The Satoyama Mace Initiative encompasses a broad range of applications, including agriculture and food security, biodiversity conservation, circular economy practices, land use and land-use change, natural capital, and natural resource management. It also addresses agricultural waste management, integrated water-energy-food resource utilization, and the development of petrochemical and clean energy solutions. Additionally, the initiative focuses on advancing biological carbon reduction technologies for green and sustainable infrastructure, biodiversity-based carbon sequestration technologies, and biodiversity carbon reduction strategies. It further supports research on biodiversity carbon rights issuance and certification, as well as rural regeneration and regional revitalization of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) within the framework of carbon credits.

 

This platform, operated by the Satoyama Mace Initiative team, serves as a non-profit entity dedicated to advancing the Satoyama Initiative and promoting biodiversity on a global scale. It focuses on local action, education, relationship building, and research to foster a sustainable economic chain through initiatives such as carbon reduction technology, biodiversity carbon sequestration technology development and assessment, biodiversity carbon reduction plan research, and the issuance and certification of biodiversity carbon rights. These efforts also align with the implementation of the 15th Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) and the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (KMGBF). The ultimate goal is to issue Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) and Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) to manage socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS), while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and KMGBF objectives. By integrating scientific rigor, transparency, and innovative approaches, this platform seeks to deepen understanding of SEPLS and their critical role in driving structural transformation, building resilience, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

 

SEPLS management is enhanced by three enablers: strategic innovation, digitalization, and development financing, as the following activities.

• Establishing a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) to help the least developed countries (LDCs) and developing countries to further the non-profit’s mission for issuing VCUs of SEPLs management as an international and transnational activity.

• Developing parameters and methodologies to shape countries’ sustainable development based on Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets.

• Education in carbon management of SEPLS by digitalization in countries.

• Counseling the carbon management of SEPLS in the greenhouse gas (GHG) crediting program.

• Providing the issuance of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) designed for the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Assist in listing VCUs on international and transnational trading platforms.

 

This platform develops methodologies for quantifying project benefits, particularly GHG emission reductions or removals. Subsequently, the Center aims to issue Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) to manage SEPLS. By marrying scientific rigor and transparency with innovative thinking, the center aspires to enhance the understanding and raise awareness regarding the importance of SEPLS for achieving the three objectives, i.e. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). These objectives include the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from using genetic resources, particularly in biotechnology.

The center’s focus spans three key areas within biotechnology:

(A) Developing new agricultural technologies, ranging from restoration and sustainable use to carbon credit.

(B) Preserving biodiversity.

(C) Study, work, and spread spillover the knowledge facilitation, policy research, indicators research, capacity building, and on-the-ground activities for SEPLS

The initiatives ensure appropriate access to genetic resources and the suitable transfer of relevant technologies. This process considers all rights associated with those resources and technologies. Additionally, it involves securing appropriate funding through various international agreements. The goal is to harmonize these efforts with the well-being of people’s livelihoods, creating a comprehensive approach that aligns with international agreements and prioritizes equitable and sustainable practices.

 

By this way, Action 2023-2030 in the strategy and plan:

• Knowledge Co-Production, Management, and Uptake: Conduct research and knowledge management related to landscape and seascape approaches to address direct and underlying causes responsible for biological and cultural diversity and ecological and socio-economic services in carbon credit from SEPLS.

• Institutional Frameworks and Capacity Development: Strengthen institutional frameworks and develop the capacity to integrate landscape and seascape approaches into policies and cross-sectoral strategies related to biodiversity, climate change, sustainable land and sea management, health, agri-food systems, and disaster risk reduction to maintain or enhance the benefits of SEPLS in carbon credit to the environment and society.

• Area-Based Conservation Measures: Promote effective conservation and management through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), recognizing indigenous and traditional territories where applicable, and facilitate their integration in carbon credit into the wider landscape and seascape to contribute to the relevant targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

• Ecosystem Restoration: Promote the restoration of SEPLS by deriving carbon credit and contribute to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration goals and relevant targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

• Sustainable Value Chain Development: Promote sustainable practices, market-based mechanisms, and value chains to support sustainable production, including customary sustainable use and economies in carbon credit that relieve traditional knowledge and cultural values and practices from SEPLS to contribute to the achievement of relevant targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.