change.
Transformations toward sustainability can be triggered by the following key leverage
points: (1) visions of a good life; (2) total consumption and waste; (3) values and
actions; (4) inequalities; (5) justice and inclusion in conservation; (6) externalities
and telecoupling; (7) technology, innovation, and investment; and (8) education and
knowledge generation and sharing (IPBES 2019). The transformation pathways will
vary depending on the context, with different challenges and needs in developing and
developed countries. Therefore, “risks related to inevitable uncertainties and complexities in transformations toward sustainability can be reduced through governance
approaches that are integrative, inclusive, informed, and adaptive” (IPBES 2019).
In the Asia–Pacific region, regional cooperation for the transboundary conservation of threatened landscapes and seascapes is expanding and showing positive outcomes (IPBES 2018). Biodiversity-rich and threatened terrestrial, marine, and
wetland ecosystems transcend political boundaries. Transboundary conservation
initiatives take different forms including upstream–downstream river basins initiatives (e.g., in the Mekong Delta Basin), ridge-to-reef arrangements (coral reef conservation and management through community-based approaches emphasizing
land–sea connectivity), and regional cooperative agreements (IPBES 2018).
As one such transboundary/international conservation initiative, the Japanese
Government and United Nations University launched a new international initiative
called “the Satoyama Initiative,” which aims to promote sustainable production
landscapes and seascapes via a broader global recognition of their value (Takeuchi
2010). This initiative promotes developing an international network of organizations working on SEPLS to share knowledge and best practices on a global scale to
alleviate some of the problems caused by the loss of biodiversity. Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage Systems, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture
Organization, is another international initiative that promotes public understanding,
awareness, and the national and international recognition of agricultural heritage
systems including SEPLS.
1.3 Sustainability Science Research and SEPLS
Understanding SEPLS and the forces of change that can weaken their resilience
requires the integration of knowledge across a wide range of academic disciplines
as well as from indigenous knowledge and experience. Moreover, given the wide
variation in the socio-ecological makeup of SEPLS globally, as well as in their
political and economic contexts, individual communities will be at the forefront of
developing appropriate measures for their unique circumstances. This in turn
requires robust communication systems and broad participatory approaches.
O. Saito et al.
changes across economic, social, political, and technological factors.” It is necessary
for us to conserve, restore, and use nature sustainably while simultaneously meeting
other global societal goals via extensive efforts to foster transformative change.
Transformations toward sustainability can be triggered by the following key leverage
points: (1) visions of a good life; (2) total consumption and waste; (3) values and
actions; (4) inequalities; (5) justice and inclusion in conservation; (6) externalities
and telecoupling; (7) technology, innovation, and investment; and (8) education and
knowledge generation and sharing (IPBES 2019). The transformation pathways will
vary depending on the context, with different challenges and needs in developing and
developed countries. Therefore, “risks related to inevitable uncertainties and complexities in transformations toward sustainability can be reduced through governance
approaches that are integrative, inclusive, informed, and adaptive” (IPBES 2019).
In the Asia–Pacific region, regional cooperation for the transboundary conservation of threatened landscapes and seascapes is expanding and showing positive outcomes (IPBES 2018). Biodiversity-rich and threatened terrestrial, marine, and
wetland ecosystems transcend political boundaries. Transboundary conservation
initiatives take different forms including upstream–downstream river basins initiatives (e.g., in the Mekong Delta Basin), ridge-to-reef arrangements (coral reef conservation and management through community-based approaches emphasizing
land–sea connectivity), and regional cooperative agreements (IPBES 2018).
As one such transboundary/international conservation initiative, the Japanese
Government and United Nations University launched a new international initiative
called “the Satoyama Initiative,” which aims to promote sustainable production
landscapes and seascapes via a broader global recognition of their value (Takeuchi
2010). This initiative promotes developing an international network of organizations working on SEPLS to share knowledge and best practices on a global scale to
alleviate some of the problems caused by the loss of biodiversity. Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage Systems, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture
Organization, is another international initiative that promotes public understanding,
awareness, and the national and international recognition of agricultural heritage
systems including SEPLS.
1.3 Sustainability Science Research and SEPLS
Understanding SEPLS and the forces of change that can weaken their resilience
requires the integration of knowledge across a wide range of academic disciplines
as well as from indigenous knowledge and experience. Moreover, given the wide
variation in the socio-ecological makeup of SEPLS globally, as well as in their
political and economic contexts, individual communities will be at the forefront of
developing appropriate measures for their unique circumstances. This in turn
requires robust communication systems and broad participatory approaches.
O. Saito et al.