Japanese semi-natural grasslands, known as Sogen, have been sustained for centuries through anthropogenic disturbances such as grazing, mowing, and prescribed burning. These are not merely temporary "secondary nature" but represent a "Cultural Climax" ecosystem, where succession is suppressed by human intervention to maintain a state of dynamic equilibrium. While historically deeply intertwined with local culture, these ecosystems are now threatened by rapid shifts in social structure and the emerging crisis of deer herbivory.
Simultaneously, global frameworks such as the TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) and systems like the Corporate Hometown Tax have created a favorable environment for the business sector to invest in natural capital. However, a critical socio-economic mismatch has emerged. Because grassland management has long relied on local mutual aid and the dedication of volunteers, on-the-ground organizations often lack the institutional capacity to manage budgets, execute large-scale projects, and scientifically report outcomes. Furthermore, specialized techniques like traditional prescribed burning (Noyaki) remain closed within specific communities, hindering technical standardization and wider sharing. This imbalance—available financial supply without adequate institutional capacity—is the primary barrier to contemporary grassland restoration.
To bridge this gap, the Japan Sogen Network will implement three strategic actions:
1. Grassland Triage via "National Grassland Health Records": Moving beyond simple ecological rarity, this diagnostic tool integrates ecological quality with social capacity metrics to prioritize resource allocation and determine the urgency of intervention.
2. Modernizing Mutual Aid: Establishing a cross-regional sharing economy for skills and labor to prevent the isolation of local practitioners and ensure the succession of fire management techniques.
3. Incubation: Developing tailored preservation and utilization models based on triage diagnoses, fostering future stewards.
By integrating scientific knowledge with social systems, this project aims to present a sustainable vision for passing the cultural landscape of Sogen to the next generation.