We visited a large biotope in Mie Prefecture to cut undergrowth. We had an opportunity to think about the preservation of biodiversity.
A biotope is an artificially created natural environment, and the larger the scale of the biotope, the more organisms can inhabit it. Mowing the undergrowth along the work paths and between the paths is an important part of biotope maintenance and management. This helps to maintain an environment in which organisms in the biotope can live comfortably.
However, when doing this work, consideration must be given to the organisms that inhabit the biotope. In particular, frogs are plentiful at this time of year. Frogs are an important part of the biotope and play an important role in maintaining its ecological health. Therefore, we need to be careful not to harm the frogs during our work.
Biodiversity and Invasive Alien Species
Invasive alien species" have been identified as a major factor in the loss of biodiversity. Invasive alien species are non-native species that are intentionally or unintentionally introduced into an ecosystem outside their natural range and have a negative impact on the ecosystem and biodiversity of the area.
Invasive alien species are considered a major cause of biodiversity loss because they disrupt the balance of ecosystems and lead to the decline or extinction of native species. This is especially true when they have no natural enemies in their new environment and reproduce and spread rapidly.
In Japan, the Invasive Alien Species Act has been enacted to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive alien species and protect biodiversity. The Law defines "invasive alien species" as alien species that may cause damage to the environment, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, or human health. The Law also establishes a list of "Specified Invasive Alien Species," which are considered to pose a particularly high risk to the environment and are subject to more stringent regulations.
What we can do in our daily lives is to understand how our actions affect biodiversity and act accordingly. For example, not releasing pets or garden plants into the natural environment, not purchasing products that contain non-native species, and other daily choices will help conserve biodiversity.
We will continue to disseminate information so that each of us can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. We encourage everyone to try to live in harmony with nature.
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