Japan

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Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Efforts with
Participation of Multiple Stakeholders in
Sekisei Lagoon, Okinawa Keisuke
TakahashiMinistry of the Environment, Japan
Japan
Sekisei Lagoon
Yaeyama Archipelago
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More that 360 Species of Hermatypic Corals are
found in Sekisei Lagoon
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Variously used for fishery and tourism
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Coral Reef in Sekisei Lagoon is degraded by
COTS Outbreak
Bleaching
Red Soil Runoffs
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Ministry of the Environment Decided to launch the
nature restoration Project in Sekisei Lagoon with
Participation of Multiple Stakeholders
National Government Municipal Government Prefectur
e Government
Sugarcane/Pineapples farming causes red-soil
runoffs and stockbreeding causes seawater
pollution
Tourism Industry
Depend their livelihood on coral reefs Over
fishing causes decline of fish stock.
Tourism is the biggest industry in the area.
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Dilemma 1In designing time-flame of the
participatory process

• Participation by local Stakeholders is imperative
  for Coral Reef Management.
• Participatory Approach requires long time to make
  Actions.
• Corals in Sekisei Lagoon are severely degraded
  and we need immediate actions.

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Measure takenTwo-Step Approach
Master Plan forNature Restoration(2005)

• Academic Experts
• Administrative Bodies

Nature Restoration Project in Sekisei
Lagoon (2005)
Nature Restoration Committee(2006) (Various
Stakeholders)
Grand Design for Nature Restoration
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Dilemma 2In establishing the Stakeholders
Committee

• Local Residents have strong interests in Coral
  Reef management.
• Sometimes, They are not keen to participate in
  the open discussion.

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Measures takendeliberate communication

• lectures and workshops for local people
• Visiting local people individually to explain
  objectives of the committee

Good relationship with local stakeholders Local
people well understand the objectives of the
committee.
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We got About 100 bodies/individuals participate
the Committee.
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Dilemma 3In managing discussion in the Committee

• To reflect views from various sectors, discussion
  should be participated by many stakeholders.
• When participants are too many, it is difficult
  to discuss issues and reach agreements.

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MeasuresGroup discussions

• Small Group Discussions
• Additional Thematic Working group

• All participants have their say
• Intensive discussion on certain issues

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Lessons Learned

• When introducing a participatory processes in
  natural resources management, time-flame design
  at the outset is important, and in some cases,
  two step approach-first start with small and easy
  group, then expand the members-are recommended.
• To involve local community, building relationship
  of mutual trust is imperative, which many cases
  takes long time.
• To manage the discussion in large group, small
  group discussion and Additional Thematic Working
  group are useful tools.

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Challenge

• The Committee should agree on Grand Design for
  the nature conservation
• The Committee needs to clarify each members role
  in order to ensure the effectiveness of each
  efforts.
• The Committee Members need to share objectives
  with local residents who are not engaged in the
  Committee at this moment.