National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan 2012-2020.

The present National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan is the basic plan for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of its components formulated by the government based on the stipulations in article 11 of the Basic Act on Biodiversity. The plan is named the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan in the law based on the fact that the three National Biodiversity Strategies of Japan were formulated before the establishment of the Basic Act on Biodiversity. The Strategy also sets guidelines for formulating and revising the “regional biodiversity strategies” that are the basic plans for the conservation and sustainable use. The National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan 2012-2020 was formulated by including the outcomes of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) and the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake, as the Japanese road map for achieving the Aichi Targets and the specific strategy for establishing a society in harmony with nature. It is the fifth strategy when counting from the first National Biodiversity Strategy formulated based on the CBD, and the second strategy which has been formulated based on the Basic Act on Biodiversity. The Strategy 2012-2010 consists of three Parts: The Strategy towards Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (1); Road Map towards Achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2); The Action Plan on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (3).
The text consists of 3 Parts as follows: The Strategy towards Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (1). This Part is divided into 4 chapters as follows: Importance of biodiversity and rationales for achieving a society in harmony with nature (1); The current situation and the challenges concerning biodiversity (2); Targets for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of its components (3); Basic policies for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of its components (4). Part 2 is entitled «Roadmap for the Achievement of the Aichi BiodiversityTargets» and consists of: 1) Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020 (Aichi Biodiversity Targets) and 2) Establishment of Japan’s National Targets for the Achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Part 3: The Action Plan on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity is composed of 2 chapters: Measures and policies for national land (1) and Cross-sectoral and fundamental measures and policies (2).
Part 1 considers the importance of biodiversity that supports life and livelihoods as well as the current situation and issues surrounding biodiversity; Japanese targets towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; the grand design describing the future of national land in a society in harmony with nature; seven basic perspectives for developing policies and measures, including “scientific recognition and preventive and adaptive attitude”; and five basic strategies which added “strengthening the scientific foundation and utilizing it for policies” to the existing four basic strategies which includes “mainstreaming biodiversity in our daily life.” Part 1 thereby clarified the direction for priority policies and measures to be implemented by around FY2020. Part 2 lays down provisions relating to Japanese targets in light of the Aichi Targets; target years and related indicators for identifying the achievement levels for the targets and progress where possible; and the road map towards achieving the Aichi Targets. Part 3 systematically lists all policies and measures on biodiversity including the policies and measures for achieving the Aichi Targets, as specific action plans.