Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism Abhik Chakraborty · Kuniyasu Mokudai Malcolm Cooper · Mahito Watanabe Shamik Chakraborty Editors Natural Heritage of Japan Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism Conservation and Management Series Series editors Wolfgang Eder, Munich, Germany Peter T. Bobrowsky, Burnaby, BC, Canada Jesu´s Martı´nez-Frı´as, Madrid, Spain Spectacular geo-morphological landscapes and regions with special geological features or mining sites are becoming increasingly recognized as critical areas to protect and conserve for the unique geoscientific aspects they represent and as places to enjoy and learn about the science and history of our planet. More and more national and international stakeholders are engaged in projects related to “Geoheritage”, “Geo-conservation”, “Geoparks” and “Geotourism”; and are positively influencing the general perception of modern Earth Sciences. Most notably, “Geoparks” have proven to be excellent tools to educate the public about Earth Sciences; and they are also important areas for recreation and significant sustain- able economic development through geotourism. In order to develop further the understanding of Earth Sciences in general and to elucidate the importance of Earth Sciences for Society, the “Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism Conservation and Management Series” has been launched together with its sister “GeoGuides” series. Projects developed in partnership with UNESCO, World Heritage and Global Geoparks Networks, IUGS and IGU, as well as with the ‘Earth Science Matters’ Foundation will be considered for publication. This series aims to provide a place for in-depth presentations of developmental and management issues related to Geoheritage and Geotourism in existing and potential Geoparks. Individually authored monographs as well as edited volumes and conference proceedings are welcome; and this book series is considered to be complementary to the Springer-Journal “Geoheritage”. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/11639 Abhik Chakraborty • Kuniyasu Mokudai • Malcolm Cooper • Mahito Watanabe • Shamik Chakraborty Editors Natural Heritage of Japan Geological, Geomorphological, and Ecological Aspects Editors Abhik Chakraborty Kuniyasu Mokudai Center for Tourism Research (CTR) Japan Geo Service Inc. Wakayama University Tokyo, Japan Wakayama, Japan Malcolm Cooper Mahito Watanabe College of Asia Pacific Studies Geological Survey of Japan Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science Beppu, Oita, Japan and Technology (AIST) Tsukuba, Japan Shamik Chakraborty Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability United Nations University Tokyo, Japan ISSN 2363-765X ISSN 2363-7668 (electronic) Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism ISBN 978-3-319-61895-1 ISBN 978-3-319-61896-8 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-61896-8 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017951396 # Springer International Publishing AG 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland Foreword When Europeans think about Japan, they think mainly about its culture—seen as an exotic culture embracing temples, samurai, bonsai, sumo wrestling, kimonos, bullet trains (shinkansen), cars and motorbikes, cameras and televisions, and Japanese food (for an increasing number of Japanese restaurants have opened up in European cities). They rarely think about Japanese nature though, of course, they do know about Mt. Fuji, and in Britain at least, they were introduced to Japan: the enchanted islands, a series of three BBC programs that focused on nature and its human interactions on Honshu, the South Western islands, and Hokkaido. My own knowledge of Japan was similarly restricted, so when I was invited to give a presentation on geoconservation at the 2015 Japanese Geoscience Union (JpGU) conference in Makuhari, I jumped at the chance to visit the country and learn more about its nature and, indeed, its culture. The invitation had come about because one of the editors of this book, Abhik Chakraborty, had read my book Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature (Gray 2013) and wanted me to input to a session on geoconservation at the conference. The Visit With me in Japan was my partner Pauline, and we started our visit in the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto. Here we visited many temples and their gardens including Arashiyama, Ryoanji, Kinkakuji (golden pavilion), Ginkakuji (silver pavilion), Nanzenji, Chion-in, and Kiyomizudera. The most interesting point about the temple gardens was the way in which stone was an important part of the garden design and formed an integrated whole along with the plants and water. And at Ryoanji, it was amazing to witness the scores of visitors contemplating the Zen rock garden with its larger stones set amidst a sea of smaller pebbles raked into sweeping linear patterns that are said to facilitate meditation. Here was a great example of an ancient use of stone and a modern example of geotourism. While in Kyoto, we took a day trip to Nara where we visited the equally stunning gardens of Yoshiki-en and Isui- en as well as the temples of Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji and the Shinto shrine of Kasuga Taisha, meeting many of Nara’s famous deer along the way. After Kyoto, we moved on to Takayama from where we visited the beautiful and tranquil valley at Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps. It also lies within Chubusangaku National Park, one of 34 national parks in Japan. The valley was surrounded by impressive snow-covered peaks, while the walk beside the braided Azusa River was an absolute delight. Then to Makuhari/Tokyo where I gave three different geodiversity/geoconservation presentations to the Japanese Geopark Network, the Tokyo Geographical Society, and the Japanese Geoscience Union (JpGU2015). In these three lectures, I tried to outline the following points: v vi Foreword 1. Geodiversity is the abiotic equivalent of biodiversity and can be defined as “the natural range (diversity) of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms, topography, physical processes), soil and hydrological features. It includes their assemblages, structures, systems and contributions to landscapes” (Gray 2013). 2. Geoheritage is the collective term for those specific features of geodiversity that may be identified as being worthy of geoconservation. This may be because of their scientific or other values. 3. Just as biodiversity provides human societies with many “ecosystem services” or “natural services” (Daily 1997), geodiversity brings a huge variety of goods and services that benefit us in our everyday lives. In fact our modern, complex society could not function without the planet’s geodiversity, which has been brilliantly exploited by generations of humans from the Stone Age to the Silicon Age. Some sites are of scientific value in giving us the evidence for the history of the planet/local area or the evolution of life, others provide attractive natural or seminatural landscapes, and many provide the variety of physical habitats in which biodiversity has evolved. Indeed, as part of a theatrical metaphor, geodiversity is now often seen as the stage upon which the wildlife actors can thrive (Beier, Hunter, and Anderson 2015). 4. Geodiversity and geoheritage can be threatened by many types of human activities includ- ing mineral extraction that can destroy landforms, land development and urban expansion, coastal and river engineering which can interrupt the operation of natural processes, forestry and agriculture, recreation and tourism, military operations, and overcollecting of fossils and minerals by commercial operations or by geoscientists themselves. 5. Because geodiversity and geoheritage are of value to us in various ways yet may be lost, damaged, or polluted by human activities, there is an unanswerable case for geoconservation. This can be achieved by various methods that include site management, curation, licensing of field visits and research, site supervision, benevolent ownership, restoration, legislation, policy development, and, most importantly, education. 6. Geodiversity is the backbone of geoheritage