[H-CG19] International comparison of landscape appreciation and recreation research

[HCG19-P04] Biodiversity Conservation through Landscape Experiences for Elementary School Students

*Hajime Matsushima¹, Akira Suzuki², Kouji Kimura³, Hinata Okoshi⁴, Haruko Ueno⁴, Yoshihiko Hirabuki⁵ (1.Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, 2.Kita no Satohama Hanano Kakehashi Network, 3.Snow Brand Seed co., ltd., 4.Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, 5.Tohoku Gakuin University)

Keywords:Nature-based Solutions, Green Infrastructure, environmental education, citizen collaboration

With biodiversity declining at a rate never seen before in human history, the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework adopted in December 2022 calls for "urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a recovery track" and emphasizes the importance of social change is emphasized. The status of biodiversity in Japan is not yet on a recovery trend, and ecosystem services are also degrading. Therefore, the National Biodiversity Strategy 2023-2030, approved by the Cabinet in March 2023, set the goal of "achieving nature positive" which includes the expansion of protected areas, as well as fundamental changes in society and the promotion of socioeconomic activities that protect and utilize natural capital. However, it is not easy to actually change people's behavior, and concrete ways to do so are still being explored. In addition, while it is important to continue such activities on an ongoing basis, community-based volunteer activities, in which continuous participation is expected, are facing problems such as aging participants, declining capacity, and a shortage of human resources. The 2007 revision of the School Education Law stipulates as a new goal of compulsory education "to promote nature experience activities in and outside of school and to cultivate a spirit of respect for life and nature and an attitude that contributes to environmental conservation," pointing out the importance of nature in the immediate surroundings. The importance of nature in our daily lives has been pointed out.
In this study, we aimed for social change through behavioral change as well as the preservation of the coastal ecosystem as a result of the efforts of elementary school students to conserve the ecosystem by experiencing the landscape through activities to restore the coastal landscape in the Tohoku coastal areas after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Through six years of activities, participation of citizens' groups, PTAs, neighborhood associations, and private companies as CSR activities, in addition to local governments, has gradually increased, and the activities have spread as their understanding and interest has grown year by year.