Abstract

The concept of ‘biotop’ is an area where the natural ecosystem functions so that wildlife are able to survive. Now, Japanese conservation law is defective regarding ecosystem conservation, and there is no conservation law for secondary nature of rural districts or farm villages, for example copses which are destroyed their natural environment, etc. Some copses that are worthy, are conserved by the National Trust, but many others cannot be protected because of a lack of funds. Therefore, I suggest ‘biotop regulation’ which regulates some areas as conservation zones, or being needed permission to develop more than a set of the scale. Municipalities can establish ‘biotop regulation’, because some biotop areas are small. An index of areas regulated is copses, etc. The characteristic species live in the land ecosystem or endangered species do so. The regulated areas should be reducted taxes or be exempted. Areas which are necessary to manage actively by agreement will be able to be concluded with landowners and landtrusts, and so on. Establishment of ‘biotop regulation’ is useful for biotop conservation. We should develop it to keep an ecosystem for wildlife.