Kanazawa, Japan, 17 December 2011- The GEF and the Japan Ministry of Environment signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote and implement activities related to the Satoyama Initiative, launched under the leadership of Japan at the 10th Convention of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Based on the concept of Satoyama, a traditional rural landscape in Japan, the initiative promotes integrating conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in production landscapes, outside of protected areas. The initiative has been supported and implemented by an international partnership of over 100 governments, civil society organizations, and indigenous peoples.
"Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use is important not only in the protected areas, but also in the larger Satoyama landscape that involves mosaic of different land use including forest and agriculture lands," said Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson at the signing ceremony which was attended by key officials and Japanese journalists.
"The GEF and Japan Ministry of Environment hope to work together to support local communities on concrete actions that promote biodiversity-friendly production and livelihoods in harmony with nature," also said Mr. Tatsushi Terada, Vice Minister of Japan Ministry of Environment.
The cooperation agreement recognizes the long standing financial record of the GEF with its projects promoting market mechanisms and development policies that incorporates biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The agreement also informs that the GEF will facilitate the use of its grant modalities for activities related to Satoyama Initiative, subject to country needs and eligibility criteria of the GEF.
Mr. Tetsushi Terada, Vice Minister of Japan Ministry of Environment and Mr. Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson