Learning from Japanese Geoparks

Abstract

 Geopark activities in Japan began when the Japan Geopark Committee was established in 2008. From geoparks, we learn about relationships between the Earth and regional development through discussions focusing on the environment, resources, energy, and life within the context of challenges faced in the 21st century. The Japanese Archipelago was formed 16 million years ago around the Sea of Japan. Its islands are very diverse. Cooperative investigations on marine biological taxonomy reveal that species diversity is characterized by extremely high-biodiversity hot spots. The activities of the Global Geopark Network (GGN) have progressed steadily with 100 areas joining in 2014. The UNESCO general meeting in November 2015 for the first time included the GGN in an official UNESCO program. Geoparks of the GGN became the UNESCO Global Geopark. Geoparks are based on the activities of local citizens, which develop steadily through interchanges with voluntary learning societies and exchange meetings with guides. Connections are then established to encourage sustainable local activities.