Abhik Chakraborty

Geosystems as a Framework for Geoconservation: the Case of Japan’s Izu Peninsula Geopark

This article explores the potential of geosystems as a conservation framework within a geopark. The Izu Peninsula Geopark in Japan is analyzed for this purpose. Key characteristics of the geosystems approach are evaluation of geodiversity, holistic appraisal of processes operating at large spatiotemporal dimensions, and emphasis on the underlying unity of different abiotic and biotic environments. However, geodiversity is a neutral descriptive term, and the geosystems approach needs active social participation to become fully functional. This article critically examines how geoconservation is grounded in praxis. An outline of the development of the concept along with related challenges and geotourism angles is followed by the case study. The Izu Peninsula Geopark is one of the largest and most diverse geoparks in Japan. But as the area is close to Tokyo, its geoheritage faces constant pressure from a large urban footprint. The geopark has developed a combination of multiple conservation strategies, but several challenges remain. This study identifies the lack of awareness among the population as the main threat to geodiversity and argues that those communities who have firsthand knowledge of geosystems need more representation in management. While a number of community-driven conservation practices and a rich traditional knowledge of the environment can be identified, these need to be integrated on a holistic platform to provide understanding about interrelationships between phenomena. It is concluded that the geosystems approach requires an optimum utilization of the social diversity and prioritization of the conservation agenda within the regional development and geotourism initiatives.

Japan’s Mountain Tourism at a Crossroads: Insights from the North Japan Alps

ABSTRACT This article explores the transition in the mountain tourism landscape of Japan through two instructive case studies from the North Japan Alps. Before Japan’s modernization, mountains were considered sacred places and consequently they were out of bounds for commoners. During the early modernization phase, the mountains and their secluded valleys witnessed drastic changes as they became objects of conquest and, later, places for tourism development. The relative proximity of these mountains to urban centers and their modest elevation helped mass access to these landscapes. Tourism development thrust these landscapes into a dual trajectory: while visitor increase and consequent development resulted in the depletion of natural ecosystems and a trivialization of place, early conservation efforts that later morphed into the national park movement were borne out of this situation. Today, these landscapes are under renewed threat from visitor pressure and global environmental change, but some indications of a heightened ecological consciousness and sense of place can be detected among local tourism stakeholders which can provide insight for more sustainability-oriented tourism development.

Mount Fuji: The Volcano, the Heritage, and the Mountain

This chapter describes Mount Fuji, which at 3776 m asl forms the highest point in Japan, as a composite heritage. Fuji was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2013 as a Cultural Property, but the mountain and its surrounding landscapes also represent a significant natural heritage. The steep, conically shaped mountain we see today almost wholly comprises volcanic products from the newest phase of Fuji volcanism, and a volcanic complex of three older volcanoes is buried under the ejecta from this new phase. Past eruptions of the mountain posed significant dangers for the densely populated Kanto plain; different landforms and ecosystems were formed out of those events that further underscore the mountain’s value as a composite natural heritage. While Fuji is an exceptionally vigorous stratovolcano, many landforms in this area are formed by active denudation forces. Apart from the mountain, the surrounding areas offer a rich diversity of landforms such as artesian spring rivers, lava tunnels, and lakes. Tourism at Mount Fuji has changed significantly from its pilgrimage roots, and this transformation has put considerable pressure on the landscape. The natural heritage of this area urgently needs holistic planning and conservation measures to control the footprint of tourism and urban development.

Natural Heritage of Japan

This volume brings together the geological, geomorphological and ecological aspects of Japan’s natural heritage, arguing for dynamic conservation of such heritage and explaining their key characteristics in an accessible format for general readers. Sites from World Heritage Properties (Natural), UNESCO Global Geoparks, and National Parks of Japan representing key facets of this heritage are analyzed in depth, and the text is supplemented with color photographs and useful information for potential travelers. The volume is divided into thematic sections that help understand the diversity of Japan’s natural heritage, with supplementary information on conservation, tourism trends, local culture and lifestyles. In addition, chapters analyzing natures mechanisms that engender diverse heritage landscapes and conservation/sustainable management schemes make this volume a valuable resource for both general readers and those with more specialized interests.

