Advancement of Biodiversity Conservation Activities with Detecting “Local Environmental Icons”

Abstract

Biodiversity in rural areas in Japan have been endangered by careless, due to paddy consolidation and mechanization. The farmers of the study site have maintained the water levels during winter, thereby providing a stable habitat for aquatic organisms. Residents and researchers discussed and detected spawns of Japanese Brown Frogs as “Environmental Icon” to evaluate how conservative farming is going well. The results of JBF-spawns survey indicated the conservation activities effected creating habitats for JBF, and these activities encouraged more farmers to join environmental conservation programs.