Comparative analysis of the socioeconomic changes in biosphere reserves: demographics, employment, and industrial structures

Achieving a "society in harmony with nature" is a critical challenge in the 21st century. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) aim for sustainable development through nature conservation and are considered prototypes of such harmonious regions. However, the socioeconomic impact of the BR designation has not been sufficiently studied. This study analyzes the changes in demographics, employment, and industrial structures in six Japanese BR municipalities using data from municipal statistics and national censuses for 2010, 2015, and 2020. Reference municipalities were selected for the comparative analysis based on certain criteria. The results indicate that all BR municipalities experienced population decreases ranging from −0.1 to −18.8 % after BR designation. Notably, five of these municipalities had slower depopulation rates than the reference municipalities. Conversely, five BR municipalities showed a relative decline in the number of employees compared to the references. The in-migration of retirees and families with children can be considered a possible reason for this paradox; however, the age-group analysis revealed that the influx of retirees and young families had no significant correlation between the BR and reference municipalities. Additionally, census data showed that tourism-dependent BR municipalities faced a decline in the tertiary sector due to the impact of COVID-19. The findings do not demonstrate a unified trend among Japanese BRs, suggesting that socioeconomic changes after BR designation cannot be generalized, largely because of the differing local contexts in Japan. We emphasize the need for similar studies worldwide.