2012/6/28

1

Activities for

co-existing rice agriculture

with over-wintering geese

in Kabukuri-numa and

surrounding rice paddies

Masayuki Kurechi

Japanese Association for Wild Geese Protection

Ramsar Network Japan

Contents

Critical decrease of wetland habitat over the past 100 years.

Wild geese, an umbrella species, forced to concentrate in limited areas such as Kabukuri-numa.

Restoring or recovering wetlands using rice paddies, typical Asian agro-wetland.

Agro-Environmental Rice Farming based on Winter Flooded Rice Paddies profits both waterfowls and farmers.

Ramsar COP10 Rice Paddy Resolution X.31,2008 and CBD/COP10 decision focusing on biodiversity of rice paddy, 2010.

Rice paddy strategy post CBD/COP10

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77.73

15.01

-15.28

-34.97

-57.56

-60.01

-84.92

-88.84

-90.30

-92.17

-61.10

-100.00 -80.00 -60.00 -40.00 -20.00 0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00

%TOCHIGI

FUKUSHIMA

AKITA

GUNMA

IWATE

HOKKAIDO

AOMORI

IBARAKI

CHIBA

MIYAGI

TOTAL

〔LOST DURING 100 Yrs〕〔AREA 100 Yrs AGO〕

INCREASEDECREASE

％

Ratio of Wetlands Lost over the

Past 100 Years in Japan

Prefectures Most Abundant in Wetlands 100 Years Ago

Change of Wetland Habitat around Kabukuri-numa Marsh

( 1914-2002). （modified from Geographical Survey Institute data ）

Note; River or Lake Reed bed etc

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New drainage system for easy drying rice paddy

WET PADDY

4,924ha

22.5%

DRIED

PADDY

16,959ha

77.5%

Natural Wetlands

→Wet Rice Paddies (Old )

→Dried Rice Paddies (New)

Reconstruction of Rice Paddies

in Miyagi pref. in 2000 ( Chiba, unpublished)

104 sites,

21,883 ha

Kabukuri-numa Marsh • Locates in Tajiri, Ohsaki City, Miyagi Prefecture.

• Ramsar Site; Wetland of 150 ha and surrounding rice paddies of 273 ha as buffer zone.

• Rich fauna and flora.

– 219species of wild birds （6 Natural Monument spp. & 42 RDB spp.)

– 33 species of fish

– 10 species of shellfish

– 19 RDB spp. of plant

• Important roosting sites for wild geese.

• Leading project for promoting co-existence of rice farming and waterfowl through recovering or restoring wetland habitat.

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Wildlife in Kabukuri-numa

Mizu-Aoi Monochoria Korsakowii

Netted Bitterling

Pseudoperilampus typus

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Middendolf’s Bean geese Anser fabalis middendorffii

White-fronted geese Anser albifrons

Morning Flight of

White-fronted geese

Crisis: the plan to excavate all of Kabukuri-numa as a floodwater retarding basin

Kabukuri-numa Water Retarded Basin

Kabukuri-numa Water Retarded Basin Project

Kabukuri

-numa

Flooding in Aug.1998

Kabukuri

-numa

Originally set up in 1970 by Miyagi prefecture for

water control.

Information on the plan to excavate all of Kabukuri-numa by 1m released in

February 1996.

Crisis: potential loss of the entire wetland heritage.

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Action to Protect the Wetland

Movement to raise awareness to the value of the wetland both in local area and nationally launched.

A new NGO, Kabukuri Wetlands Club, set up as the core of the movement.

Key persons in various fields became involved in supporting the action.

Japanese Government answered it would stop the plan in a committee of the National Diet House of Councilors.

Local Government gave up the plan and set up the Kabukuri-numa Round Table Meeting to discuss how to achieve co-existence of nature with the water management regime.

Opportunity for raising awareness to heritage of Kabukuri-numa among local people.

Various Actions to Protect the Kabukuri-numa and Setting up the Round Table Meeting

NGOs requested establishment of a group to discuss enviromental management of Kabukuri-numa.

