On 28 May 2026, UNU-IAS co-organized a symposium to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity on the theme “Acting locally for Global Impact – Mobilizing Collective Action toward the Society Living in Harmony with Nature”.
In opening remarks, Hirotaka Ishihara (Minister of the Environment of Japan) introduced the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan. He outlined the country’s efforts to promote Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites to achieve Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) — protecting 30% of the planet’s oceans, lands and freshwaters by 2030. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, UNU-IAS) highlighted UNU-IAS research and capacity building projects to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, such as the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) and the Global Youth MIDORI platform (GYM). Astrid Schomaker (Executive Secretary, CBD Secretariat) expressed gratitude for the efforts by Japan toward implementing the KMGBF and IPSI's submission of non-state actor commitments to the CBD. Kazuhiko Takeuchi (President, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies) stressed the need for a synergistic approach to address interconnected challenges, including climate change and pollution.
A keynote presentation by Shizuka Hashimoto (Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Ecosystem Studies, the University of Tokyo; Visiting Professor, UNU-IAS) discussed the critical role of ecosystem services in supporting food production, well-being and disaster prevention. Kaori Fujita (ESG Fellow, Nikkei BP; Professor, Green Goals Initiative and Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University) delivered a keynote presentation on the Kurobe River Nature Positive Project, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts engaging diverse stakeholders.
The symposium also featured presentations on national and local initiatives to address biodiversity loss. Aya Nagata (Director, Office for Mainstreaming Biodiversity, Ministry of the Environment of Japan) discussed the expansion of Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites and the growing number of Japanese companies contributing to nature-positive management. Highlighting IPSI contributions to the KMGBF, Maiko Nishi (Professor, Department of Global Coexistence Studies, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University; Visiting Research Fellow, UNU-IAS) introduced the Taiwan Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (TPSI).
Representing local government, Nobuaki Sekine (Director of Strategic Planning Division, Strategic Planning Department, Green Environment Bureau, City of Yokohama) shared nature-positive initiatives in Yokohama City including green space protection, river restoration, and citizen and business engagement. Speaking from the perspective of youth, Haruna Sakai (student, University of Osaka) shared insights from her participation in COP30 as part of the Global Youth MIDORI platform programme and emphasized the importance of connecting local level issues to international discussions.
Yasuhiko Sugiyama (Founder, General Incorporated Association Nebanomori) introduced the nebane, a regional economic model for forest management involving stakeholders across the entire watershed, noting that fostering a sense of ownership is key to effective collaboration. Focusing on sustainable procurement, Keisuke Midori (Chief Researcher, CSV Strategy Department, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited) discussed the expansion of ecosystem assessment to the upstream supply chain and building relationships with local stakeholders through on-site visits.
A panel discussion moderated by Tomoko Hoshino (Global Environment Outreach Center) explored the role of environmental education in addressing biodiversity challenges. Panelists highlighted the importance of rebuilding connections between people and nature, and a whole-of-society approach.
In closing, Tsunao Watanabe (Visiting Research Fellow, UNU-IAS) expressed his hope that the collective impact of local actions would become a powerful driving force for realizing a world in harmony with nature.
The event was co-organized by UNU-IAS, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ), the Global Environment Outreach Center (GEOC) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
