2013 Volume 9 Issue 3 Pages 163-171
Choshi, located at the east end of the Boso peninsula, Chiba prefecture, Japan, has many geological heritages that should be preserved and passed on to future generations. The geological and geographical characteristics of Choshi peninsula have brought honor to the region as Japan’s best spring-cabbage-producing area as well as one of the most important fishery bases in the country, and have attracted many of wind turbines, which are considered as leading renewable energy. Choshi Geopark provides people with understanding of not only the geological construction process of Choshi peninsula but also of the environmental impacts resulting from this land utilization process. That convinces the people of importance of the local environment and encourages their concrete activities toward conservation of the local environment in the future. We define the concept that divides the local environment into three stages - the passed formation process, the present utilization process and the future conservation process - as the “local life cycle thinking”. By utilizing this concept, we are providing education for sustainable development（ESD）at elementary, junior-high and high schools in the region.