Miyagi Local Government organized the Round Table in 1997.

All stakeholders took part and produced an Environment Management Plan in 2000 that included many NGO proposals.

Guideline for

Environment

Management of

Kabukuri-numa WRB

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Case 1: Rice Paddy Restored to Natural Wetland Agreement to Restore Shiratori Rice Paddies as Natural Wetland Reached in

1997. Brought into Action in Spring 1998. Total Area of Kabukurin-numa increased to 150ha, 1 and half as large as

former one.

Shiratori

Rice

Paddy

(50ha)

Original

Kabukuri-

numa

(100ha) Restored

Wetland

(50ha)

Kabukuri-numa

(150ha) since

1998

Monitoring Shiratori Restored Wetland (1)

First flock of Wf Geese roosted on 12 Oct. 1998

More geese bagan to roost regularly soon later.

Hit an idea to recover geese roosting sites by keeping water in rice paddies only in winter.

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Farmers Join to Winter Flooded Rice Paddy around Kabukuri-numa since 1998/99 winter

Bewick’s Swans in Winter-flooded Rice Paddy

Monitoring at Winter Flooded Rice Paddy (2)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

11/1

911

/2411

/29

12/4

12/9

12/1

412

/1912

/2412

/29

1/3

1/8

1/13

1/18

1/23

1/28 2/

22/

72/

122/

172/

222/

27

　Num

ber

Wf Goose A. albifrons

Whooper Swan C. cygnus

Bewick's Swan　C. columbianus

0

50

100

150

200

250

12/3

01/

41/

91/

141/

191/

241/

29 2/3

2/8

2/13

2/18

Num

ber

Wf Goose A. albifrons　

Swans Cygnus spp.

Swans and Geese visiting Winter Flooded Rice Fields in Tajiri (A) 1998/99 winter (B)1999/2000 winter ( modified from Iwabuchi et al(2001)）

(A) 98/99

(B) 99/00

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Winter Flooded Rice Farming raises

Biodiversity of Rice Paddy

also in Summer

Monitoring at Winter Flooded Rice Paddy in Summer (1)

Monitoring RP Area Heron Distribution (Aug.12,2006)

Pasture Land

Winter-flooded RP

Fallow R P

Conventional RP

Others

Kabuuri-numa

0

5

10

15

20

25

BIr

ds/

ha

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 0.73 0.45 0.59 0.35 0.20 0.28

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 6.50 1.98 4.24 0.78 0.77 0.77

Great Egret Egretta alba 5.85 8.16 7.01 2.19 1.62 1.91

Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 7.70 5.94 6.82 1.91 1.97 1.94

Little Egret E. garzetta 0.58 0.20 0.39 0.39 0.14 0.27

Total 21.35 16.73 19.04 5.63 4.70 5.16

2005 2006 Average 2005 2006 Average

Winter Flooded RP Non Winter Flooded RP

F

Winter-flooded Rice Farming and Heron Density in Summer ( Average in 2005 & 2006 summers n=1,980)

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0

5

10

15

20

25

Tra

pp

ed

/20a

WFRP Conv. RF

WFRP 1

WFRP 2

Conv. 1

Conv. 2

D

en

sit

y/m 2

6

0

2

4

X10 4

24000/m 2

23100/m 2

3800/m 2

4700/m 2

6/2 8/11 7/28 7/14 6/29 6/16 8/25

Monitoring at Winter Flooded Rice Paddy in Summer (2)

Tubificid Worm Branchiura sowerbyi Loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus

A B

High Density of Loach (A) and Tubificid Worm (B) in

Winter-flooded Rice Paddy in Summer (modified from Hirai et al,2006 )

イトミミズ Tubificid Worm

ユスリカ

徘徊性のクモ Spider with no web

造網性のクモ Spider with web

カエル Flog

Winter Flooded Rice Paddy

Conventional

2000[万匹/10a]

100[万匹/10a]

20[匹/200株]

100[匹/100m]

100[匹/200株]

ふゆみずたんぼ・不耕起栽培と慣行農法の水田の生物相の比較（2004．8．11伊豆沼二工区調査による）

Winter Flooded Rice Paddy with High Biodiversity ふゆみずたんぼにするといろいろな生き物がよみがえる

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WFRP Benefits both Wildlife & Agriculture

〔Wildlife in rice paddy〕＝Habitat Recovery Rich biodiversity・・・ from microorganisms to waterbirds Spread flyways of Geese throughout Japan by the

network of WFRP.

