SFC Certified as Biodiversity Haven by the Ministry of the Environment
Panoramic shot of the Shonan Fujisawa Campus
Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) was designated as a "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) in 2024 (Press Release, March 26, 2025 ). SFC is located in the Shonan Fujisawa region, a rapidly urbanizing area that retains a rich natural environment and high biodiversity. To preserve the region's ecosystem and biodiversity and to foster a sustainable campus and community, SFC leverages its strengths as an educational and research institution. Specifically, it proactively implements advanced initiatives incorporating the latest technologies, such as environmental DNA and biodiversity monitoring systems that use remote sensors.
What Are "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites"?
"Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites" are areas certified by the MOEJ as human-nature coexistence sites where actors in the private sector and other stakeholders take active efforts to preserve biodiversity. The MOEJ launched this certification initiative in 2023 as part of its commitment to achieve the goal of effectively conserving at least 30% of land and sea areas as healthy ecosystems by 2030, i.e., the "30by30" target. The 30by30 target is a global goal set forth in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It is one of the action goals to achieve "Nature Positive"*1 by 2030. A site certified through this initiative will be registered in the international database as an OECM*2.
*1 Nature Positive is a global societal goal to "halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 on a 2020 baseline, and achieve full recovery by 2050," in line with the mission of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Nature Positive Initiative, 2023 ).
*2 OECM (Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure) is "a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values" (CBD, 2018 ).
About the Certified Campus Site
The certified site is an educational and research hub that comprises SFC undergraduate faculties, graduate schools, research laboratories, and affiliated junior and senior high schools, as well as the approximately 13 hectares of forested area surrounding these facilities. The forested area consists of a planted evergreen broadleaf forest dominated by Japanese bamboo-leaf oaks and sudajii, and a secondary deciduous broadleaf forest dominated by sawtooth oak and konara oak trees that had been present even before the construction of the campus. In addition, there are aquatic environments such as the detention pond and the wetland biotope behind the campus. The campus is also surrounded by grasslands full of silvergrass and cogon grass, among others. Situated in an area of expansive farmland and hills adjacent to the Endo Sasakuboyato forest--one of the most biodiverse areas in the rapidly urbanizing region--the campus is part of the region's ecological network. As such, SFC preserves a variety of natural habitats and serves as a breeding ground for many flora and fauna usually only found in satoyama, or rural woodlands where humans and nature coexist sustainably.
SFC's Nature Conservation Initiatives
As part of the region's ecological network, SFC will continue contributing to biodiversity conservation in the region through the environmental management of the certified site. Our efforts to build a sustainable campus and community have been, and will continue to be made through collaboration with the local community and the use of advanced initiatives backed by the latest technologies.
References
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). "Decision 14/8, Protected Areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures." November 30, 2018.
- Keio University Press Release. "Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Certified as 'Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site' by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment." March 26, 2025.
- Ministry of the Environment, Japan. "令和６年度後期「自然共生サイト」認定結果について [FY 2024 'Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site' Latter Half Certification Announcement]." February 27, 2025.(Japanese language only )
- Nature Positive Initiative. "The Definition of Nature Positive." November 27, 2023.