Comparison of conservation systems for the alpine ecosystem in Chubu Sangaku national park, Japan and Swiss national park, Switzerland
2007
Aoki, K.(International Inst. for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Austria)) | Suzuki, J.
The Chubu Sangaku National Park is one of the most important mountainous national parks in the temperate region of Japan. This park covers a series of mountains with altitudes over 3000 meters above sea level and is an excellent representation of Japan's alpine forest ecosystem. However, with the rising popularity of outdoor activities in recent years, the national park faces anthropogenic disturbances due to the large number of tourists and increasing activities resulting in the exploitation of its natural resources. Therefore, the need for policy change that targets environmental protection has become extremely important. The management system and approach to conservation of the Swiss National Park were examined and compared to that of the Japanese National Park. The Swiss National Park is known for its strict regulations formulated under the conservation concept, through which the entire flora and fauna are protected from any human interference to exist and develop under natural circumstances. From our investigation of the Swiss National Park, several conclusions were drawn. First, it was apparent that the high number of park visitors was a threat to the natural resources. Although several regulations were laid down and enforced, further countermeasures were necessary; i.e., decentralizing park visitors and imposing stricter regulations. Second, the present park management system needs a more sophisticated approach in order to minimize discrepancies in planning and management by different official bodies in the park area. Third, in order to bring about sustainable development of the park region, it is essential to establish a legal decision-making process involving local residents as well as NGOs in the park planning process.
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