1. Citizen science in Japan focuses on human-nature interactions and relationships through qualitative research methods like narrative documentation, mapping, and constructing chronologies. 2. This research is done in collaboration with local communities to understand the social and historical context of resource management from the perspectives of those who know the situations best. 3. The goals are to monitor human-nature relationships, emphasize local values, and build resilience by increasing community involvement, but challenges remain in integrating citizen science more fully into conservation policy and decision-making.

1. 14th Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology
1-7 June 2014 in Bhutan
Citizen science for sustainable
social-ecological systems, from
Japanese experience
MIYAUCHI Taisuke, Ph.D.
Environmental Sociology
Hokkaido University
miyauchi@let.hokudai.ac.jp

2. Purpose
• Examine the Japanese version of citizen science
and analyze its background, features, and
challenges.

3. Nature-related narrative documentation:
The Shishizuka case
• A rural landscape conservation group was
formed at Shishizuka in 1989. And they starts
rural people’s narrative documenting in 1999.

4. Nature-related narrative documentation:
The Shishizuka case
• A rural landscape conservation group was
formed at Shishizuka in 1989. And they starts
rural people’s narrative documenting in 1999.
• Perspective changes from nature to history
and community.
• Emphasis on human-nature relationship.

5. Why citizen science? Background
• Gaps between:
- policy framework and the local context
- perspectives of science and society
- global values and local values
- scientific management and communities’
needs
• Uncertainty in science
-> Citizen science from the bottom is needed for local
sustainability.

6. Why citizen science? Background
• The importance of interactions between human
beings and nature.
-> The Japanese version of citizen science focuses
on these interactions.

7. Five species of seashore seaweeds:
Nori (Porphyra sp.), Funori (Gloiopeltis spp.), Hijiki (Sargassum fusiforme),
Matsumo (Ceratophyllum demersum), and Tsunomata (Chondrus ocellatus)
KitakamiHuman-nature interaction in seashore
seaweed collection

8. Human-nature interaction in seashore
seaweed collection
Human activities related to seashore seaweed are
observed to ensure sustainable production:
1. Locals extend rocks and install new rocks.
 “New rocks are productive for seaweed” （S.T., 2010.3.21）.
 “Installation of new rocks is to increase seaweed production.” （E.E.,
2009.8.5）.
2. Locals sometimes sow seaweed seed by pouring water
with seed.
3. Harvesting seaweed enables production for the next
year.
 “If you do not harvest it, other plants may grow and prevent seaweed
from growing.” （E.E., 2009.8.5）
4. Locals leave the bottom part of seaweed to enable
regrowth.
Interaction between human beings and
nature is crucial to sustainability.

9. Community rules on seashore seaweed
Community Rules on seashore seaweed
A
Community organization’s rules. All types are harvested by each
household. Revenue goes to each household.
B
Community organization’s rules with strict punishment. Collective
harvesting on the first day of open season and individual harvesting
beginning from the second day. The collective harvest revenue goes
to the community organization.
C
Community organization’s rules. One type of seaweed is collectively
harvested, and its revenue goes to the community organization. The
other types are collectively harvested on the first day of open season
and individually harvested beginning from the second day.
D
Community organization’s rules. Formerly, collective harvesting on the
first and second days of open season and individual harvesting
beginning from the third day. The collective harvest revenue went to
the community organization. Currently, all individual harvesting.
E
Community organization’s rules. Collective harvesting on the first day
of open season and individual harvesting beginning from the second
day. The collective harvest revenue goes to the community
organization.
• Each community has its own rules on natural
resources.
-> Social aspects are crucial to sustainability.

10. Why citizen science? Background
• The importance of interaction between human
beings and nature.
• The interactions are based on the local context.
• The human dimension and local societal aspects are
crucial.
-> A bottom-up approach and qualitative type of
citizen science, studying the interactions between
humans and nature and their social aspects, is
needed.

11. Epoch-making event: Forest-related narrative documentation
competition (for high-school students) starts in 2003

12. (source) Listening and Documenting “Kikigaki”: A Tool for Sharing Wisdom for Sustainable
The competition encourages students to
document narratives of people involved in
forestry: their life history, their attitude and
perspective toward nature, as well as their
experience and skills.

13. Beginners’ guidebook for nature-
related narrative documentation
You can download from:
http://satoyama-initiative.org/wp/wp-
content/uploads/2013/08/Kikigaki_textbook_EN.pdf

14. National Conservation
Society of Japan (NACS-J)
and environmental
sociologists have initiated
participatory research on
human-nature relationships
since 2000.

15. Citizen research on human-nature relationships
(“Fureai” Survey)
Its aims:
– To investigate the history and situation of the
community and nature
– To pursue a peaceful future for the community
and nature

16. ふれあい思い起こしシート
Human-Nature Relationships Research 1:
Survey of local people's memory using their five senses
What is your memory of the
land?
Scene
Sound
Smell
Texture
Taste

17. Human-Nature Relationships Research 2:
Making maps of local human-nature relationships

18. Human-Nature Relationships Research 3:
Nature-related narrative documentation

19. Human-Nature Relationships Research 4:
Constructing a chronology of human-nature
relationships

20. Human-Nature Relationships Research: Beginners’ guidebook

23. Values of citizen science for human-
nature relationships
1. To get citizens/residents involved
– Those who know the situation best are the best
ones to involve
– Research/listening as awareness
2. Citizen and local perspectives are
emphasized
3. Narrative is emphasized
4. Building resilience by monitoring human-
nature relationships
– Monitoring social aspects
5. Re-contextualizing global values to local
values

24. Challenges
1. Citizen science is not yet very popular in
conservation activities.
2. Collaboration among local people, citizens and
experts is not yet well developed.
3. There are still gaps between citizen science and
policy.
• Decision makers may ignore citizen science.
• Decision makers may ignore qualitative data.

25. Conclusion
1. The Japanese version of citizen science focuses
not only on nature but also on the human-nature
relationship, because this relationship is crucial to
sustainability.
2. Japanese citizen science focuses on local people’s
narratives.
3. Citizen science has several varieties such as
narrative documentation, mapping, making a
chronology.
4. Some challenges still exist.

26. Thank you.
Taisuke MIYAUCHI, Hokkaido University
miyauchi@let.hokudai.ac.jp