View PDF

View PDF

Towards utilization of LCA for facilitation of biodiversity conservation in islands, we conducted review on international biodiversity policy processes such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and SDGs, which are the contexts which need to be considered to implement LCA. Environmental tax for island municipalities in the Okinawa Prefecture is also reviewed to provide a status of regional policy for biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, overview of the trends of biodiversity strategies in Japan and its island municipalities is provided. As examples of the municipal strategies, those of Rebun island, Amami Oshima, and Sado island were reviewed. These review results show that localized and contextualized strategies were elaborated and implemented in the individual municipalities. Although this trend of local biodiversity strategies can be regarded as a promising trend, LCA has still not yet been implemented to assess the status of the strategies and biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation can be facilitated by interdisciplinary approaches. Academic fields related to LCA can play an important role to facilitate biodiversity strategies and promising cycles of conservation based on the scientific evidence.

Land development may cause degradation of coastal ecosystems by sediment discharge through river. After the reversion of Okinawa （Ryukyu Islands） to Japan in 1972, extensive urban and agricultural development resulted in a significant increase in sediment discharge to coastal waters. The release of sediment has caused the degradation of freshwater and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity. A consideration of catchment-to-reef continua, as well as agricultural （socioeconomic） factors is necessary for establishing proper land-based management plans for the conservation of the island environment. We have set up a transdisciplinary framework to integrate biophysics and socioeconomics: 1） setting a conservation target and threshold, 2） identifying the sources and processes, and 3） examining cost-effectiveness and management priorities. The framework may be applicable to other tropical and subtropical islands with similar characteristics..

Small islands are often hotspots of diversity, confronting various vulnerable issues. Numerous studies have investigated possible pathways for achieving sustainable development within the closed boundaries of small islands. Among about 600 small islands of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, we shed light on the Goto Islands with the most population. The Shimo (South) Goto Islands, also known as Goto City, have aimed to revitalize the regional economy by making use of renewable energy by providing the first Japanese demonstration sites of both offshore wind power generation and tidal power generation. This article introduces our research framework and prospects of life cycle assessment for the production of the signature agricultural specialties in the Shimo Goto Islands, such as cattle and udon noodles, for a better understanding of the sustainable development of the islands.

Since the island is physically separated from other regions, the economy is relatively independent, and the primary industry and its processing industry are major industries in many islands, so local resources that can be used per person are relatively abundant. On the other hand, most of the energy resources are imported from outside the island, and the import and export of products requires high transportation costs. It is considered that island has an advantage in creation of economic circulation by use of local resources. In this paper, we will consider the economic characteristics of the island regions and the effects of constructing a regional economic circulation system, targeting Sado Island and Tanegashima, which have large areas, populations, and economic scales among the islands of Japan.

In small island areas such as Okinoerabu Island, it is difficult to produce everything necessary for modern life on the island. Therefore, many of the various daily commodities have to be transported from outside the islands. Since air cargo transportation is difficult, all goods are transported by ship on the islands. However, shipments are subject to weather conditions, and continued bad weather affects the procurement of perishable foods, which cannot be stored for long periods of time. Bad weather can also cause a slowdown in off-island shipments of agricultural products, resulting in a significant economic impact, as well as increased waste disposal costs. This paper discusses the livelihood, economy, and environmental aspects of the islands.

View PDF

View PDF

View PDF

View PDF

View PDF