11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
[MIS10-09] Concept of Noto Peninsula Geopark (Private Proposal)
Keywords:Noto Peninsula, geopark, Noto Peninsula Earthquake, Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi
On January 1, 2024, the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024 occurred, with a magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum seismic intensity of 7, originating from the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. Furthermore, on September 21 of the same year, the Oku-Noto Heavy Rain Disaster occurred, in which a linear rain band caused heavy rainfall in the areas of Wajima City and Suzu City, which were severely damaged by the earthquake, and caused great damage. As part of its recovery plan from these disasters, Ishikawa Prefecture proposed in March 2024 a plan to turn the Noto Peninsula into a geopark, using the raised coastline and earthquake ruins created by the Noto Peninsula earthquake as elements. Since then, some concrete steps have been taken, but no consideration has been given to the concept of "what kind of geopark should it be." Therefore, in this presentation, I would like to propose the concept of the "Noto Peninsula Geopark (tentative name)" and a private proposal for a geosite.
Ishikawa Prefecture's current vision for the Noto Peninsula geopark is to inherit the earthquake disaster and develop tourism by utilizing the landscape created by the earthquake disaster as a regional resource. This is because the prefecture's geopark concept was conceived as a means of earthquake recovery. There are many geoparks in Japan that have natural disasters as one of their main themes, but the representative geoparks that focus on disaster recovery are Kurikoma Mountain Foot Geopark (certified as a Japanese Geopark in 2015 following the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake) and Sanriku Geopark (certified as a Japanese Geopark in 2013 following the 2011 Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake). However, neither of these geoparks focuses solely on disasters and recovery, but rather aims to build a geopark that conveys the relationship between the natural environment and the region with disasters as its axis.
The Noto Peninsula was certified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2011, and the region has been active under this system for over 10 years. It is desirable to decide on a geopark concept based on the GIAHS concept of "Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi." The international framework for managing geoparks is established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and while there is a strong demand for consistency and complementarity with the World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves (commonly known as UNESCO Ecoparks in Japan) also managed by UNESCO, there is no strong demand for relationships with other systems. However, "Noto Satoyama Satoumi" is not only widely known in Japan, but it can also be said that it has already been established as a "regional identity" for the residents of Noto. In other words, the concept required for making the Noto Peninsula a geopark is "the land that supports Noto Satoyama Satoumi."
For example, the "Shiroyone Senmaida" rice fields in Wajima City, which are a symbol of Noto Satoyama Satoumi, are built on the foundation of a landslide area. Not only here, but there are many other landslide areas that have become farmland for small Satoyama Satoumi settlements. Many landslides were reactivated during the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the heavy rains in Oku-Noto, causing damage to houses and cutting off roads, resulting in isolated settlements. This site is also a good place to see how the natural environment activities revealed by the earthquake and heavy rains support Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi. On the Sotoura side (the Japan Sea side of the peninsula), a significant coastal uplift occurred, resulting in the formation of coastal terraces. Salt production, a traditional industry in Noto, is carried out on the lowest terrace, which is close to the coast but is less affected by waves. The middle and higher terraces, which were created by continuous uplift, have experienced multiple interglacial periods, and the surface soil is paleo-red soil, and vegetables produced using this soil are treated as local specialties. Furthermore, diatomaceous earth, which has become possible to mine on land due to long-term and continuous uplift, is essential for the manufacture of Wajima lacquerware.
In addition to these, there are many other sites on the Noto Peninsula where you can see how the natural activities revealed by the recent earthquake and heavy rains are the foundation of life in Satoyama and Satoumi. In this presentation, I would like to present a personal proposal for a geopark concept while showing specific sites where you can understand the "land that supports Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi."
Ishikawa Prefecture's current vision for the Noto Peninsula geopark is to inherit the earthquake disaster and develop tourism by utilizing the landscape created by the earthquake disaster as a regional resource. This is because the prefecture's geopark concept was conceived as a means of earthquake recovery. There are many geoparks in Japan that have natural disasters as one of their main themes, but the representative geoparks that focus on disaster recovery are Kurikoma Mountain Foot Geopark (certified as a Japanese Geopark in 2015 following the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake) and Sanriku Geopark (certified as a Japanese Geopark in 2013 following the 2011 Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake). However, neither of these geoparks focuses solely on disasters and recovery, but rather aims to build a geopark that conveys the relationship between the natural environment and the region with disasters as its axis.
The Noto Peninsula was certified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2011, and the region has been active under this system for over 10 years. It is desirable to decide on a geopark concept based on the GIAHS concept of "Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi." The international framework for managing geoparks is established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and while there is a strong demand for consistency and complementarity with the World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves (commonly known as UNESCO Ecoparks in Japan) also managed by UNESCO, there is no strong demand for relationships with other systems. However, "Noto Satoyama Satoumi" is not only widely known in Japan, but it can also be said that it has already been established as a "regional identity" for the residents of Noto. In other words, the concept required for making the Noto Peninsula a geopark is "the land that supports Noto Satoyama Satoumi."
For example, the "Shiroyone Senmaida" rice fields in Wajima City, which are a symbol of Noto Satoyama Satoumi, are built on the foundation of a landslide area. Not only here, but there are many other landslide areas that have become farmland for small Satoyama Satoumi settlements. Many landslides were reactivated during the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the heavy rains in Oku-Noto, causing damage to houses and cutting off roads, resulting in isolated settlements. This site is also a good place to see how the natural environment activities revealed by the earthquake and heavy rains support Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi. On the Sotoura side (the Japan Sea side of the peninsula), a significant coastal uplift occurred, resulting in the formation of coastal terraces. Salt production, a traditional industry in Noto, is carried out on the lowest terrace, which is close to the coast but is less affected by waves. The middle and higher terraces, which were created by continuous uplift, have experienced multiple interglacial periods, and the surface soil is paleo-red soil, and vegetables produced using this soil are treated as local specialties. Furthermore, diatomaceous earth, which has become possible to mine on land due to long-term and continuous uplift, is essential for the manufacture of Wajima lacquerware.
In addition to these, there are many other sites on the Noto Peninsula where you can see how the natural activities revealed by the recent earthquake and heavy rains are the foundation of life in Satoyama and Satoumi. In this presentation, I would like to present a personal proposal for a geopark concept while showing specific sites where you can understand the "land that supports Noto's Satoyama and Satoumi."