Quote this as: Committee on Ecosystem Management of The Ecological Society
of Japan (2005) Guideline for nature restoration projects. Japanese Journal
of Conservation Ecology 10: 63-75 (in Japanese with English abstract).
Japanese full text PDF Outline of the "Handbook for Nature Restoration" updated on September 24, 2016
Committee on Ecosystem Management, The Ecological Society of Japan
Hiroyuki MATSUDA1, Tetsukazu YAHARA2, Yasuhiro TAKEMON3, Yoshio HADA3,
Mariko HASEGAWA4, Kazumasa HIDAKA5, Stefan HOTES6, Yasuro KADONO7, Mahito
KAMADA8, Fusayuki KANDA9, Makoto KATO10, Hidenobu KUNII11, Hiroshi MUKAI12,
Okimasa MURAKAMI13, Nobukazu NAKAGOSHI14, Futoshi NAKAMURA15, Kaneyuki
NAKANE16, Miho Ajima NISHIHIRO6, Jun NISHIHIRO6, Toshiyuki SATO17, Masakazu
SHIMADA18, Hinako SHIOSAKA19, Noriko TAKAMURA20, Noriko TAMURA21, Kenichi
TATSUKAWA22, Yoshitaka TSUBAKI20, Satoshi TSUDA23, Izumi WASHITANI6
1Faculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 2Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 3Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, 3Faculty of Informatics, Okayama University of Science, 4School of Political and Economics, Waseda University, 5University Farm, College of Agriculture, Ehime University, 6Institute of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7Faculty of Science, Kobe University, 8Faculty of Engneering, The University of Tokushima, 9Kushiro Campus, Hokkaido University of Education, 10Graduate School of Human and Environmenta Studies, Kyoto University, 11Research Center for Coastal Lagoon Environments, Shimane University, 12Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, 13 Faculty of Engineering, Doshisha University, 14Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 15Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, 16Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 6Institute of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 6Institute of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 17Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, 18Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 19Chijin Shokan Co,.Ltd, 20National Institute for Environmental Studies, 21Tama Forest Science Garden, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 22Ocean Research Institute, 23River Basin Research Center, Gifu University
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 strictly be 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 biological diversity typical 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.