Sustainable development and the management of the Japanese Inland Sea

Abstract

1. The Japanese Inland Sea has five main features: (i) it is a typical enclosed sea with numerous islands, (ii) it has a rich history and culture, (iii) it serves as an important eastwest maritime route, (iv) it possesses abundant fishing resources, and (v) it has experienced much coastal landfill and the expansion of heavy chemical industries in the postwar period. 2. It is important that efforts are now made to implement sustainable development, the internationally-accepted common guideline for environmental conservation, in the Inland Sea area. The concept of sustainable development can be summarized into the following five points: (i) conserving the ecosystem and planetary life-support systems, protecting all plant and animal species, and maintaining genetic diversity; (ii) satisfying the basic needs of the populace; (iii) securing equality between different regions and between generations; (iv) ensuring people's participation; (v) applying the principle of integration. 3. Has past management and development in the Inland Sea created problems for the conservation of the ecosystem and protection of species' diversity? Was it based on the basic needs of the local populace? Was the participation of residents guaranteed? Were inequalities among different areas, such as overcrowding and depopulation, eased? Was equality between generations ensured? Were all plans and their implementation integrated according to the idea of sustainable development? The answers to these questions suggest the following requirements: (i) effecting strict environmental assessments, with priority on the conservation of the ecosystem; (ii) guaranteeing consideration of local citizens' needs, and concrete procedures for resident participation in managing the environment, including planning and decision making, for the integration of development and conservation; (iii) controlling the movement of population to the cities and promoting locally-generated development; (iv) integrating laws and administration according to the principle of sustainable development, and removing various contradictions.