An interdisciplinary approach to environmental conservation policy: a case of Satoyama redevelopment in the peri-urban area

Abstract

This study proposes a practice and discussion for an interdisciplinary approach to policies for the conservation of suburban and peri-urban ecosystems. We highlight the need for evidence-based assessment of the current quality of the targeted nature from perspectives of natural science and problem formulation, and that causes should be investigated from the combined perspectives of social science, economic evaluation, and policy design and evaluation, with an awareness of the possibility of consensus building. In this study, based on the ongoing international trend of ecosystem conservation, an economic analysis was conducted to examine the direction of Satoyama development as a case study of urban and peri-urban ecosystem conservation. The result identified the preference and needs of citizens with regard to Satoyama ecosystems and discussed the consistency between policy targets and citizens’ evaluation.

Preface to the special feature on interdisciplinarity of economic policy studies

“…According to the results, the respondents value Satoyama as places for physical refreshment and such needs can be met even in places with some disadvantages in terms of accessibility. Moreover, conserving biodiversity is valued by citizens but biodiversity in moderation is all that is needed [4].…”