Characteristics of the initial certified Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites and their relationships with landscape architecture

Launched in 2023, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan's "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites" system aligns with the National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan 2023-2030.In FY2023, 184 sites totaling 63,190.18hectares were certified.We analyzed applicant type, location, value, land ownership, and monitoring practices of these certified sites.Remarkably, companies comprised about 57% of the applicants.Regarding location distribution, 45 sites (24.5%) were in natural areas, 53 (28.8%) were in rural areas, 57 (31.0%) were in suburban areas, and 29 (15.8%) were in urban areas.The most commonly cited value under the "value of biodiversity" criteria was value 4 (healthy ecosystems provide ecological services) with 139 sites (75.5%).This was followed by value 6 (habitats of endangered plant and animal species) at 133 sites (72.3%), value 3 (secondary ecosystem sites) at 103 sites (56.9%).Regarding land ownership, the most frequent category was "corporate management green spaces" (offices, research institutes, etc.), with 64 sites (34.8%).For site monitoring, 121 sites (65.8%) will be implemented by the applicant, whereas the remaining 64 sites (34.2%) will be outsourced to consultants and specialists.Given the ecological significance of Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites, their entire, from surveying and planning to design, construction, management, and monitoring, necessitates the application of ecological engineering techniques.Consequently, landscape architecture is poised to emerge as a key professional field in this domain.