SCOPESCOPE (Sustainability Co-Creation Programme)

At the start of this course, we will explore the concept of biodiversity and the various indicators that can be used to quantify it. Equipped with these tools, we will investigate the relevance of biological diversity for human societies. Looking at the arguments that have been put forward to call for the conservation of nature, we will learn about the way in which world views and value systems influence our thinking and our decision-making. Scientific evidence concerning biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services is playing an increasingly important role for strategic planning of public administration and private companies. We will synthesize our findings concerning the links between human activities and biota derived from case studies and apply them to scenarios of the future development of social-ecological systems.

Successful participants will be able to explain the various components of biological diversity and their relevance for the functioning of social-ecological systems. They will master the basics of species identification and biodiversity monitoring, including the application of biomarkers, remote sensing and image analysis. In addition to natural science aspects, participants will develop an understanding of the legal frameworks and the incentive schemes employed to balance the often-conflicting goals of economic prosperity and nature conservation.

Among diploma policies,"DP3" is related

英語 / English

Fundamental aspects are introduced through short lectures. Key topics are expanded on in a participatory approach using texts and figures related to biodiversity, nature conservation and methods for evaluating ecological functions in the context of policy-making and planning. Participants work on selected topics and present their findings in class. They summarize their findings in a report that will take the form of a short research paper.Feedback on assignments submitted by students will be provided in class or through the Learning Management System.

あり / Yes

あり / Yes

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[対面/face to face]：Introduction to the concept of biodiversity

The diversity of phenomena related to living organisms from molecular to planetary levels
Geography and biota of the Japanese Archipelago
Introduction to research areas from which topics for presentations and reports can be chosen

2[対面/face to face]：Measuring biodiversity along gradients of space and time

Distribution ranges of species in Japan and major biogeographical patterns
Selection of topics for presentations and reports

3[対面/face to face]：Links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

Impact of human activities on biota – winners, losers and non-responders
Feedback loops and threshold values driving the dynamic behaviour of ecosystems

4[対面/face to face]：Is biodiversity ‘good’ for us?

Selfish versus altruistic perceptions of genes, species and ecosystems
The ecosystem service concept: classifying and quantifying the interactions between humans and their environment

5[対面/face to face]：Does nature need protection?

The beginning of the conservation movement in Japan
Diversity of mammals in Japan

6[対面/face to face]：Legal frameworks for conservation in Japan

From Natural Monuments to ‘Other effective area-based conservation measures
Diversity of birds in Japan

7[対面/face to face]：Protected land areas in Japan

Wilderness Areas, National Parks, Wildlife Protection Areas
Diversity of reptiles in Japan

8[対面/face to face]：Approaches to conserving biodiversity across the whole landscape

Sustainable use – integrating human needs into management concepts for biodiversity
Diversity of amphibians in Japan

9[対面/face to face]：Marine protected areas

Drawing lines in the water – issues of delineating protected areas in the sea and controlling that rules are upheld
Diversity of fishes in Japan

10[対面/face to face]：How much impact on species, communities and ecosystems can be sustained over time?

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis
Regime shifts in ecosystems
Diversity of butterflies and moths in Japan

11[対面/face to face]：Integrating biodiversity information in planning and decision-making

From the Aichi Targets to the Global Biodiversity Framework
Diversity of dragonflies and damselflies in Japan

12[対面/face to face]：The overlooked and invisible parts of biodiversity

Diversity of other invertebrates and microorganisms

13[対面/face to face]：Diversity of plants and vegetation in Japan

Actual vegetation and potential natural vegetation
Remote sensing of plants and vegetation

14[対面/face to face]：Synthesis

Biodiversity information and sustainable development in Japan

Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

No single textbook covers all relevant aspects, but we will instead use several sources, see section 11. References.

IPBES. (2023). IPBES Guide on the production of assessments. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7568075

Ash, N., Blanco, H., Brown, C., Garcia, K., Henrichs, T., Lucas, N., Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Simpson, R. D., Scholes, R., Tomich, T. P., Vira, B., & Zurek, M. (2010). Ecosystems and human well-being: A manual for assessment practitioners. Island Press.

Brazil, M. (2022). Japan: The Natural History of an Asian Archipelago. Princeton University Press.

Active and regular participation during class
Adequate presentation of topics related to biodiversity and nature conservation in class
Submission of a high-quality report following the format of a short research paper (sections: introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, reference list) according to the standards of research ethics by the Japanese Ministry of Education.

Participants will be asked to provide regular feedback concerning teaching methods and workload management. The student responses will be taken into account.