Shiretoko Peninsula: Dynamic Interaction Between Geology, Geomorphology, and Ecology at The Interface of Terrestrial and Marine Systems

This chapter describes and analyzes the Shiretoko Peninsula World Heritage area as a complex and dynamic system comprising of geological, geomorphological, and ecological characteristics. Declared a national park in 1964, Shiretoko became a World Heritage Site in 2005. The area is noted as an exceptional example of the interaction between marine and terrestrial environments, as the most southerly location of drift sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere, and as an environmental system that links tiny diatoms to whales and brown bears. Several endangered and iconic species such as the Blakiston’s Fish Owl and the Steller’s Sea Eagle can be seen here, and the surrounding waters support many fish species and large marine mammals such as the Steller’s Sea Lion, the Orca, and the Sperm Whale. However, the area has witnessed landscape fragmentation and change in ecosystem dynamics in the past due to anthropogenic impact and is also currently threatened by Global Environmental Change. This narrative evaluates Shiretoko as a combined and complex geo-ecological system, emphasizing the complexity, uncertainty, and plurality of the interaction between its different components as fundamental properties that have implications for its management as well.

Challenges for Geoconservation in Contemporary Japan

This chapter analyzes the challenges for geoconservation in Japan, based on the findings of a questionnaire survey. Geoconservation is defined as the action taken with the intent of conserving earth heritage, but it has proven difficult to implement this concept at the ground level due to perceived low priority of conservation and lack of funding. In the case of Japan, the predominance of the natural hazards discourse has resulted in extensive modification of watersheds and coastlines by engineering, affecting the surface level features of geodiversity. Although there are a large number of national geoparks and eight UNESCO Global geoparks in Japan, the study found that those geoparks currently lack substantive information on the anthropogenic threats on geodiversity, a robust monitoring scheme to track down change, and adequate expertise to mitigate fragmentation and possible loss of geodiversity. The study also concludes that while international recognition such as the UNESCO Global Geopark brand does not bring additional protection, such recognitions do seem to elevate stakeholder awareness for geoconservation.

Shirakami Mountains: Old-Growth Forests of Siebold’s Beech Supporting Biodiversity in a Dynamic Landscape

This chapter analyzes the Shirakami Mountains World Heritage Site as a complex natural heritage based on distinctive geological, geomorphological, and ecological components and their mutual interactions. The property was inscribed onto the World Heritage List (Natural) in 1993, becoming one of the initial entrants from Japan. Fagus crenata dominates the crown cover of an old-growth forest here; the area is also noted for a rich diversity of flora and as the habitat of several large mammals, a large number of bird species, and a variety of fish in the rivers. Shirakami is a particularly excellent example of a dynamic heritage landscape that is shaped by rapid uplift, erosion, and heavy precipitation. Although currently protected under the World Heritage convention and several national and local level statutes, the forest came to the brink of serious exploitation in the 1980s when a plan to log off the old-growth beech surfaced, leading to citizen protests, nature conservation advocacy, and the eventual registration of the area as a World Heritage. Issues of landscape level fragmentation due to anthropogenic change and Global Environmental Change add to current issues, especially at the peripheral areas adjacent to the heritage property. The chapter concludes that attention should be paid to geological, geological, and ecological connectivity in order to protect the integrity of this important natural heritage.

The Nile and Recent Changes in Its Basin Environment: Evidences from Literature

Abstract: The Nile is one of the longest rivers on the planet and an important freshwater source for the arid regions of Africa. It is also a river that is extensively affected by anthropogenic impact. This paper aims to provide an account of the social drivers that combine to cause extensive changes in the Nilotic environments. This paper is based on extensive review of literature backed up by field research. The main focus is on the lower Nile, where the effects of anthropogenic disturbances are most prominent. We argue that the Nile Basin is characterized by interrelated and compound problems of resource management, and managing this river system effectively requires shifting the focus from water related problems to a basin wide management agenda. We contend that knowledge of environmental history is important for this agenda shift, and the idea of benefit sharing can alleviate the growing stress on this extremely sensitive arid river basin.