Guideline for nature restoration projects

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Other Title
  • 自然再生事業指針
  • シゼン サイセイ ジギョウ シシン

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Abstract

Focus of nature restoration projects The following entities and interactions that constitute ecosystems should be included in nature restoration projects as far as possible: 1. Species and their habitats 2. Community structure and interspecific relationships 3. Ecosystem functions 4. Relationships between ecosystems 5. Sustainable relationships between humans and nature Clarification of aims and sharing of information Before nature restoration measures are carried out, the following actions should be taken at the project planning stage, and relevant information should be shared with all stakeholders: 6. Investigate the current situation of flora, fauna, and habitats according to scientific standards and examine the necessity of restoration measures. 7. Project the future development under the assumption that no action is taken, and if restoration measures are carried out, make the reasons for doing so clear. 8. Clarify the characteristics of the ecosystem that is to be restored, taking into consideration its spatial and temporal dimensions as well as the regional context. 9. Consider the extent to which natural succession should be controlled. Principles for nature restoration projects The following principles should be strictly adhered to when carrying out nature restoration projects: 10. Conserve plants and animals indigenous to a certain region (principle of conserving regional races). 11. Conserve all species constituting typical biological diversity for a certain region (principle of conserving species diversity). 12. Conserve the genetic variability of the population in a certain region (principle of conserving genetic variability). 13. Rely on natural recovery wherever possible, and avoid interference with natural processes (principle of natural recovery). 14. Cooperate with researchers from different disciplines (principle of multidisciplinary cooperation). 15. Respect traditional techniques of natural resource management and their cultural background (principle of respect for traditions). 16. Assess the feasibility of restoration goals (principle of feasible goals). Adaptive management The following adaptive management methods should be employed in nature restoration projects in order to allow for the unpredictability of ecosystem development: 17. Ensure the transparency of the project process through evaluation by third parties. 18. Employ the precautionary principle to avoid irreversible damage to ecosystems. 19. Set a concrete target that can be evaluated in the future. 20. Indicate the degree of uncertainty in the predictions of the management plan. 21. Test the hypotheses on which the management plan is based through monitoring, and adapt management measures according to the observed ecosystem changes. 22. Improve management measures or stop the project if the initial hypotheses prove to be wrong. Guidelines for consensus building and cooperation Nature restoration projects should be carried out according to the following rules and procedures: 23. Ensure that scientists play an adequate role. 24. Educate future generations who will bear responsibility for the project. 25. Build trust and consensus among stakeholders in the project area. 26. Establish links with other projects working for environmental conservation.

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