Experiential Learning in Satoyama for Promoting a Sustainable Future through the Integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Modern Science

Abstract

  The Satoyama Initiative is a global effort to realize “societies in harmony with nature.” It promotes landscape approaches that integrate biodiversity conservation and human well-being, such as the sustainable management and use of natural resources in Satoyama landscapes. One key approach of the Satoyama Initiative is to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern science in order to foster innovation. In the field of environmental education, it is essential to view Satoyama wisdom not as a relic of the past, but as living knowledge that can be advanced through integration with modern science. In line with this perspective, an experiential learning program was implemented that targets third-grade elementary school children and their guardians. The objective was to foster an understanding of the traditional ecological knowledge embedded in Satoyama, and to encourage its application in contemporary and future societies by integrating modern science in alignment with the goals of the Satoyama Initiative. As a result, the program yielded positive educational outcomes for both children and their guardians, including increased knowledge, heightened interest, and stronger motivation to conserve Satoyama landscapes.