Sustainability of Japan’s Natural Heritage

The concept of heritage can include not only cultural heritage but also natural heritage. In contrast to Chaps. 2 and 3 , Chap. 4 examines the sustainability of natural heritage in Japan. Japan’s natural heritage is conserved and utilised mainly through three different schemes, namely natural parks, Monuments (Kinenbutsu) and geoparks. Natural parks in Japan consist of National Parks, Quasi-National Parks and Prefectural Natural Parks. Their main features are places’ scenic beauty and excellent natural environments, especially biotic factors such as flora and fauna. Monuments are one of the main category that was developed primarily for conservation of Japan’s cultural heritage, applying Act on Protection of Cultural Properties. However, it should be remembered that Monuments contain natural heritage (both biotic and abiotic elements) as well as cultural heritage. Geoparks are also a notion and initiative adopted for the protection of an abiotic factor, geo heritage. Geoparks are also an international concept and scheme for the conservation of geo heritage across the globe. It should be noted that the aforementioned three types of natural heritage are not only conserved but also utilised for various purposes, including education and tourism. Such practices are useful for economic, socio-cultural and environmental sustainability of natural heritage and its surrounding communities. These practices also embody the spirit of mottainai.