〔Agriculture〕＝New method of Farming =WFRP Method= IBM (Integrated Biodiveresity Management)

Weeds Control Effect (No or less herbicide ) Pests Control Effect (No or less pesticide) Waterfowl Droppings as Fertilizer ( Less fertilizer) Decompose rice straw Model of IBM

〔 Co-existent way for Agriculture and Nature ; Agro-Biodiversity〕

Sustainable Less Impact against Environment

New relationship between agriculture and waterbirds

- from conflict to co-existence-

conflict

co-existence Geese are symbol of rice paddies of rich biodiversity.

Rice harvested from these paddies means

– to be safe and good for health.

– to gain additional economical value.

– to maintain or recover goose habitat through goose frendly

farming.

Winter-flooded Rice Farming works as a core system since 1998.

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Tools Published and Used for Winter Flooded Rice Paddy – Pamphlet (MoE & JAWGP) – Calendar & Almanac (MoE, JAWGP,Tambo) – Picture Book (Tajiri T. & JAWGP) – CD for Songs and Materials (WFRF Song

Committee & JAWGP)

Awareness-Raising of farmers and public

Awareness-Raising of farmers and public

Meetings and Symposiums Rice Paddy Wildlife Monitoring

involving local farmers and public

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First Ramsar Site Involving Large Area of Rice Paddy, typical Asian Wetland, under Agreement of Most Stakeholders.

New Idea on Ramsar as a Useful Tool for Agro-Environmental Rice Farming.

Kabukuri-numa and Surrounding Rice Paddies New Concept Ramsar Site in November 2005

Kabukuri-numa

Surrounding rice paddies

Kabukurinuma and Surrounding

Rice Paddies

Orign of an idea of Rice Paddy Resolution

in Ramsar COP10 in 2008

Winter-flooded Rice Farming in Ramsar Site Produces Higher Value-added Rice

Fuyumizutambo-Mai

“Winter Water Paddy Rice”

Twelve farm families produce higher value-added Winter-flooded Paddy Rice brand in rice paddies in Ramsar Site since 2004.

Environmental profit for wildlife and economical profit for wildlife friendly farmers.

Ohsaki City (Tajiri Town) is positive to adopt Agro-environmental policy activity and supported the challenge by its own policy of direct benefits from improved environment.

First step for Abundant Waterbirds and Profitable Agriculture

Next step: From dispersed distribution to amalgamation

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Rice Paddies as a Complex Ecosystem with Rich and Diverse Biota

Rich and Diverse Biota of Rice Paddy Ecosystem • Habitats of Flora and Fauna of more than 5,600 species • Ecosystem of rice paddies is maintained by complex link of

various lives • Adoption of Rice Paddy Resolution by Ramsar Convention

(Resolution X.31 Enhancing biodiversity of rice paddies as wetland system.)

Importance of Rice Paddy Ecosystem • Sustainable agricultural wetland with a history of more than

thousands of years. • Sustainable agricultural wetland included in the global water

cycle system. • Complex ecosystem supporting biodiversity. • Playing a role of back marsh or buffer zone to natural

wetlands. • Harmonising biodiversity and multiple productivity.

no. of

spp.

