Satoyama Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The Ministry of the Environment has introduced a new legislative framework to protect Satoyama the traditional mosaic of forests, rice paddies, and grasslands that border human settlements. This act provides tax incentives for farmers who maintain ancient irrigation ponds and refrain from using synthetic pesticides, which has led to a documented resurgence of the endangered Oriental Stork and various dragonfly species. The policy views these managed landscapes not just as agricultural zones, but as critical buffers against climate-related flooding and as essential reservoirs for Japan’s native flora.

©YovaniBernard