COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION ON BIOSPHERE RESERVES

自1971年联合国教科文组织启动人与生物圈计划以来，我们的研究一直集中在“生物圈保护区”上。“我们对“生物圈保护区”的定义是：一个共同的“基础”，其内在价值是国际公认的，并提供深化科学知识和技术的机会，以及支持可持续发展的人类价值。它们是典型的受保护的大陆带和海岸带环境。在日本，滋贺高地、白山、大冢原/大峰山、屋久岛等4个地区于1981年被确认为国家生物圈保护区。通过将其结果与认证时的原始条件进行比较，我们发现这些地区的环境变化和人类影响。此外，还进行了另一项涉及居民的调查，以查明有关地区的土地使用条件。在这些调查的基础上，对国家生物圈保护区进行了全面审查，并向教科文组织作了报告，目的是从现在起对我们保护和利用有关地区的原则作出贡献，我们在这一阶段的调查研究所取得的成果的信息也向教科文组织作了报告，并在教科文组织国家人与生物圈计划委员会年度报告（1998年3月和1999年2月）中作了介绍。教科文组织/人与生物圈计划国际管理委员会要求进行的审查载有关于自然灾害和人为因素造成的生态系统退化及其恢复的全面数据，以及关于植物群和动物群各方面的调查数据。这一审查也将列入本报告。

Since 1971, when MAB - Man and Biosphere Program was launched in Unesco, our researches have focused on "Biosphere Reserves." Our definition for "Biosphere Reserves" is : a common "ground," which intrinsic value is internationally recognized, and which provides chances to deepen scientific knowledge and technology, and human value that support sustainability. They are typical continental zones and coastal environments under protection. In Japan, four places were recognized in 1981, as such areas : Shiga Highlands, Shirayama, Odaigahara / Omine-san, and Yakushima.In this research, we focused on the recovery of the ecosystem in national biosphere reserves, and conducted periodical individual investigations in the ecological environment of each area ; by comparing their results with the original conditions at the time it was certified, we are discovering environmental alterations and human influences on these areas. Also, another investigation involving inhabitants was realized in order to identify conditions of land use in concerned areas. Based on these investigations, a general review of national biosphere reserves was conceived and reported to Unesco aiming at contributing from now on to our principle of protecting and applying the concerned areas.Information on results attained from our investigation research in this stage and reported to Unesco, was also presented in the Unesco National MAB Committee Annual Report (March 1998 and February 1999). The review demanded by Unesco / MAB International Regulatory Committee contains comprehensive data on ecosystems degradation by natural disasters and by human factors and their recovery, and data investigated on aspects of the flora and fauna. This review will be also included in this report.