Insecta 1,726

Archnidae 141

Amphibians & Reptiles 61

Fishes 143

Molluscs 73

Crustaceans & Rotifers 317

Nematoda & Annelida 91

Birds 189

Mammals 50

Protista & Cyanobacteria 597

Plants 2,075

Virus & Bacteria & Fungi 205

TOTAL 5,668

Fauna and Flora in Rice Paddies

in Japan (Keizi KIRITANI ed.,2010)

Newly published

“Inventory of Wild

Lives in Rice Paddies

in Japan” based on

joint research

organaised by NGOs

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Harmonising biodiversity and multiple productivity

• Rice paddy supports lives like various fish species.

• These lives can also be products of rice paddies.

• Richness of biodiversity in rice paddy means richness of multiple productivity from rice paddy not limited to rice production.

Composition of animal

food consumed in Lao (FAO)

Where collected ?

Around ２/3 from rice paddy

Multiple Products of Rice Paddies

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Biodiversity and

Multiple Productivity in Rice Paddy

RICE RICE

RICE

RICE Insect

Mollusc Fish

Water

Plant

Conventional

Rice Paddy

Biodiversity

Rice Paddy

Rich Biodiversity makes High Multiple Productivity

Ramsar Convention adopted a Rice Paddy Resolution

-Resolution X.31 Enhancing biodiversity of rice paddies as

wetland system-

• Adopted at Ramsar COP10 (Changwon, 2008)

• Proposed by both Korean and Japanese governments with an initiative of NGOs in both countries.

• Providing international recognition that rice paddies have extensive wetland functions supporting rich biodiversity, aside from the function as agricultural land.

• Bridge to combine CBD/COP10 and Ramsar Convention

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2010/6/5 ラムサール・ネットワーク日本 総会

Progress of “Rice Paddy” decision in

CBD SBSTTA 14, May 2010

CBD SBSTTA 14 （May10-21,2010, Nairobi)

The draft was discussed and accepted as a part of

recommendation of AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY:

FOLLOW-UP TO REQUESTS OF THE CONFERENCE

OF THE PARTIES IN DECISION IX/1 for COP10

Progress of Rice paddy decision for CBD COP10

First draft by Ramsar Network Japan, Japanese NGO.

Preparatory Round Table Meetings for Rice Paddy Decision

by Government of Japan (MOE, MAFF, MLIT) and NGO

(RamNetJ)

Draft by Government of Japan

Will be adopted in CBD COP10, Oct. 2010

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SBSTTA Daily activity (May 17)

•Working Group I: Agricultural Biodiversity, biofuels, dry and sub-humid lands, and invasive alien species

Japanese NGO supported a

proposal of Rice Paddy

decision by Government of

Japan in SBSTTA 14

SBSTTA 14 Nairobi, 10-21 May 2010 Item 4.1.1 of the provisional agenda*

AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY:

FOLLOW-UP TO REQUESTS OF THE CONFERENCE

OF THE PARTIES IN DECISION IX/1 Draft recommendation submitted by the Co-Chairs of Working Group I

〔Points related to Ramsar Resolution X.31 〕 Valuing agricultural ecosystems (21, 22)

• Welcomes resolution X.31 of the Ramsar COP10 on the subject “Enhancing biodiversity in rice paddies as wetland systems”

• Recognises the relevance of resolution X.31 of the Ramsar to the implementation of the programme of work on agricultural biodiversity

• Invites relevant Parties, as appropriate, to fully implement this resolution;

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Beyond CBD COP10 • Implementation of the Ramsar-CBD Joint Work

Plan in relation to human-made inland wetlands

• Setting up a Decade Program of Enhancing Biodiversity of Rice Paddies especially in Asia in linkage with UN Decade of Biodiversity which will be agreed in CBD COP10

• Ask relevant National Goverments to include Rice Paddy Resolution X.31 into National Strategy for the Convention of Biological Diversity

• Ask relevant Local Goverments to include Rice Paddy Resolution X.31 into Biodiversity Strategy for local goverments

• Increase of New Ramsar sites focusing on rice paddy

• Spreading area of relevant Ramsar site to its surrounding rice paddy

Thank you for your attention