From 22-24 May 2018, the IPSI Secretariat hosted the IPSI Case Study Workshop 2018 at United Nations University Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. The aim of this workshop was to bring together the authors of selected case studies for the “Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review – Vol. 4”, which is the fourth in a publication series developed by the IPSI Secretariat in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). It consists of a compilation of case studies by IPSI member organizations providing knowledge and lessons related to “socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS)”, taking advantage of their potential to provide concrete and practical knowledge and information and to contribute to policy recommendations.
The theme for this fourth volume of the Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review is “Sustainable use of biodiversity in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) and its contribution to effective area-based conservation”. The primary focus of this volume is to highlight how the sustainable use of biodiversity as practiced in well-managed SEPLS can contribute to effective area-based conservation of biodiversity. The IPSI Case Study Workshop 2018 was held as part of the process of developing this publication, with authors from various countries presenting their case studies for a participatory review and discussion with the editorial team to finalize the case studies and elaborate key messages and lessons learned for a synthesis paper.
Presentations included case studies on community-based initiatives to improve livelihoods and biodiversity conservation through sustainable management of Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS) in Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Taiwan, and Tanzania. On behalf of COMDEKS, Ms. Tamara Tschentscher presented the case study ‘Conserving local marine and terrestrial biodiversity and protecting community resources through participatory landscape governance in Semau Island, Indonesia.’ This is the second UNDP contribution to this publication series, after contributing to the first volume with a case study on COMDEKS activities in Turkey.
Discussion sessions focused on how sustainable use of biodiversity in SEPLS and its contribution to effective area-based conservation can be ensured, and how such approaches can contribute to the goals of the global conservation agenda, specifically in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Aichi Biodiversity Target 11. One conclusion that emerged during discussion sessions was that a variety of sustainable SEPLS management practices and approaches can contribute to both area-based conservation and human livelihoods, and that such approaches will be critical to protecting biodiversity in the long run, particularly outside of Protected Areas.
The publication is expected to be launched by the end of 2018. Additional information can be found on the IPSI website.
COMDEKS 